With the passing of the late Judge Dale Freeman, the Lawrence County Clerk’s Office is facing a long night with the proceedings taking place tonight at the Lawrence County Court House.
According to Lawrence County Clerk Tina Stowers, the Democratic Committee will meet tonight at the Court House to accept nominations for the vacant position created by the death of Lawrence County Judge Dale Freeman who passed away earlier this month.
According to Tina Stowers, once the nomination process is complete, then those who did not vote in the Republican Primary and are registered voters in Lawrence County will vote by secret ballot on the nominees presented tonight.
These paper ballots will then be hand counted by the County Clerks Office and the winner will be announced. Since the late Judge Freeman had won his parties nomination for the 2017 term and had no Republican opposition, this person nominated will serve the full term beginning January 2017 and be eligible for re-election for terms after the 2017-2018 term is completed.
It was thought that the nominee would not be allowed to run for re-election but Stowers’ office confirmed with state attorneys that the nominee would be eligible for additional terms due to the election process.
Stowers stated that tonight’s election is very important and every vote counts on this process.