Judicial forum
By JOAN CROTHERS

All four judicial candidates were present at a forum October 12 presented by the Democratic Party of Towns County. Two seats for Judge, Superior Court of the Enotah Judicial Circuit, a non-partisan race, are up for a vote in the November 7 election. The Enotah Judicial Circuit covers Union, Towns, White, and Lumpkin counties.

One seat is for a successor to Hugh W. Stone who is retiring. Rick Stancil of Hiawassee and Lynn Alderman of Blairsville are on the ballot for this position. The other seat is held by incumbent David Barrett who is challenged by James E. Palmour.

Past Chairman of the Democratic Party, Attorney Fletcher Griffin, introduced each of the candidates beginning with Lynn Alderman. Alderman has been a DFCS (Department of Family & Children's Services) lawyer, had a private practice, was Chief Asst. D.A. and former Special Asst. Attorney General, and is currently the Juvenile Judge for the Enotah Circuit.

Stancil said that this judge needs to be impartial. He will not try to fill Stone's shoes, "I have my own shoes. I am born, raised, and have worked in this circuit. I have worked with drug programs for children and have been attorney for the county and am currently the attorney for the City of Hiawassee. And I'll keep her [Alderman] on as a Juvenile Court Judge."

Palmour said he went to UGA Law School, worked with his father, was Judge of the Superior Court eight years in a

different circuit, Attorney for White County and City of Gainesville. "I don't believe we need a third judge and I can reduce case load. There are 500 cases pending."

Barrett has been a judge for "14 years and 2 months. I've worked hard and Judge Stone worked hard for 14 years. I was born here, went to UGA, then a law firm in Athens. My heart and soul is in this county and

area. Stone and I created this circuit and created a different type of drug program in court for juveniles with a 67 percent success rate. It's how you affect lives, not how many cases you hear."

The General Election will held Tuesday, November 7, with early voting beginning Monday, October 30 to Friday, November 3.