Don McGriff, chairman of the Baldwin County Republican Party, announced that he would run in the Aug. 7 special election to fill the state Senate seat vacated by Bradley Byrne, entering a crowded Republican field for one of the county’s most closely watched races.
Byrne had left the seat to become chancellor of the state’s two-year college system, opening a contest that quickly drew several established Baldwin County figures.
A resignation on principle
McGriff said he had most recently served as a confidential assistant in the office of Gov. Bob Riley but had resigned that post in order to run.
“I do not believe it is fair to the taxpayer to receive a state or county pay check while running for another public office,” McGriff said. “It just goes against my principles.”
A long record in the county
McGriff came to the race with a lengthy public and civic resume. He had served on the Baldwin County Board of Education and had previously been the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. He led the county party through the most recent gubernatorial and congressional election cycles.
A former Marine, McGriff had lived in Baldwin County for 35 years following his honorable discharge. He pointed to a background in business and engineering as the foundation of his approach to the office.
“My business experience has given me a strong work ethic, my work on many local civic boards has given me an understanding for community service, and my time spent with the governor and in the capitol has given me a solid respect for and understanding of the legislative process,” he said, adding that he was confident he could be “a productive and effective voice for Baldwin County.”
McGriff was a Rotarian, an alumnus of Leadership Baldwin County and a member of Baldwin County United, and had served on the board of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. He held a law degree from the Jones School of Law and had studied at the University of Alabama and the University of South Alabama. He and his wife, Jeanne Kelly McGriff, had two children and five grandchildren.
A crowded field
McGriff joined a competitive Republican primary that also included former state Sen. Albert Lipscomb, businessman Trip Pittman, state school board member Randy McKinney and Baldwin County Commissioner David Ed Bishop, setting up a wide-open contest for the seat.