In addition to all of the races for house and senate seats, county commission and governor, two local candidates are running for the position of Chambers County Coroner. For those who may not know, the county coroner works directly with law enforcement agencies to confirm and certify deaths of individuals in the area.

Mike Cox is running for political office for the first time. Cox is originally from Chambers County and has lived here his entire life.

Cox served for 25 years with the Valley Police Department before retiring in 2016 at the rank of captain over the Criminal Investigations Division.

“During my 25 years in law enforcement I investigated multiple deaths of all types,” Cox said in his campaign announcement. “I feel that this experience and the training I received during my time in law enforcement give me the qualifications needed to be coroner.”

Cox and his wife, Sandy, have been married for 29 years and have one son, Brandon Cox.

“I greatly enjoyed serving the public during my time at Valley Police Department and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of this county as Chambers County Coroner,” Cox said.

His opponent, incumbent Jeff Jones, is running for re-election.

Jones has been the Chambers County Coroner for the past 12 years and served as Deputy Coroner under Dave Collier for 15 years before that. Jones has a total of 41 years in funeral service experience in the LaFayette area and has owned Jeff Jones Funeral Home since 1999.

“I enjoy helping people at the worst time, at the death of a loved one,” Jones said. “I look forward to continuing professional, courteous and sympathetic service to the families that I serve as coroner. I have 12 years (of experience) as coroner and approximately 15 years as deputy coroner under former coroner Dave Collier, I have experience working with law enforcement investigators, the Alabama Department of Forensic Science and also medical examiners.”

Primary elections will take place on June 5.