Ritchie 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 n 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.^[2][1] 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. South voted to prohibit judicial override of sentencing guidelines.^[5]