Judge race set for the 2022 November ballot

The timing worked out just right for the Polk County Probate Court’s new judge to be determined by the 2022 election, and qualifying for the seat will begin on Tuesday morning.

The Polk County Board of Elections will begin taking in paperwork and checks to qualify to get on the ballot for the 2022 midterm election as voters from across the county will get a chance to determine who the next Probate Judge will be in the coming months.

Candidates who wish to put their hat into the ring for the seat vacated in July by Judge Tony Brazier will have just three days to decide if they want to run and appear on the November 8 ballot.

Qualifying for the seat begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9 and continues during regular office hours for the Elections office (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays) through Thursday, August 11. Candidates will have to turn in paperwork and a $1,690.57 fee to appear on the ballot for the Probate Court seat by 5 p.m. this Thursday.

Currently, the Probate Court is being headed by Interim Judge Shayne Green.

The race will feature all candidates, as there is no time to hold primaries. If needed, a run-off will be held on December 6.

The 2020 race featured the now-retired Judge Brazier against local attorney and now Assistant Probate Court Judge Bobby Brooks. The two faced off in the GOP primary in 2020, and no Democrats ran in the contest.

Brazier won the primary, and ultimately took over before the term of Judge Linda Smith was up during the fall of 2020.