By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Jim McClendon will move on to face Democratic challenger Ron Crumpton in the November general election after he defeated incumbent Jerry Fielding in the Republican primary election on June 3.

As a result of redrawn Alabama Senate district lines, District 11 will include parts of southern Shelby County after the general election this November. District 11 currently does not cover Shelby County.

In Shelby County, McClendon received 65.5 percent of the vote, while Fielding received 34.5 percent. Both candidates reported similar numbers for Talladega and St. Clair counties.

McClendon, who currently represents the 50^th Alabama House of Representatives district, is a Springville resident, and has been serving in the Alabama Legislature since 2002. This will be his first term as a state senator.

“It’s kind of fulfilling,” McClendon said after he won. “It’s over. I will be senator for District 11.”

McClendon said he has plans to celebrate his victory by going fishing in Canada, and said he will turn his attention to his upcoming Senate seat after returning from the trip.

Fielding, a Sylacauga resident and current District 11 state senator, congratulated his opponent on the victory and thanked his supporters.

“I just want to commend Jim on the victory. I expect him to represent the district well,” Fielding said. “I want to thank my supporters for standing by me.”