As Rep. Jo Bonner prepares to step down from his seat in the U.S. Congress in August, names are being added to the race to replace him as the representative for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District in a special election later this year.

Monday evening, four of the candidates vying for the seat – Alabama Rep. Randy Davis, former Alabama gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne, Quin Hillyer and Alabama Rep. Chad Fincher – made a stop in Atmore to speak to members of the Escambia County Republican Party.

“This may be one of the friendliest races you’ll ever see,” Hillyer told the crowd. “We all know and respect each other.”

While all four men shared similar views on the problems facing, both the nation and Alabama’s 1^st district, each candidate shared why they believed they would be the region’s best representative in Washington.

“Service is not an option, it is a requirement,” Fincher, who is serving in his second term in Montgomery, told the crowd.

“We’ve had 25 meetings so far to gage, not what Randy Davis wants to do, but what the people want Randy Davis to do,” Davis said.

Byrne said he believes strength is needed to make a difference in a government he called, “out of control.”

“This is an exciting time, but also a very difficult time,” he said.

For the complete story on Monday’s visit from the candidates, see the Wednesday, June 19 edition of The Atmore Advance.