One career ended and another began in Polk County today as Linda Smith’s tenure as the Probate Judge for Polk County ended, and recently elected to start in the 2021 term Tony Brazier was sworn in to serve.

Chief Superior Court Judge Mark Murphy swore in Brazier during an office ceremony at the courthouse today with his term starting effectively on Tuesday, September 1 according to a Facebook post from Brazier’s campaign page.

“Thank you all for your support and I am blessed and honored to serve the people of Polk County as the next Polk County Probate Judge,” Brazier’s post said.

Smith decided to retire early from her post as the Probate Judge and had Brazier acting as an Associate Judge for the court on a temporary basis. During the County Commission’s special session last week, they approved a temporary salary for the position in a resolution that stated that Brazier will not be appointing someone to fill the Associate Judge’s position.

Brazier was elected in the primary against local attorney Bobby Brooks to the seat. He was serving as coroner up until recent days, when Norman Smith was appointed to take over the position early.

Smith qualified for the job without opposition in March. He took over the position last Wednesday when he was sworn into the job by Judge Linda Smith in one of her last acts in the position.