Alabama Insurance Agent Parker Wins Republican Runoff

Huntsville insurance agent Wayne Parker won the Republican nomination for an open U.S. House seat in Alabama.

In the 5th District in north Alabama, Parker received 79 percent to 21 percent for Huntsville lawyer Cheryl Baswell Guthrie.

Parker will face the Democratic Party nominee, state Sen. Parker Griffith, in the Nov. 4 general election.

The seat has been held by retiring Democratic Rep. Bud Cramer of Huntsville.

Athens State University political scientist Jess Brown told the associated Press that Parker could be helped in the race if Republican nominee John McCain does well as expected in the district with a strong military presence.

Parker is a vice president with Insurance Office of America (IOA), one of the 10 largest privately-held property/casualty insurance agencies in the U.S. He joined IOA in 2003. He began his career in commercial insurance with Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton in 1998.

In 1994 he won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat but he lost to the incumbent Democrat. He lost again in 1996.