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INSI ER INSIDER@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM
Insider is an anonymous, opinion-based examination of the hidden details of Augusta politics and personalities.
The Kingfish Moved to Columbia County? The deadline to qualify for the special election for Columbia County Probate Court judge passed at noon on Aug. 5 with only one candidate, Alice Padgett, qualifying and paying the fee of $2,173.02. The election is being held to fill the office vacated by the recent death of long-time Columbia County Probate Judge Pat Hardaway, who served the county in her office for 30 years. At this point in time, anyone wishing to run for the position as a write-in candidate must file a notice of intent to run with the County Board of Elections by this Friday, Aug. 12, and pay the appropriate fee. Padgett, an associate probate judge since last year, will automatically take office without the election being held in the
event that no other candidate qualifies as a write-in candidate. While the Insider is pleased with the $40,000 that the taxpayers will save if the election is not contested, we hate the fact that there is no other party interested in this important county office. Some legal insiders speculate that the political forces behind Padgett have driven off any interest in the position from contesting parties. It’s no secret that Padgett is the wife of influential and popular Superior Court Judge J. Wade Padgett and has the backing of the powerful judicial forces. Hardaway seemingly anointed Padgett with the position by selecting her as associate judge, a position that is not clearly warranted. With the backing of Superior Court
Chief Judge Carlisle Overstreet, who appointed Padgett, and cooperation of Clerk of Superior Court Cindy Mason, who declined the office awarded her by law at Hardaway’s passing, Padgett has now assumed the advantage of incumbency in the election. It looks like the power brokers have executed the plan. Maybe this is a good thing. By all accounts, Padgett is a capable and effective attorney with experience in the position. Her character has always been unassailable. Maybe that is not a good thing. Having not only the probate judge but also a superior court judge, both of whom are capable of sitting on the bench for another 25 or so years, in one household
puts an awful lot of power at one breakfast table. It certainly does not help public perception to enter the office without an election, which is what it appears is about to happen. It is of concern that lawyers potentially interested in the position may have abandoned thoughts of running for fear of incurring the wrath of Superior Court Judges Padgett and Overstreet. Elections mean something. The probate court judge handles many misdemeanor cases including DUIs, issuance of gun permits and marriage licenses, and probate and administration of estates of the deceased. The judge can put people in jail. And it looks like she’s about to take the office without an election.
BradFly Returning? BradFly Owens, responding to rumors that he might be making a return to the Augusta political scene, admitted to the Metro Spirit that he was considering leaving the overseas security work that has kept him away from the city he so wants to be known in. According to some, the former DDA board member may be planning on drawing an investigative bead on the DDA, the Tax Commissioner’s office and absentee landlords. All he’ll say is that his six years of security contracting has left him with a unique skill set that would help him in the office (not sheriff, but more than likely rented, what with his chances of holding elected office being slim to none, and slim just left town) that he’s considering. One of those skills must be prowling Augusta message boards espousing his many opinions. Must be pretty slow in the security-contracting world. He claims to have no solid plans, but given his inability to walk away from the Garden City, you’ve got to figure he’s giving it a serious thought.
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Cowboy Mouth grew on us as Saturday evening progressed.
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Hey Raoul: We’ll display Ott in our office. We like controversy.
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