Lawrence County Democrats select Thomison to be county’s next judge

Lawrence County Democrats selected 59-year-old John Thomison Thursday night (Sept. 22) to be the party’s nominee for county judge in the November general election. Deceased Judge Dale Freeman’s name will appear on the ballot, but votes cast for him will be counted for Thomison, County Clerk Tina Stowers told Talk Business & Politics.

Freeman was the only candidate in the judge’s race on the ballot, meaning it’s uncontested, Stowers said. No write-in candidates will be counted because the contest was uncontested, she said. It’s too late to change the ballots, she said. A sign will be erected informing voters that any vote cast for Freeman will actually count for Thomison, she said.

Thomison, a Smithville native, attempted twice to unseat Freeman and challenged him in the spring Democratic Primary. Freeman died Sept. 17 from complications relating to a car crash he suffered Aug. 10. A convention was held Thursday night to nominate a replacement. Freeman’s wife, Mary, was also nominated for the post.

Each gave a short speech to the more than 300 people who attended the convention at the Lawrence County Courthouse. Thomison received 156 delegate votes, and Mary Freeman received 106 votes. The winner was humbled and surprised by the unusual turn of events that will lead to him the county’s top administrative office, he told Talk Business & Politics.

“I’m humbled the people chose me … it’s an honor,” Thomison said.

Mary Freeman and Thomison embraced after the votes were tallied. The two worked in the county’s Democratic Party for many years. Mary Freeman told Talk Business & Politics her life has been a whirlwind in recent days. She buried her husband Wednesday.

“I feel honored to have been nominated … I just came up 50 votes short,” she said. “I didn’t have time to campaign. I haven’t even had time to grieve.”

State law allowed the party to nominate a replacement, but the nominee had to be named by midnight Thursday. Because he was nominated, Thomison can now run for re-election in two years if he chooses too. If a nominee hadn’t been named, the Quorum Court would have appointed a judge, and that person could not run for re-election, state law states.

The Lawrence County Quorum Court will hold a special meeting Tuesday to possibly appoint Freeman’s successor for the remainder of his term. Freeman, a life-long Lawrence County resident was a popular political figure who cast a long shadow in his native county. He was first elected to the judge’s seat in 2010.

Thomison and Freeman engaged in two lively, hard fought contests in recent years. A former teacher with the Sloan-Hendrix School District, Thomison said he’s ready to put the all of that behind him. He served with the Freemans for many years in the party, and he didn’t want to win an election like this under these circumstances, but the county needs a chief executive, and he thinks he’s the right guy for the job.

Mary and John briefly spoke during their embrace, he said.

“I told her I was about to cry,” Thomison said. “She told me ‘don’t you do it.’ I told her I was sorry. I’ve always had a great relationship with Mary.”