Public Service Commission, Place 1 of Alabama · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alabama public service commission, place 1 race?
Matt Gentry has the strongest record in the Alabama public service commission, place 1 race. Matt Gentry scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of James O. Gordon at 58, as of October 9, 2026. Matt Gentry's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. James O. Gordon's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
Matt Gentry
64 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
Democratic
James O. Gordon
58 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Matt Gentry
- Unresolved2026-04-29
A former detention deputy sued Gentry, other officers and Cullman County in federal court, alleging an unlawful phone seizure and retaliation; Gentry calls the suit frivolous.
Where it stands: Pending in U.S. District Court, N.D. Ala. (Rohrscheib v. Gentry, 5:26-cv-00718); no ruling on the merits as of Aug. 2026.
Sources: Cullman Tribune, Aug. 12, 2026, WVTM 13, Aug. 12, 2026
- On the record2026-02-10
Publicly opposed the Ivey-backed bill to make Public Service Commission seats appointed and urged Republican legislators to vote no.
Source: Cullman Tribune, Feb. 10, 2026
- On the record2024-08-02
Announced he would not seek a fourth term as sheriff.
Source: Cullman Tribune, Aug. 2, 2024
- On the record2018 to 2023
Was a named defendant in Hester v. Gentry, a challenge to Cullman County's cash bail schedule; the 11th Circuit upheld the system in 2022 and the Supreme Court declined review in 2023.
- Credit2024-01-26
The Examiners of Public Accounts reported no significant noncompliance in the Cullman County Sheriff's Office for July 2017 to March 2023.
- Credit2018
Backed a local constitutional amendment to move Cullman County jail food money out of the sheriff's personal control into a county account.
Source: Cullman Tribune, July 14, 2018
James O. Gordon
- On the record2026
Three reports of his PSC campaign committee were filed one to five days after their due dates, per the Secretary of State.
Source: Alabama FCPA, Reports Filed Late (July 6 to 8, 2026)
- On the record2006 to 2010
Served on House committees including Health and Constitution and Elections, and as vice chair of a subcommittee on professional qualifications.
Source: Ballotpedia, James O. Gordon
- Credit2007 to 2010
Rated "Meets expectations" by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as a state representative, with 47 bills sponsored and four enacted.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
- Credit1982 to 1985
Served in the U.S. Navy.
Source: Ballotpedia, James O. Gordon
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Matt Gentry. Campaign committee 31544 (legal name Kevin Matthew Gentry) is registered and reporting with no 2025 or 2026 late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
James O. Gordon. Campaign committee 33927 is registered and reporting; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found. Late 2026 reports are stated under Management.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Matt Gentry. In February 2026 publicly opposed the Republican governor's package making the Public Service Commission appointed, and urged Republican legislators to vote against it.
Source: Cullman Tribune, Feb. 10, 2026
James O. Gordon. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Matt Gentry. Held an open town hall with other county officials as sheriff (Trimble, 2018). No 2026 general election debate or forum with Gordon was found.
Source: Cullman Tribune, Jan. 23, 2018
James O. Gordon. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Matt Gentry. Cullman County sheriff since January 2015, over three terms, with no formal censure or conduct finding found. A 2026 federal lawsuit by a former detention deputy is pending (see Record).
Source: Cullman Tribune, Aug. 2, 2024
James O. Gordon. State representative from 2006 to 2010 and a Mobile chiropractor; no formal censure or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, James O. Gordon
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Matt Gentry. Marine Corps veteran and sworn sheriff for three terms; no misuse-of-office finding found. A cash bail challenge naming him (Hester v. Gentry) ended with the county system upheld on appeal.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Matt Gentry, Alabama Political Reporter, June 21, 2023
James O. Gordon. Served in the U.S. Navy from 1982 to 1985 and took the oath as a state representative; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, James O. Gordon
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Matt Gentry. Elected Cullman County sheriff three times (2014, 2018, 2022) after a career as a deputy; Marine Corps veteran. Has not held utility regulation office.
Source: Cullman Tribune, Aug. 2, 2024
James O. Gordon. One term in the Alabama House for District 98 (2006 to 2010); chiropractor and owner of a Mobile pain clinic; Navy veteran.
Source: Ballotpedia, James O. Gordon
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Matt Gentry. Specific commitments within the commission's powers: calling a public rate hearing as his first order of business and keeping commissioners elected.
Source: Cullman Tribune, Feb. 21, 2026
James O. Gordon. Campaign platform states general goals on power bill affordability and community services, and notes the commission does not award grants.
Source: James O. Gordon campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Matt Gentry. Two channels documented: published statements on rates and on PSC governance carried by the Cullman Tribune (2026). Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: Cullman Tribune, Feb. 21, 2026, Ballotpedia, Matt Gentry
James O. Gordon. One channel documented: a campaign platform page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: James O. Gordon campaign site, Ballotpedia, James O. Gordon
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Matt Gentry. Born and raised in Cullman County, where he has served as a deputy and sheriff. About 90.0 percent of itemized individual cash contributions, mid-2025 to Sept. 2026, came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Cullman Tribune, June 6, 2025 (campaign announcement text), Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
James O. Gordon. Represented a Mobile district in the state House and lists Mobile on his committee. About 79.9 percent of itemized individual cash contributions in 2026 came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Alabama FCPA committee record, Gordon (33927), Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Matt Gentry. Has run the Cullman County Sheriff's Office, including the county jail and work release program, since 2015; his PSC committee 31544 has no late filing listed (two 2022 sheriff-campaign weekly reports were filed one day late). Staff size not found.
Source: Examiners of Public Accounts, report 24-094, Cullman County Sheriff
James O. Gordon. Owns and runs a chiropractic clinic. The Secretary of State lists three 2026 reports of his PSC committee as filed late: due April 27, June 2 and July 2, filed one, one and five days late.
Sources: Alabama FCPA, Reports Filed Late (April 27 to 29, 2026), Alabama FCPA, Reports Filed Late (June 2 to 8, 2026), Alabama FCPA, Reports Filed Late (July 6 to 8, 2026)
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Matt Gentry. No public record found.
James O. Gordon. State Legislative Effectiveness Score "Meets expectations" for 2007 to 2010; 47 bills sponsored, four became law (Center for Effective Lawmaking).
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Matt Gentry. No public record found.
James O. Gordon. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Matt Gentry. No public record found.
James O. Gordon. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Matt Gentry. No public record found.
James O. Gordon. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Matt Gentry. Examiners of Public Accounts found no significant noncompliance in his office for July 2017 to March 2023. In 2018 he backed a local amendment moving jail food money out of the sheriff's personal control into a county account.
Sources: Examiners of Public Accounts, report 24-094, Cullman Tribune, July 14, 2018
James O. Gordon. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Alabama public service commission, place 1 race?
Matt Gentry has the strongest record in the Alabama public service commission, place 1 race. Matt Gentry scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of James O. Gordon at 58, as of October 9, 2026. Matt Gentry's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. James O. Gordon's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alabama public service commission, place 1 race in 2026?
Matt Gentry (Republican), James O. Gordon (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Matt Gentry a good candidate for Public Service Commission, Place 1?
Matt Gentry scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is James O. Gordon a good candidate for Public Service Commission, Place 1?
James O. Gordon scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Alabama race scored, and the Alabama 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.