Henry rides political wave to District 5 nomination, will face Goodwin in November

Riding the wave of national Tea Party sentiments, a political newcomer walked away with the GOP nomination for the District 9 seat in the House of Representatives Tuesday night.
Ed Henry, a cardiac technician and Hartselle native, defeated Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley for the GOP nomination for the state house seat. Henry received 64 percent or 4,800 votes, to Tankersley’s 36 percent, or 2,752.
Henry said his win was “God’s doing, not mine.”
“ Obedience to His will for my life has been something I’ve asked for through prayer every day of the campaign. I’m extremely grateful to God for getting me to this point in my life and I deeply appreciate the faith and support I’ve received from my family, campaign workers and voters of District 9.”
Henry, a newcomer to political office, was involved in Hartselle’s Tea Party movement, a political group rebelling against the status quo.
Henry will face Kathy White-Goodwin, the Democratic primary winner, in the Nov. 2 general election. Goodwin, marketing director for Hartselle Medical Center and 10-year member of the city’s school board, defeated Cullman attorney Tom Drake II. Goodwin received 64 percent, or 607 votes, to Drake’s 36 percent, or 335 votes.
The winner of the Henry/Goodwin race will replace Democratic Rep. Ronald Grantland, who opted not to seek reelection.
In the race for District Eight, the house seat being vacated by the retiring Bill Dukes. Terri Collins, a Decatur banker, defeated Jason Putman in the GOP primary. There is no Democratic challenger.
Collins received 53 percent, or 2,429 votes, to Putman’s 47 percent, or 2,132 votes.