Gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne won St. Clair County’s Republican Party Straw Poll, which followed a well-attended forum at St. Clair County High School two weeks ago.

Byrne’s had a nearly two-to-one lead over his opponents, according to the straw poll. Coming in second were Tim James and Roy Moore, who both tied with 21 percent of the votes. Robert Bentley collected 14 percent of the votes, Bill Johnson had three percent and Kay Ivey had one percent of the vote.

Over 100 people crowded corporate office at the Red Diamond in Moody last week to hear guest speakers Luther Strange and Bill Johnson’s wife, Kathy.

“We had a good turnout considering the weather,” St. Clair GOP Party Chairman Joey Stevens said after the meeting in Moody.

The forum two weeks ago attracted a crowd of approximately 750 area residents and featured all six of the Republican candidates who have formally entered Alabama’s 2010 race for Governor.

“I’m hoping that the forum provided voters in our county the opportunity to at least be introduced to the candidates and their views,” Stevens said. “I think it was the beginning of a dialog between the candidates and voters. I wanted our party to be out front and engaged in the conversation and active in the conversation over the next few months in the election cycle. We’re not going to be passive. We’re going to be active and part of this next election cycle.”

The straw poll was the first such balloting process of the 2010 election season.

“I sincerely thank all those who attended this key event and have committed themselves to working for Republican victories up and down the ballot in 2010,” Byrne said when hearing of the straw poll win. “We’ll use this victory as a springboard to the future—always looking forward and never backing down.”

Byrne’s decisive St. Clair County victory came despite the fact that his name has never appeared on a primary ballot in the county. Three of the other declared candidates have campaigned and appeared on primary ballots in St. Clair County in at least one previous election cycle.

“We’re just getting started and there’s a long road ahead,” Byrne said. “But [last week’s] announcement is truly energizing because it’s a great example of what we’re finding in our travels all across the state. Alabamians are looking for proven and tested conservative leadership in 2010; and our unyielding commitment to the ‘Three Es: Ethics, Education and Economic Development’ is striking a chord with our Republican base.”