Prattville Chamber hosts candidate forum for key Autauga County races

The most consequential local races in Autauga County were put in one room at Doster Community Center, where the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a non-partisan forum on sheriff, 19th Circuit Judge Place 5 and State House District 69. For voters weighing how Prattville will handle growth, public safety, court operations and state policy, the evening offered a side-by-side look at the people asking to shape those decisions.

The forum opened with a meet-and-greet at 5 p.m. before the formal program began at 6 p.m. at 424 S. Northington St. in Prattville. The event was free and open to the public, but the chamber did not take live questions from the audience during the forum itself. Instead, residents were steered to the meet-and-greet if they wanted direct conversations with candidates before casting ballots.

That format mattered because the offices on the stage reach into daily life in different ways. The sheriff’s office, now held by Mark Harrell, affects patrols, jail operations and emergency response across Autauga County. The 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Autauga, Elmore and Chilton counties, handles court decisions that can affect families, defendants, victims and the pace of justice. In House District 69, incumbent Democrat Kelvin Lawrence was seeking re-election as state policy continues to filter down to roads, taxes and local services in Prattville and surrounding communities.

The forum came as Autauga County moved deeper into a busy election year. The primary election is set for May 19, 2026, with a runoff on June 16 and the general election on November 3. County election officials say about 30,000 people are registered to vote, 23 Eagle Opitech voting machines are used, and roughly 118 election officials work in 18 precincts. Probate Judge Kimberly G. Kervin serves as the county’s chief election officer.

The chamber said the forum fit its broader mission to champion and empower members, advocate for businesses and collaboratively lead communities. It has served the Prattville area for more than 50 years, and it has used Doster Community Center for candidate access before, including a forum in 2025. For voters trying to sort through crowded ballots, the event offered a practical reminder that local races often decide how smoothly the county runs long after the campaign signs come down.