The Shelby County Commission election on Nov. 5 will feature something out of the ordinary: Democrats running against incumbent Republicans.

There are six contested races, five of which feature Democrats running against Republican incumbents. The sixth contested race features a Democrat and Republican running for a seat currently held by a Republican.

District 3

“Shelby County is very Republican,” said Jon Parker, a retired Calera firefighter and owner of Parker Brothers Heating and Air, who is running to keep his seat as District 3 commissioner that he has held since 2004. “Usually our opposition comes in the Republican primaries. There weren’t any this year.”

Parker’s opponent in the general election is retired Montevallo High School teacher Bobby “CP” Pierson, who taught physical education and coached sports for more than 30 years, including serving as head basketball coach from 1985-2008.

“I’m a Democrat,” Pierson said. “We need a seat at the table.”

District 4

In District 4, Ward Williams, a minister who runs a nonprofit, is the Republican incumbent.

His opponent will be Phil Kirk, a Democrat, who is a software developer and business systems analyst.

District 5

In District 5, retired real estate developer Elwyn Bearden is the Republican incumbent. His opponent will be Leslie Tyus, a Democrat who is a community mental health counselor.

District 6

There is no incumbent, due to redistricting. Insurance agent Josh Sisk is the Republican candidate and Anondo Banerjee, a public health consultant, is the Democrat. They are running for the seat currently held by Jeff Brumlow.

District 7

Retired attorney Lindsey Allison is the Republican incumbent. Marsha S. Sturdevant, a retired medical doctor and retired UAB professor, is the Democrat running against her.

District 8

Rick Shepherd, who works in information technology, is the Republican incumbent. Jenice Prather-Kinsey, a retired UAB professor of accounting, is the Democrat running against him.

Of the six Democrats running, three are Black: Pierson, Tyus and Prather-Kinsey, according to the Shelby County Democrats website.

In Shelby County, traffic is always one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed, and the Alabama Department of Transportation’s expansion of Interstate 65 has been the biggest project, Parker said.

“We’re doing that now,” he said. “We partnered with ALDOT on the expansion of I-65.”

The Shelby County Commission committed $16.5 million as its share of the interstate expansion cost, Parker said.

Pierson said if he wins, he would prioritize better roads and safer railroad crossings. “I want Democrats to be at the table, but I want to represent everybody in the county,” he said.

For information on the Shelby County Commission, click here.

For general information on the Shelby County election, click here.

For a Shelby County sample ballot, click here.