Ritchie Whorton
| Ritchie Aaron Whorton | |
Alabama State Representative
for District 22 (Jackson and Madison counties) | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office November 5, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Wayne Johnson |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1960 |
| Citizenship | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Shirley Spivey Whorton |
| Children | McKenna and Kylee Whorton |
| Residence | Owens Cross Roads, Madison County Alabama |
| Alma mater | New Hope High School Jacksonville State University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Religion | United Methodist |
- For another Alabama Republican representative, see Isaac Whorton.
Ritchie Aaron Whorton (born c. 1960)[1] is a businessman from Owens Cross Roads, near Huntsville, Alabama, who has since 2014 represented District 22 in the Alabama House of Representatives. A Republican, his district encompasses Jackson and Madison counties in the northern portion of his state.
Whorton graduated from New Hope High School in New Hope in Madison County and Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. He owns All Star Pools, Inc., and is a member of the Madison County Home Builders Association. He was formerly employed by the Historic Huntsville Foundation. He is a member of Owens Cross Roads United Methodist Church in Owens Cross Roads, his town of residence in Madison County. He and his wife, the former Shirley Spivey, have two grown daughters, McKenna and Kylee.[1][2] Shortly after Whorton took office as representative, daughter McKenna received third degree burns on her face, hands and knees from an explosion at Ultra Tech, a fireworks manufacturing company in Owen Cross Roads. Two persons were killed in the incident. "She's been healing, She's come a long way in the last three weeks, and we're very thankful for that," the representative said.[3]
Whorton in 2014 unseated incumbent Republican Representative Wayne Johnson in their party primary, 2,828 (58.4 percent) to 2,018 (41.6 percent). He campaigned on a pledge to remove the power of political bosses. He then won the November 4 general election over the Democrat Dennis W. Stephens, 8,688 (74.2 percent) to 2,998 (25.6 percent).[4]
Whorton serves on these committees: (1) Commerce and Small Business, (2) Economic Development and Tourism, (3) Ethics and Campaign Finance, and (4) Madison County Legislation.[2]
In 2015, Representative Whorton voted against the establishment of public charter schools in Alabama, a measure which passed the House, 58-41. He voted to allow the home schooled to participate in public school athletic events, which was approved 52-43. He voted against the increase in the cigarette tax, which passed the House, 52-46. In 2016, Whorton supported legislation to forbid the sale of fetal tissue or to permit its use in research, and he opposed dilation abortions in Alabama. He voted against additional funding for new prison facilities, a measure which passed the House, 52-33. In 2017, he voted to authorize midwives to practice in his state, a measure which won House approval, 84-11. He voted to reduce the time for appeals from inmates on death row. He voted to prohibit alteration or removal of historic monuments, which passed 72-29. Whorton voted to prohibit judicial override of sentencing guidelines.[5]
Whorton was an early supporter of conservative Republican former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Roy Moore for the United States Senate seat vacated by now Attorney General Jeff Sessions."This Senate race is Roy Moore versus the Washington insiders. Judge Moore has put principle before politics throughout his entire life and has stayed the course," said Whorton in a press release.[6] Moore was then defeated by a liberal Democrat, former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones, in the December 12 special election to fill the three years remaining in Sessions' unexpired term.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ritchie Whorton. Intelius.com. Retrieved on October 21, 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ritchie Whorton's Biography. Retrieved on October 21, 2017.
- ↑ Mark McCarter (March 4, 2015). Family tragedy impacts Rep. Ritchie Whorton's start in Alabama House. Retrieved on October 21, 2017.
- ↑ Ritchie Whorton. Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved on October 21, 2017.
- ↑ Ritchie Whorton's Voting Records. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on October 21, 2017.
- ↑ Mike Casson (August 22, 2017). Roy Moore gets endorsements from 14 Alabama lawmakers. Al.com. Retrieved on October 20, 2017.
