The Alabama Farmers Federation announced its endorsement of three Republican candidates for the Baldwin County Commission: Richard Cox, District 1; Angelo Fermo, District 2; and John “Tater” Harris, District 4.
In Baldwin County, candidates run county-wide but must live in the particular district. All voters of Baldwin County can vote in all four district races.
ALFA has not yet made an endorsement in District 3 where Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood is the incumbent and has announced for re-election. They say they expect to make an endorsement soon.
Hope Cassebaum, President of the Baldwin County Farmers Federation, said this about the three candidates they endorsed:
“These are outstanding candidates who have invested their careers, personal lives and professional time in Baldwin County. They have a vested interest in our future. They all have a heart for Baldwin County along with a strong work ethic, proven leadership skills and management experience needed to move Baldwin County forward.”
Richard Cox is a lifelong resident of Stockton in district one. He graduated from Baldwin County High School. He studied at Faulkner State (now Coastal Community) College and Auburn University before joining the 482nd Army Reserve in Foley.
He is a timber dealer, logger and land management professional. He is a member of the Baldwin County Baptist Disaster Relief Team, Farm Services Agency county committee, Forestry Planning Committee and Baldwin County Farmers Federation, where he served as past chairman of the Forestry Committee.
He previously served as a board member for both the Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Alabama TREASURE Forest Association.
Cox and his wife, Wendy, have been married for 48 years, and have two sons and three grandchildren. They attend First Baptist Church of Bay Minette.
Angelo Fermo is a retired special agent with 21 years in law enforcement, working for the Department of Homeland Security. He earned his B.S. in criminal justice and his master’s degree in education.
Fermo is a member of Knights of Columbus, the Federal Law Enforcement Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Silent Knight anti-human trafficking organization and a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association. He is also a past board member of the Children’s Rescue Initiative.
Fermo and his wife, Ashlee, live in District 2 and have four sons and one grandson. They are members of Christ the King Parrish in Daphne.
Tater Harris is a small business owner and former Certified Construction Manager. He has lived in Baldwin County for 14 years in district 4.
He has managed multi-million-dollar projects which have provided him with knowledge of budgeting, permitting and infrastructure developments. Harris owns and operates Gulf Coast Rental Company and is a civic and community leader.
Harris is chairman of the Orange Beach Public Safety Committee and a board member of the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber.
He and his wife, Sarah, have one son. They attend Island Church in Orange Beach.
The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization with more than 360,000 member families with 11,678 in Baldwin County. The Farmers Federation uses a grassroots approach to select candidates, relying on Alabama FarmPAC recommendations from local county Farmers Federation boards of directors for local elections, such as county commission races.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected]
