Five qualify to run for judge
Five local attorneys will vie for the circuit court judgeship as the deadline passed Thursday to qualify for the race.
The field will be made up entirely of Warren County attorneys as possible Van Buren County candidate, Al Johnson, announced Wednesday he will not seek the office. The circuit judgeship for the 31st Judicial District covers both Warren and Van Buren counties.
The election, to be held as part of the general election Aug. 1, was scheduled after Circuit Court Judge Charles Haston retired May 1, midway through his eight-year term. The winner of the upcoming election will serve the four years remaining on Haston’s unexpired term and will take the oath of office Sept. 1. Since the qualifying deadline came after the Democratic Primary, all candidates will be running as independents.
The candidates are Richard McGregor, Robert Newman, Bart Stanley, Keith Smartt and Peg Stewart. Local attorney Bernard Smith qualified, but has since announced his withdrawal from the race.
None of the candidates came as a surprise as all revealed over a month ago they intended to seek the office. Most have already begun active campaigns.
Most notable among those not on the qualifying list is former District Attorney General Bill Locke, who had picked up qualifying papers. Locke presently works as an assistant prosecutor with the office of Bill Gipson, centered in Cookeville. Locke is the brother-in-law of judicial candidate Robert Newman.
Those qualifying Thursday will have seven days in which to withdraw their name from the ballot should they choose not to run. Smith has already exercised this option.
Along with judicial candidates, the deadline also fell Thursday for candidates for constable and the Warren County School Board.
Only one of the three school board districts is being contested. There are six seats on the school board; however, the elections are staggered at two-year intervals. School board members serve four-year terms.
In the 5th District, incumbent Mike Holland will be challenged by newcomer Bill J. Medley. In the 3rd District, Deborah Watlington will face no opposition. The same is true for Larry Judkins in the 1st District.
In the races for constable, four of the 12 districts will be contested races, while the 6th District has no candidates. A write-in candidate could be elected in that district with a single vote.
The biggest race for constable is in the 1st District where incumbent Bill T. Wanamaker is being challenged by Tommy Adams and Bradley Ryan Hobbs. The 5th District is a two-man race where incumbent Jim Cunningham is being challenged by Robert E. Morton. The same is true in the 9th District where incumbent Louis Battles is being challenged by Tony Pawlowski. The 11th District will see incumbent Don Leatherwood challenged by John T. Hayes.
The remainder of the races are uncontested, including the 2nd District with incumbent Morris D. Holt Sr.; the 3rd District with Robert N. Escenbacher Sr.; the 4th District with Glen Bobo; the 7th District with incumbent Phillip A. Young; the 8th District with incumbent Jerry (Bird) Scott; the 10th District with David Pennington; and the 12th District with Ricky Phillips.