Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch will serve another four years after defeating Democratic challenger Pamela Laffitte in Tuesday’s election, according to results from the Mobile County Probate Court. With 99% of votes reported, Burch held 51.6% of the vote to Laffitte’s 48.4%, a margin of 3.2 percentage points.
The result gives Burch a second term as the county’s top law enforcement official. He declared victory Tuesday night at an election gathering hosted by the Mobile County Republican Party, where he thanked supporters and addressed voters who backed his opponent.
“Thank all of you for your support,” Burch said. “I want to say to the community, for those of you who did not vote for me, I hope you’ll watch what we do the next four years and vote for me next time.”
A second term after a competitive general election
Burch first took office in 2022, following the retirement of former Sheriff Sam Cochran. Before facing Laffitte in the general election, Burch secured his party’s nomination in May, receiving nearly 72% of the Republican primary vote against former Mobile police chief and mayoral candidate Paul Prine.
The sheriff’s victory comes as the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office carries additional responsibilities in Prichard. In June, Burch and Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood announced the first arrest connected to an investigation into corruption in the Prichard Police Department. The sheriff’s office subsequently assumed responsibility for responding to police calls in the city while Prichard works to rebuild its own department.
Prichard policing remains a major county responsibility
That arrangement was formalized in October through a one-year policing agreement involving the sheriff’s office, Prichard Mayor Carletta Davis and Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson. The contract provides $1.2 million for continued law enforcement response in the city.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Agreement | Prichard policing contract |
| Value | $1.2 million |
| Term | One year |
| Purpose | Maintain police responses while Prichard rebuilds its force |
The policing arrangement is among the most significant issues facing the sheriff’s office as Burch begins his second term. Under the deal, Mobile County deputies will continue answering calls in Prichard while the city works to restore its police agency. The arrangement places the county sheriff’s office at the center of public safety operations in a municipality that is the county’s second-largest.
Laffitte brought law enforcement experience to the race
Laffitte entered the contest with a professional background in local law enforcement. She previously worked as a dispatcher for the Prichard Police Department and retired from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office after 26 years. She also served as vice president and president of the Mobile County Merit System.
Her challenge gave voters a choice between an incumbent overseeing an expanded county role in Prichard and a former sheriff’s office employee with experience in the county’s law enforcement system. The reported results show Burch winning the office while Laffitte captured nearly half of the vote.
- Paul Burch won a second term as Mobile County sheriff.
- Burch led Pamela Laffitte 51.6% to 48.4% with 99% of votes reported.
- The sheriff’s office is operating under a one-year, $1.2 million agreement to answer police calls in Prichard.
Burch’s reelection places continuity at the top of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office as the agency continues its role in Prichard and manages the responsibilities of the county’s largest law enforcement office. The final outcome was announced after a closely contested election in which the incumbent maintained a narrow lead over his Democratic challenger.
