Democrat Beech wins Ala. House District 65 seat

CHATOM, Ala. (AP) - Early returns show Democrat Elaine Beech has
been elected to the House District 65 seat vacated by Marc Keahey.
    Beech had about 53 percent of the vote in unofficial results
Tuesday night, while her Republican opponent, Jerry Reed, had 47
percent.
    The 49-year-old Beech is a member of the Washington County
School Board and is supervising pharmacist at Washington County
Hospital.
    Reed, who is 67 and lives in Jackson, is a retired State Farm
Insurance agent and a former coach, teacher and principal.
    House District 65 includes parts of Choctaw, Clarke and
Washington counties in southwest Alabama.
    The winner of Tuesday’s special election replaces Keahey,
D-Grove Hill, who was elected to the state senate in a special
election following the death of Sen. Pat Lindsey.