‘It all comes down to turnout’: Walker County residents to elect new sheriff Tuesday

WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - After incumbent Nick Smith failed to secure enough votes to stay in the race, Walker County residents will head to the polls to elect a new sheriff in Tuesday’s runoff election.

During the Republican Primaries in May, Jason Akins and current Jasper Police Chief J.C. Poe finished first and second, respectively, but neither candidate got enough votes to cross the 50% threshold to secure the election outright.

Akins, in his final appeal to voters Monday afternoon, said Tuesday’s election will come down to turnout.

“In the face of being outspent 30-to-one, literally, combined by both opponents, we have managed to beat two of the strongest political machines this county has ever seen,” Akins said. “It all comes down to turnout. We have to get people out to vote.”

In the days leading up to the election, Chief Poe has leaned on his experience in law enforcement as the backbone of his campaign.

Poe has only declared he will serve one term as Walker County Sheriff if elected.

“I’m going to clean up the mess, restore accountability and then pass the sheriff’s office to the next generation,” Poe said on Facebook earlier this month. “I don’t want to be a career politician. I’ve already built my career in law enforcement.”

Polls will remain open until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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