Susan E. Smith, an Atmore City Council member and businesswoman, has qualified as a Democrat for the vacant Senate seat previously held by Marc Keahy of Grove Hill.

Keahy qualified for re-election by the deadline but then withdrew, leaving Senate District 22 with a Democratic vacancy. The Party’s Executive Committee established May 30 as the deadline for individuals to qualify to fill the vacancy.

The lone qualifier was Smith, who will advance to the November General Election against the winner of the July Republican run-off.

Smith is running to represent Senate District 22, one of the largest in the state, and an area in which she worked with the American Red Cross. Smith says, “I will make sure each of the eight counties gets my attention and representation. No one will be left out.”

District 22 includes all or parts of Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington Counties.

“(Smith’s) government experience, membership in organizations as diverse as AEA and ALFA, her volunteer service, and her work with the Red Cross, Leadership Alabama, Escambia County School Board, and other organizations prepared her for the Alabama State Senate. She will represent the people of District 22 quite well,” said Nancy Worley, Alabama Democratic Party chair.