By Tara DeRock Mahoney
Senior Staff Writer

As of press time on Tuesday, two citizens had qualified to run for the seat left vacant by the death of long-term county commissioner Walter Curtis Butler, Jr., three weeks ago.

Donald B. Harris and Ezekiel Roy “Zeke” Lambert, III, will be on the Morgan County District One Special Election ballot during the General Election on November 4.

“I know what it means to serve,” said Harris, in an e-mail statement earlier this week. Harris is a teacher and coach at Morgan County High School. “I’m interested in jobs, in affordable housing,” he said, in a telephone interview Tuesday.

Lambert, a financier and farmer, was also interviewed by telephone Tuesday.

“Curtis did a wonderful job, he ran unopposed for all those years,” said Lambert. “And now I see an opportunity to serve…I have deep roots in Morgan County, and I’d like to use my experience in business, finance, agriculture and real estate to provide good, common-sense leadership in the community,” said Lambert. “We need to plan for clean, controlled growth…we need to keep Morgan County in business.”

Qualification for county commissioner for District One was scheduled to end at noon on Wednesday, August 20. County officials state-wide had until close of business on August 20 to submit names to the state for inclusion on ballots in the fall General Election.