Editorial: Race for Family Court Judge worth watching

Alabama’s gubernatorial election may steal next year’s election headlines. Congressional and State Legislature races won’t be too far behind, not to mention the race for attorney general.

But another race not necessarily grabbing the spotlight is one very important to the lives of people in Lee County. It’s the race for Family Judge in Lee County Circuit Court. With Richard Lane announcing his intent to leave the bench next year, a pair of fine candidates, Margaret Mayfield of Opelika and Mike Fellows of Auburn, have announced their desire to follow in his footsteps.

Why is Family Court Judge so important? Someone must preside over cases of child abuse and neglect. Someone must preside over cases that involve family violence or juvenile delinquency. Someone must preside over cases that involve substance abuse.

These are very delicate issues and demand a person best suited to handle matters that affect home life and children. What happens within these chambers are often far more reaching and personal than laws and issues bickered over by overpaid legislators in Montgomery.

Lee County has been blessed with a Family Court Judge with the care and keen mind of Lane. He will be missed. But we are also very fortunate to have a pair of candidates we believe can pick up where Lane left off.

Mayfield has for 25 years served as Lee County Assistant District Attorney, has served as attorney for the Lee County Department of Human Resources and practiced family court-related law. Not a bad resume for the job. Her vast experience in a variety of county government levels gives her a wealth of knowledge useful to the bench.

Fellows’ resume, however, is also impressive. Under Lane, Fellows has served for six years as Lee County Family and Juvenile Court Referee. He has served as prosecutor in Opelika and Camp Hill, worked on Gov. Bob Riley’s staff in Washington when Riley served in Congress and served as an attorney for the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Either way, it appears Lee County families can’t go wrong. But instead of flipping a coin on Election Day and choosing a candidate based on limited knowledge, now is the time to study the candidates.