Businessman Robert McCollum on Monday announced his candidacy for Judge of Probate in Tallapoosa County.
“I am Robert McCollum. I am formally announcing my candidacy for the Republican nomination for Probate Judge of Tallapoosa County,” McCollum said in a statement. “I was born and raised in Tallapoosa County.”
“I have grown to love and care about my community,” McCollum said. “As your Probate Judge, I will strive to serve my fellow citizens as a fair and just judge in the cases of estate settlements, adoptions, guardianships, etc. I will represent my fellow citizens in a way that will make them proud.”
McCollum promised, “As your probate judge, I will maintain election integrity by ensuring as well as providing proof of paper ballot and no machines are connected to the internet. I will also strive to protect the county from any cyber-attacks, and we will not even consider paying any ransom to those behind it.”
McCollum expressed his concern that the people of Alabama and Tallapoosa County are too heavily taxed.
“Lastly, I will work with the county commission to lower the tax on vehicles and put money back in the citizens of this county’s pocket to help them during times of rising cost of living,” McCollum said. “I will be a watchman against wasteful spending of your tax dollars in Tallapoosa County.”
Robert McCollum was previously a candidate for Public Service Commission in 2022. He lost in the Republican primary runoff to popular incumbent Commissioner Chip Beeker.
McCollum is a Horseshoe Bend High School graduate and a small business owner.
“I was in everything from construction to truck rental and vending machines,” McCollum said. “I enjoyed every minute of it.”
McCollum will be challenging incumbent Talmadge East in the Republican primary.
East has served as a probate judge since 2018. He previously worked as the political director for Steve Marshall for Attorney General. He was a businessman and previously worked for the West Virginia Legislature.
The Republican primary will be on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
The Alabama Republican Party says that the Executive Committee has not yet voted on when candidate qualifying with the party will formally begin.
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