Kickoff of "Big Man Big Ideas" campaign for
Clerk of Courts
For
release: April 21, 2008
I congratulate
Judge Ralph Hill on his coming retirement, but this underpins a wave of change coming
in 2009. I expect Judge Hill would agree society’s issues that he has
seen have become more complex since he first came to the bench.
A "Big
Idea" I have in the works is to bring "Safe Surrender"
to
Walker County. (The Safe Surrender concept was created under the leadership of
United States Marshall Peter J. Elliott)
This
initiative provides fugitives on the run an opportunity to take their first
step toward a second chance by surrendering to authorities, consulting
with an attorney, and meeting with a judge, all while inside a host church.
This is not amnesty,
but it is my hope that people who are wanted on non-violent
warrants are given bond, a new court date, and more importantly the opportunity toward rebuilding families and community
re-entry.
The moral
compass at our courthouse has been lost. Another "Big Idea" is to
bring the Ten Commandants along with other historical documents to be
displayed in the courthouse. I have started this process with the Walker
County Commissioner and hope to have it complete by September 1st.
I invite folks to attend my swearing in and
qualifying for the Office of Clerk of the Superior Court of Walker County and a
reception for all other GOP candidates Thursday, May 1st @ 7 pm at
the historical Lee & Gordon Mills, 71 Red Belt Road, Chickamauga, Georgia.
Alan Painter is a honor graduate of
Chattanooga Valley High School and started his undergraduate work at the
Georgia Institute of Technology. Additionally, he has diplomas from
Chattanooga State Technical Community College, Northwestern Technical College,
and Covenant College. His wife Tina is a
6th grade math teacher at Gordon Lee Middle School. Their son, Will, is a
college student, and they make five generations who have called Walker County
home. The Painter’s attend Oakwood Baptist Church in Chickamauga.