Bart Stanley emerges as circuit judge
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Bart Stanley was elected Thursday to serve as circuit judge for the remainder of Haston’s unexpired eight-year term. Haston retired in the middle of his eight-year term earlier this year.
The 32-year-old partner in the Stanley, Bratcher & Stanley law firm, sailed to victory over his closest opponent, veteran local attorney Robert Newman. He becomes the youngest circuit judge in the state.
In Warren County, Stanley took 42 percent or 4,528 votes, besting his closest competitor, Robert Newman, who took 31 percent, or 3,329 votes. Clerk and Master Richard McGregor carried 11 percent or 1,217 votes with Keith Smartt close behind with 10 percent, or 1,031 votes. Peg Stewart was last with 6 percent or 650 votes.
Stanley also carried Van Buren County which added 2,365 votes to the 31st District total. Stanley, who was county attorney for Van Buren County, claimed 41 percent of the ballots with 963 votes. Newman again finished second, taking 30 percent of the vote with 710. Keith Smartt, with 268, and Richard McGregor with 257, each took 11 percent of the vote on the mountain while Peg Stewart brought up the rear with 8 percent or 197 votes.
“It feels great,” Stanley said of his win which he celebrated with friends and supporters at his home. “It really means a lot. We worked hard.”
Stanley said he is also very proud of his competitors and the way the election was run.
“I’m really proud of the way the campaigns were run,” Stanley said. “It was a good, clean campaign and that’s good, because we’ll all end up in the same courtroom come Sept. 1.”
Stanley said he is anxious to get to work to attack the heavy load of backlogged cases.
“I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work,” Stanley said. “I’m ready to do the best I can to make certain we provide justice for the people of Warren and Van Buren counties.”