The next county judge for Pike County will be selected Tuesday in a runoff set up by the primary in November.
David Lee Brewer led the field on Nov. 8 with 37% of the vote, followed by Amelia S. Carter’s 23%. Nelson Estess and Jason Tate were eliminated in the primary.
Tuesday’s winner will replace the retiring John Price.
David Brewer
Brewer has kept up a steady schedule of campaigning for county court, largely which handles civil matters like eminent domain as well as some appeals from justice court. The judge also oversees youth court.
Brewer, now the county court prosecutor, said voters he has spoken with have mostly been concerned about the youth court, with juvenile crime becoming more prevalent in the area; and about bonds for violent offenders.
“Those are the two things that I am most qualified to handle,” he said. “I am familiar with all the children and their families, and I’ve been trying cases in the court for 17 years.”
While there have also been concerns about a juvenile detention center, “no judge is authorized to pay for that,” he said. “Would I like to have one? Yes. Am I going to get it? No. The purse strings are with the board of supervisors.”
Brewer said he has identified detention alternatives that fit within the law and should save the county money.
He urged people to return to the polls for the runoff, or to vote for the first time in this cycle.
“If people care one iota about children and justice, they should go vote on Tuesday,” Brewer said.
The general election, he added, “is about the issues, and about the candidates and their qualifications. That work is mostly done now. The runoff is about voters and who shows up at the polls.”
He believes a lot of Estess and Tate voters who vote again will choose him, after they told him he would be their second choice if their first choice didn’t make a runoff.
“I believed that when they told me,” he said. “But I also had a lot of people tell me they voted for me after the Republican primary in June, when I wasn’t even on the ballot, so we’ll see what happens.”
Amelia Carter
Going into Tuesday’s runoff, Carter said she has been knocking on voters’ doors and hearing a lot about youth in the community.
“That’s mostly the conversation that I get,” she said. “The citizens are concerned and they’re looking forward to a new direction.”
Carter specifically said she is attempting to let those who voted for Estess or Tate in the primary to know her vision.
“I think that Estess and Tate supporters should know that I am open to doing a very good job for our children and welcome any comments and suggestions, and I hope they’ll go out and support me on the 29th of November,” she said.
Carter thanked her supporters, family and friends for all they have done for her throughout the campaign and asked them to vote for her once again on Tuesday. She acknowledged, in many cases, the voter turnout is higher for general elections than runoffs.
“The statistics for runoffs are what they are,” she said. “I hope they beat the statistics. I hope the citizens of Pike County come out in record numbers and vote. Your voice is your vote and your vote is your voice. I’m asking that the citizens of Pike County come out and vote.”
Carter feels she is prepared to be the next county judge.
“I am perfectly dedicated to this job,” she said. “I care about our citizens. I care about our children. I am committed to working and serving for the citizens of Pike County. I’m asking they give me a chance and go out and vote for me and especially to Mr. Tate and Mr. Estess’ voters, I know that I can do a good job for them. I’m asking they particularly go out and vote for me.”
