Seth Hammett | |
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Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 92nd district |
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In office 1979–2011 |
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Preceded by | Frank Jackson |
Personal details | |
Born | June 24, 1946 Andalusia, Alabama |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Nancy |
Children | two |
Residence | Andalusia, Alabama |
Website | House Profile |
Seth Hammett (born June 24, 1946) is an Alabama Democratic politician and the current Speaker of the House in the Alabama House of Representatives. He was first elected to the State House in 1978.
Hammett will not seek reelection in 2010.[1]
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Seth Hammett was born and raised in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama to a farming and well-drilling family. One of his uncles was a county commissioner.
Seth Hammett attended Auburn University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree and Masters in Business Administration degree. He also served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1971, he returned to Andalusia as a teacher in the local community college.
Hammett got his first taste of politics in 1973 when the Chamber of Commerce President groomed Hammett to replace him as president. By 1978, the state representative, Frank Jackson, announced his retirement and Hammett decided to run for his seat. Hammett won the election with a strong majority and continues to serve as representative for the 92nd District.
Recently Hammett resigned this position to become the Director of Economic Development for the Alabama Electric Cooperative. Hammett received two honorary degrees from Troy University and the University of West Alabama.
Hammett continues to reside in Andalusia, Alabama with his wife, Nancy, where they are members of the First United Methodist Church of Andalusia. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Hammett was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in November 1978. He ran against Mike Purnell (now the mayor of Red Level, Alabama) and received 67.7% of the vote. Since 1978, Hammett has run unopposed in three of six elections and never received less than 56% of the vote.
In the most recent election, 2002, he ran against Roger Broxton, President of the Confederate Heritage Fund and an outspoken proponent for the protection of confederate history. Hammett won with more than 70% of the vote.
Year | Opponent | % Vote for Hammett |
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1978 | Mike Purnell | 67.7% |
1982 | Louie Grimes | 60.4% |
1986 | Unopposed | |
1990 | Unopposed | |
1994 | B. Martin and D. Phillips | 56.3% |
1998 | Unopposed | |
2002 | Roger Broxton | 70.3% |
Hammett also led a delegation on behalf of the Governor to South America to encourage trade between Alabama businesses and South American businesses. The trade mission visited Chile and Brazil and was successful in increasing port service and commercial trade between South America and Alabama and in developing educational programs linking South American universities with Alabamian universities (http://www.ndgi.com/news/2004/20040927.shtml).
One of the dominant issues in Alabama politics in recent years is the lottery. Hammett supports the idea of a lottery for the state.
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