By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Republican Women of Trussville and the Jefferson County Republican Party gathered on Saturday, Aug. 28, for a pancake breakfast in downtown Trussville.
The event was held in the city’s future Entertainment District’s pavilion.
Paul DeMarco, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party, kicked off the event by announcing he hopes the breakfast will become an annual gathering. He held a moment of silence for Americans in Afghanistan before prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Anthem.
“This has been a difficult week for this country,” DeMarco said. “I want to take a moment of silence to recognize those men and women who lost their lives in Afghanistan this week.”
The prayer was spoken by Northpark Baptist Church pastor Bill Wilks and the Star-Spangled Banner was performed by Bob Smith, Senior Adult Pastor of Trussville First Baptist Church.
“The Flag Man” Roy Brook led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Many of the candidates vying for Sen. Richard Shelby’s seat were in attendance at the event, along with several other officials and candidates for various state and local offices.
In attendance were: U.S. Senate candidates Katie Britt, Mo Brooks, and Jessica Taylor, Candidate for Governor Stacy George, incumbent Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, Alabama Supreme Court candidates Justice Kelli Wise, Greg Cook, and Debra Jones, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Secretary of State John Merrill and Secretary of State candidate Wes Allen, State Auditor Jim Zeigler and State Auditor candidate Rusty Glover, Commissioner of Agriculture and candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate, Public Service Commissioner candidates Jeremy Oden and John Hammock, Jefferson County Commissioner and Jefferson County Commissioner candidate Jimmie Stephens, State Senate candidates Sen. Dan Roberts and Sen. Shay Shelnutt, State House candidates Rep. Danny Garrett, Rep. David Falkner, Rep. Jim Carnes, and Rep. Allen Treadway, President of the Republican Women of North Shelby County Susan Dubose, Alabama Supreme Court Justice Will Sellers, Jefferson County Board of Education President Ronnie Dixon, and Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton.
Rep. Danny Garrett of Trussville said Saturday’s event was a success.
“Trussville made a great impression here,” Garrett said. “We may grow more than 31% on the next census!”
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said Trussville was welcoming and was an example of what he wants to see across the state.
“I love this venue,” Ainsworth said. “It’s exciting to see what’s going on in the downtown area, the development here. That’s one of the things we worked on, is trying to continue to have economic development in Alabama.”
It was passion that was seen as Katie Britt spoke after the event about conditions in Washington. The Enterprise native is in the running for U.S. Senate.
“It is clear in the last week that we have a lack of leadership in Washington, D.C.,” Britt said. “Joe Biden has failed us on every single front but this may be the very worst that we’ve ever seen.”
U.S. Senate candidate Mo Brooks, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump also took a moment to speak about his run.
“I need your vote if you want a fighting conservative in the United States Senate,” Brooks said.
The U.S. Senate race will be part of the general election on Nov. 8, 2022. The primary will be on May 24 and a primary runoff is set for June 21. Voters must register by Jan. 28.