Members of the East Alabama Republican Assembly gathered for their monthly meeting at Durango Mexican Grill in Opelika during the afternoon hours of Monday, January 8th of 2024. Jeff Drury, a candidate for the Lee County Commission in District 3, was the day's guest speaker who addressed the EARA attendees in regards to his campaign to win the GOP primary in March and go on to claim the seat in the general election in November. EARA member and crowd favorite Brian Davis of Smiths Station is also running for that same seat on the LCC against incumbent commissioner Gary Long.
Davis had notified his fellow EARA compatriots that he had previously met with Drury to get acquainted beforehand and provided what might be characterized as somewhat of a unique introduction for him before he claimed his time as guest speaker. Both Davis and Drury are competing with each other and against commissioner Long in what has emerged to be a three way race that is sure to head into a runoff. Complimentary consideration abounded as Davis vouched for Drury as best he could according to his own brief interactions with him and his character which he judged to be in good standing.
Drury began by giving a brief history of his own past as a lifelong native of Smiths Station and became visibly emotional when recounting fond memories of his father James Donald “JD” Drury who had passed away in 2021. JD had been served as President of the Dixie Youth Baseball for 33 years and was on the Lee County Board of Education for 20 years which had given his son Jeff the inspiration to serve and give back to the community. Citing this as his main motivator in running for office, Drury also noted his accounting career which includes time spent as the Chief Financial Officer for Lee County Schools as well as his cherished role as a husband and father providing further insights for his political aspirations.
Accountability, transparency and communication were three areas of focus that Drury highlighted, drawing particularly focus on the need for budgetary reform for county expenses which his accounting background would suit him well for. Having concluded his presentation, Drury fielded a series of inquiries during an extended question and answer session with audience members. Pressed on his on the record positions regarding critical topics such as Lee County's incompetent rollout of curbside trash service, the deceitful establishment of a granite quarry in Beulah and mismanagement at the Smiths Station Fire Protection District, Drury assured constituents that he would ask the hard questions and audit county finances regardless of any external pressure from nebulous organizations such as the Association of County Commissions of Alabama who may try to run interference against any efforts to reform the corrupt practices of the Lee County Commission.
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