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The race for Hall County probate judge was narrowed down to two candidates from four.
Hall County attorneys Patty Walters Laine, who earned 31 percent of the vote, and Brook Davidson, who won about 26 percent, will face each other in the Aug. 21 runoff.
The two candidates beat out Susan D. Brown and Lisa Maniscalco.
Probate courts are responsible for processing wills, administering estates, appointing guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults, and issuing firearm and marriage licenses.
The probate judge is elected countywide to a four-year term. Incumbent Judge Patti Cornett is not seeking re-election.
The new front-runner, Laine has been in private practice locally, handling estate planning and probate cases for the last 10 years.
On learning that she earned the most votes Tuesday night, Laine said, “I’m mostly humbled that I would be the top. It’s kind of a whirlwind night.”
Laine has proposed improving customer service outcomes at Hall County Probate Court, where phone service has been particularly criticized.
Laine said she wasn’t sure what specifically helped her win the most votes. Instead, she took time to praise the other candidates as well-qualified.
She called the campaign among the four Hall County attorneys, “The cleanest race that’s been run in the election.”
Still, Laine vowed to maintain her grassroots efforts to get the vote out again for the runoff.
The other runoff candidate, Davidson, said her experience helped set her apart enough to move to the next round.
Davidson is an attorney with Andrew, Merritt, Reilly and Smith, where she represents clients in probate courts throughout Northeast Georgia. She’s called probate law her “passion” and has distinguished herself as the only “full-time probate lawyer” in the race.
Looking toward the runoff, Davidson she would target the support of Brown and Maniscalco.
“I’ve got to rally the support from other voters and keep talking about the issues,” she said.
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