Candidates for 402nd District Court judge and attorney participated in a forum sponsored by the Wood County Bar Association Friday in front of a packed house in the district courtroom at the county courthouse. 

The candidates drew for the order to speak. Incumbent District Judge Jeff Fletcher was first, followed by DA candidate Jodi Cox, district judge candidate Brad McCampbell and incumbent DA Angela Albers. 

Each candidate was allowed 10 minutes to introduce themselves and give background into their motives for running for office. 

“This is the political process,” Fletcher said. “Unfortunately, the process seems to bring out the worst in lots of people. My opponent is Brad McCampbell. I’ve known Brad for years and I don’t have a bad thing to say about him. He’s a good man. I’ve been here for three years now and a lot of things have changed. There are some different methods we use to makes things much more efficient. It is so important for all the agencies and offices in this building and around our cities to work together.

“There’s been all kinds of things said about impropriety and corruption and those kinds of things, but nothing specific has been raised in regard to that. I can assure that in all the offices I deal with, I don’t see that at all. I don’t see any evidence of anything going on that’s not proper. Miscommunications sure, not getting along, that happens. I don’t see any evidence of anyone who is not trying to do the best they can do, certainly from this office. Being a district judge has been a challenge.”  

Fletcher addressed his relationship with Wood County Sheriff Tom Castloo. “The sheriff and I are very good friends. There has been some things said about he and I are trying to take over the county. Even if I wanted to, it’s really not possible, basically by the way our government is set up. The last thing I want to talk to the sheriff about is the cases. I get enough of that up here. Fishing and hunting, that happens a lot, but that’s about the extent of it,” Fletcher said. “There is always room for improvement in every office. It’s been a privilege to be here. Have I made mistakes? Sure, I have. Everybody does. Have I done anything I thought was wrong for this county? No and I won’t. I take this job seriously, it’s something I feel very called to do. I would advise anyone to come see what happens here on the third floor. Important decisions are made here. It’s important to participate. Come up here and see for yourself. Don’t rely on what someone else says. As far as the forums, I think anyone should be able to ask any question they want. I don’t have any desire to hide anything. I want to do things the right way. I want to make sure everything is done fairly and by the rules. If anyone has questions after this forum that don’t get answered, please feel free to contact me.”

McCampbell began by introducing his family and talked about becoming a lawyer. “Dawn and I have been married 37 years. We have a daughter named Hannah and she has a child, Cain, age five. I can remember when I was about 12 years old when I first said I wanted to be a lawyer. In 1984 that dream came true. I was hired by Mr. Ivan Alexander, a longtime practicing attorney in Emory. Everything worked out and my office has been in Emory for 35 years. I have never changed locations. Being a lawyer in Emory, I began representing Wood County citizens,” McCampbell continued. “I have engaged in a general practice of law. You have to do a little bit of everything and I have basically done that. I have selected juries in this particular courtroom in nine different areas of law. There are a lot of different cases filed and heard in district court, all the way from criminal and family law, real estate, contract disputes and deceptive trade practices. There are lots of cases and I’ve handled just about every kind of case that has been filed in a district court. To me, that is important because that gives me a level of experience in a lot of cases that would be filed in the district court if I am fortunate enough to win this election.”

McCampbell talked about his experience. “My first 15 years were about 50 percent criminal cases and 30 to 40 percent family law and the rest ‘other.’ Over the years my practice has expanded. I’m in  my 35th year so I think it’s time for me to move on and go that next step which would be to serve the citizens of Wood County as district judge. The qualifications of being able to run for judge are just half the battle. The other half of the battle in being a good judge is to bring certain traits and qualities to the bench,” McCampbell emphasized. “Attorneys, when they become judges are bound by what is called a judicial code of conduct. You have got to live by that code of conduct or you shouldn’t be on the bench. As a judge we have got to be above reproach. I respectfully disagree with the judge. There’s been some talk about the judge having a close personal relationship with the sheriff. I believe that to be true. But when you become judge, there has got to be a disconnect. I believe how you act in your private life carries over into you professional life.”

Another forum featuring candidates for sheriff and district attorney will be held Monday, Jan. 27, at Quitman Public Library and hosted by Lake Country Republican Women beginning at 6 p.m.