BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The Tuesday, July 15th runoff election will decide seats on the Baldwin County Commission and Baldwin County Board of Education. Winners of Republican runoffs for those positions are unopposed in the November general election.

In another Republican runoff for Alabama State Senate District 22 — a district covering portions of north Baldwin — Greg Albritton faces Harry D’Olive Jr. Tuesday's winner will face Democrat Susan Smith, of Atmore, in the November general election.

We will update returns here on this article as Baldwin precincts report Tuesday evening, as well as on our GCN social media pages (Facebook.com/GulfCoastNewspapers and twitter.com/gcntoday).

Baldwin Runoff Races

With all precincts reporting . . . .

County Commission District 2

Bob James - 5,411

Chris Elliott - 8,066

Board of Education District 3

Elmer McDaniel - 793

Tony Myrick - 869

State Senate District 22                                                                  

Greg Albritton  - 986   

Harry D’Olive Jr. - 2,328

Cotton Amendment

YES - 6,372

NO - 4,647

The lone statewide ballot vote concerns the 1967 Amendment on Cotton Production. Here's the background on that item:

The amendment on the July 15 primary runoff ballot would allow Alabama’s cotton farmers to decide if their current voluntary checkoff program should become automatic.

Cotton farmers created the checkoff in the ‘70s to help their industry rebound from losing marketshare to man-made fibers. Since then, Alabama farmers have paid a self-imposed fee for each bale of cotton sold. That money must be used for cotton research, educational and promotional activities.

Most notably, checkoff money helped fund research for the boll weevil eradication program, which increased yields and reduced pesticide use. More recent research has helped farmers reduce yield losses from pests such as stinkbugs and nematodes while protecting the soil and environment.

Currently, the checkoff contains a refund option, which only 7 percent of farmers request. However, those farmers have access to and benefit from checkoff-funded research and promotion without paying into the program.

 If the July 15 amendment passes, the commission would then be allowed to schedule a vote for cotton farmers to decide on the proposed change to the checkoff program.