In spite of inclement weather, the AFA was on the road yesterday to Chapman, Alabama where we participated as hosts at an event for Representative Charles Newton, incumbent for House District 90.
House District 90 was materially changed with the recent redistricting and is now composed of all of Butler and Crenshaw Counties, south Montgomery County and parts of Coffee and Conecuh Counties. Obviously a rural area, the timber business is an important part of the district’s economy and we are lucky to have a person like Representative Newton to represent this area.
First elected to the Alabama Legislature in 1989, Representative Newton owns Newton Oil Company in Greenville and is a strong conservative. A recent convert to the Republican Party, with his re-election, he should hit the ground running in the next four year legislative cycle. We anticipate that Representative Newton will become a valued member of leadership and we look forward to working with him.
But first we need to help him get elected. He has opposition in both the Republican Primary on June 3rd and in the General Election in November. Last night’s event hopefully sent a strong message to voters in District 90. In addition to AFA, the event was hosted by the Alabama Cattleman’s Association, the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association and the Alabama Farmer’s Federation. Getting the endorsements of these organizations should show prospective voters that the folks representing the rural economy have confidence in Representative Newton and should send him back to Montgomery for another four years.
The event was hosted by Mason McGowin at his beautiful home, Edgefield, built in 1927 in Chapman. McGowin, a long-time member of AFA and current member of our Board of Directors, is the latest in a family that has been very involved in the timber business for quite some time. Dating back to the 1880’s and the beginnings of the W.T. Smith Lumber Company, the company built a sawmill in Chapman that is still operating today.
Sold in 1966 to Union Camp, the mill has continued operations through several owners to today’s current owner, Coastal Forest Products. Coastal’s Tripp Winters, also an AFA Board Member, attended last night’s reception.
Butler County today is still a vibrant component of Alabama’s timber industry, mainly because of the Chapman sawmill. Representative Newton understands the importance of timber to the area’s rural economy and is committed to preserving the legacy.
We need to help him get elected so that he can accomplish this goal. Charles can be reached at Newton Oil Company (334-382-8005 or newtonoil@centurytel.net). Please contact him to see what you can do to assist his campaign. If you desire to make a campaign contribution, you can send it to ForestPAC (555 Alabama Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104) and we will make sure it gets delivered to Representative Newton.