Candidate Profile: Karlos Finley for Mobile County Circuit Court Judge
Karlos Finley, the lone Democratic candidate vying for a seat on the Mobile County Circuit Court in the 13th Judicial Circuit, Place No. 6 will face off against a Republican challenger who had to fight her way to the top in November. Before the June 5 primary, four Republican candidates vied for a seat on the circuit court; two candidates garnered enough support to throw the race into a runoff election: Brandy Hambright and Harry Satterwhite. Hambright won the runoff with over just over 50 percent of the votes, and now faces Finley in the November 6 general election. But who are these candidates, and what do they hope to accomplish? Democratic candidate Karlos Finley: Finley comes from a long line of movers and shakers in Mobile, Ala. His father opened the first African-American chain of drug stores in the state of Alabama, and “his parents, along with other progressive thinkers, led the Civil Rights movement of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in Mobile with the goal of bringing about a more unified community and equality for all of the city’s citizens,” Finley’s campaign website reads. “Their efforts helped to send the first African-American State Representatives from Mobile County to the Alabama State House in 1974.” After graduating from high school, Finley himself joined the U.S. Coast Guard, receiving several medals for his efforts during Gulf Coast Hurricanes including the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal. Upon his honorable discharge, Finley attended the University of Mobile receiving his Bachelors degree, then Miles School of Law to earn his Juris Doctorate. Finley has since served in the Mobile County District Attorney’s office as an Assistant District Attorney, and practiced as a personal injury lawyer with the Moore and Wolfe and the, Boteler and Wolfe legal firms according to his LinkedIn profile. In 2011 he was promoted to Partner and now practices with the Boteler, Finley, and Wolfe firm; and in 2015 was appointed as a Municipal Court Judge for the city of Mobile, according to Mobile City Council meeting minutes. On top of his impressive legal career, Finley serves on several boards in Mobile County including the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama, Bishop State Community College Foundation, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation. He also serves as Vice President of the Mobile Bar Foundation. “I am running for Circuit Court Judge because I have inherited a passion for service to community and I am the most qualified person for the position,” Finley told Alabama Today. “Our community deserves the most qualified person serving it on the highest Trial Court for our state.” “I am the only candidate in this race with experience as both an attorney and a judge, an undisputed fact that should weigh heavily on the minds of voters,” Finley continued. “It is critical that all who enter our courts have confidence that they will be treated fairly, have an equal chance to be heard and that their position will be considered by a judge who will weigh the evidence equally.” You can follow his campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Five things you need to know about Michelle Thomason
The primary elections are over, but some highly sought spots still remain open due to the primary races resulting in runoffs. One of those races is for the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Place 1. Three candidates stepped up to the plate seeking election in the June 5 primary, and Judge Christy Edwards and Judge Michelle Thomason both garnered enough support to tip the race into a a runoff election set for July 17. With that in mind, here are the five things you need to know about Michelle Thomason: 1. She has one of the busiest dockets in the state. She has handled over 13,000 circuit court family law cases (of those she has only had FIVE reversals/remands) and over 88,000 district court cases (civil, criminal and traffic) since taking the bench in 2006. 2. She got her first degree in business. Before she went and got her Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School in 1995, she first went to Mobile College (now the University of Mobile) and received a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1992. She was a banker for over ten years before she decided to change her career to the law. Prior to becoming a judge, she was a partner in the law firm of Pearson, Cummins & Hart, where she practiced civil defense litigation as well as family law for over eleven years before taking the bench. 3. She believes in continuing her education. While no continuing education is required for judges, Judge Thomason recently received an award by the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court for receiving over 700 hours of continuing education since taking the bench. 4. She was endorsed by the outgoing judge for the seat. Thomason is seeking to fill the seat that is currently held by Judge Craig Pittman. Judge Pittman, who will be retiring at the end of his term, officially endorsed Judge Thomason as his replacement. “Judge Pittman is an outstanding jurist. I am truly honored to have received his endorsement to fill this position upon his retirement,” Thomason said. 5. She founded the Baldwin County Veterans Court. She founded the Baldwin County Veterans Court in Feb. 2014, with a vision to provide “genuine people who genuinely care about your well being and want you to succeed,” to veterans who have been involved with the court system. “While I have enjoyed every aspect of my position, my work to establish a Veterans’ Treatment Court in South Alabama has been by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done,” Thomason said. “If I am elected, I intend to make sure the work of the Court continues to provide assistance to the veterans in our community that need and deserve our help.”
University of Mobile names Timothy L. Smith new president
The University of Mobile board of trustees announced Monday it has named a new president for the institution, the fourth in the Baptist university’s 54-year history. Timothy L. Smith holds two doctorates, two master’s degrees and is licensed by the South Carolina Board of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Additionally, he has years of experience in higher education. “The University of Mobile has a great foundation, with many building blocks already above the foundation. I believe there are huge opportunities to serve the community and partner with so many organizations. My methodology in leading as president will be a very collaborative approach. I want people inside the institution and externally to know that I’m coming in to listen; I’m coming in to collaborate; and I’m coming in to partner,” said president-elect Smith. After an extensive search, UMobile Board of Trustees Chairman Fred Wilson said Smith was chosen, in part, because of his ability to be a “president for every constituency of the university.” Smith will replace retiring President Mark Foley, who has led the school since 1998. “Since accepting the position of president of the University of Mobile in 1998, it has been my determination that part of my responsibility is, at the appropriate time, to lead the institution carefully and effectively into the hands of my successor,” said Foley when he announced his retirement in October. “Just as in a relay race, the key to winning is an effective hand off. I believe now is the time to begin that hand off.” The University of Mobile’s press team live-Tweeted the press conference making the announcement. Dr. Tim Smith “Top three goals, 1. Continue theological emphasis. 2. Examine academic process. 3. Look and build fiscal resources.” — University of Mobile (@umobilenews) April 11, 2016 Dr. Tim Smith post press conference. #UMobilePrez pic.twitter.com/2InJfVri9f — University of Mobile (@umobilenews) April 11, 2016 Smith will begin his tenure as U of Mobile at the conclusion of this school year. According to the University’s website, the University of Mobile is a Christian university affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention located on an 880-acre campus near Mobile. More than 1,500 students are enrolled in over 40 undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Christian Ministries, School of Education, School of Nursing, School of Worship Leadership, The Roger Breland School of Music, adult and professional studies, and graduate programs.
