Joe McAdory: Slower driving safer; update on judicial races

A friend motored south along U.S. Highway 280 the other day, blazing a trail through Coosa County at a meteoric 83 mph. She was speeding back to Opelika … racing to work.

She was pulled over and must now contribute to the Alabama State Highway Patrol’s general budget.

Had she driven the posted speed limit (I’d guess 65 through those parts), would it have made that much of a difference? Five or 10 minutes tops.

Racing home to watch a televised football game in 1991, I whipped my Oldsmobile Ciera through traffic along Wire Road, darted into Swann’s Trailer Park, pushed the accelerator, kicked up dirt and grass, handled the left-and-right turns like Mario Andretti, punched the gas one final time as I neared the yard, then slammed the brakes — making the car come to sliding, screeching, fun halt. I liked doing that.

Except it didn’t stop.

Heavy rains made sure of that, and the yard was a lake which felt like an ice rink. The Oldsmobile sped forward. It didn’t matter how hard I slammed on that brake pedal, nothing was happening … and I was making a fast, unavoidable beeline toward roommate Joe Gunter’s vintage red Chevrolet Camaro.

SMASH!

Had I driven like a normal human being, taken the turns at whatever the posted speed limit is through Swann’s Trailer Park, and realized that missing the kickoff of the Dolphins-Bengals game would not have been such a travesty, the front end of my automobile would not have been crushed. The Dolphins won, so at least something good happened.

And the Camaro? Oh, that steel sucker was just fine. Maybe a dent on the bumper. Cars must have been built better in the 1960s.

The moral to the story … there’s really no reason to speed on our highways or drive through trailer parks like Mario Andretti. Better to play it safe than sorry.

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Brian Mosholder of Auburn has announced his intent to run for Lee County Court Circuit Judge, Place 2. Mosholder graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University in 1988 with a double major in finance and economics and was recognized as the Outstanding Economics Graduate in his class. He attended Albany Law School of Union University in Albany, N.Y., and graduated cum laude in 1991.

“My experiences in and out of state and federal court, in dealing with mediators, arbitrators, my fellow attorneys, my clients and my clients’ opponents has given me valuable insight and taught me life lessons which I will bring to the bench and will use as my base in serving Lee County,” Mosholder, who has legal offices in Opelika and Montgomery, said in a statement.

He is campaigning against Opelika attorney Thomas Eden, who announced his candidacy over the summer.

John Denson currently holds the office, but will not seek re-election next year.

Other hopefuls who have joined this race, or other races, are welcome to make those intentions known by contacting me at 737-2549 and/or submitting their information to jmcadory@oanow.com

* * *

The campaign for Family Court judge in Opelika is now at least a three-person race.

Attorney Melissa B. Thomas recently announced her intention to run for the office, which will be vacated next year by retiring Judge Richard Lane.

“I feel I am uniquely qualified to serve the citizens of Lee County in this capacity – as a working mom, I understand what it is like to balance work and family,” Thomas said in a statement.

“And as a family law attorney I have seen firsthand the impact family court decisions have, not only on the families involved, but also on the community as a whole. My years of practice have given me not only the opportunity to represent husbands, wives, mothers and fathers in divorce actions and child support cases, but also parents, children, grandparents and other relatives in juvenile cases.

“Additionally, I have practiced in other areas including civil litigation and criminal defense which, combined with my family court experience, give me the necessary background to be an effective judge.”

She will campaign against Auburn attorney Mike Fellows, who has served as Lee County Family and Juvenile Court referee, and Margaret Mayfield, an Opelika attorney with the Lee County Department of Human Resources, which deals greatly in family matters.

Thomas is a 1986 Opelika High School graduate and graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1992.

She began her law practice in Phenix City 17 years ago and currently has practices there and in Opelika.

Joe McAdory is editorial page editor for the Opelika-Auburn News. He can be reached at 737-2549 or jmcadory@oanow.com