Oscar Peden

Oscar Ray Peden (1933 or 1934 – May 13, 2018) was an American businessman and politician who served in the Alabama Senate from Alabama's 1st Senate district, representing Lauderdale County and portions of Colbert County and Franklin County. In an electoral upset, he defeated Democratic state representative Jimmy Hunt, who was backed by Governor George Wallace, for the state senate in a February 1977 special election while running as an independent Democrat. Hunt had been hand-picked by the State Democratic Executive Committee for its nomination in lieu of a primary. Peden was a vocal critic of Wallace during his tenure in the chamber. Peden ran for re-election for a full term as a Democrat in 1978 but lost the Democratic nomination to Bobby E. Denton. Peden had previously served as a member of the city commission of Florence, Alabama for two three-year terms from 1970 to 1976. Peden was the last independent member of the Alabama Senate until the 1983 statewide special election.

Peden was first elected to the Florence city commission as commissioner of streets and sanitation in 1970, succeeding incumbent commissioner William Mapes, who was retiring. Peden was re-elected in 1973 and did not seek re-election in 1976. He unsuccessfully ran for commission and the newly created office of mayor in 1979 and 1983, respectively. Peden reportedly considered standing for election to the Alabama Public Service Commission in 1982.

Electoral history

Election Winner Runners-up Mayor of Florence, Alabama 1983 prim Eddie Frost (NP) → 4,222 31.73% Clyde Bohannon (NP) → 2,892 21.73% Oscar Peden (NP)2 others 2,6463,546 19.88%26.65% Florence, Alabama city commission 1979 prim Dick Jordan (NP) ✓ 2,652 58.11% Oscar Peden (NP) 1,912 41.89% — Alabama Senate, 1st district 1978 prim ro Bobby E. Denton (D) ✓ 15,490 56.02% Oscar Peden (D, inc.) 12,162 43.98% — 1978 prim Bobby E. Denton (D) → 9,837 39.81% Oscar Peden (D, inc.) → 8,048 32.57% Bob Hill (D) 6,825 27.62% 1977 sp Oscar Peden (I) ✓ 6,009 52.44% Jimmy Hunt (D) 5,449 47.56% — Florence, Alabama city commission 1973 ro Oscar Peden (NP) ✓ 3,256 52.01% Greg Watson (NP) 3,004 47.99% — 1973 prim Oscar Peden (NP) → 1,857 45.44% Greg Watson (NP) → 1,824 44.63% 2 others 406 9.93% 1970 ro Oscar Peden (NP) ✓ 3,248 56.35% Bert Norton Jr. (NP) 2,516 43.65% — 1970 prim Oscar Peden (NP) → 1,767 41.09% Bert Norton Jr. (NP) → 954 22.19% 5 others 1,579 36.72%