A pair of high-profile Democrats have thrown their political backing into a Jefferson County Commission district race.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin have endorsed Birmingham developer David Silverstein for Tuesday’s special election to fill the vacated Jefferson County Commission District 5 seat.
The endorsements were featured in mailers Silverstein’s campaign sent out over the weekend.
The nonpartisan county election is being conducted on a quick timeline as vacancies on the Jefferson County Commission are filled via a special election with no party primary. Usually those vacancies are filled by an appointment from the governor.
Tuesday’s election has generated a great deal of visibility in Jefferson County with former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin slated to go head-to-head with Silverstein.
Last week, Jeff Wise of Mountain Brook dropped out of the race and put his total support behind Bolin, saying, “I feel confident that he is the best person for the position at this time. Mike shares my conservative values and will do an outstanding job for us.”
RELATED: Democrat super-donor enters Jefferson County Commission race
Yellowhammer News first reported last month Silverstein is a mega donor in Democratic politics, donating more than $130,000 to Democratic candidates.
Including $30,000 to former Gov. Don Siegelman; $7,600 to Jones; $9,700 to U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham); $5,000 to Tuscaloosa Mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox; and $47,500 to Sue Bell Cobb’s unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Those donations are proving to be valuable to Silverstein, as Jones and Woodfin’s promotion shows.
District 5 includes parts of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Homewood, Mountain Brook and Leeds. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
