BY DAVID BELL
FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — There is only one contested local race on this year’s Lee County General Election ballot, and it’s one that will change the course of history. Never before has a female been elected Judge of Lee County District Court, but on Nov. 5, voters will choose between two women to decide which one will replace current District Judge Russell Bush, who is retiring at the end of this year after 23 years of service.
In the March 5 Primary election, Opelika attorney Samantha Copelan was selected among three candidates as the Republican nominee to replace Bush, while Auburn attorney Kris Patton ran unopposed as the Democratic nominee. Both have extensive experience in District Court cases.
Following are profiles of the candidates.
Samantha Copelan
Attorney Samantha Copelan is a native of Lee County, a graduate of Beauregard High School and Auburn University. She obtained the juris doctorate degree from Thomas G. Jones School of Law in Montgomery. She has also held a real estate license for the past 10 years.
After working with several law firms in Lee County, Copelan opened her own practice in Opelika in 2022. Her areas of experience have included juvenile law, family law, small claims, evictions/ejectments, criminal prosecution and defense, as well as property and probate matters.
“I have a passion for making a difference, which guided my decision to run for District Court Judge,” said Copelan. “I’ve been in touch with the community my entire life.”
“District Court is the one that deals most with the public,” she said. “I’ve personally seen in my line of work how judicial decisions affect people and the necessity to follow the law and apply it fairly. If elected, I would focus on the fulfillment of my duties in the most efficient manner possible.”
Copelan said the objective of her campaign has remained consistent over the past 18 months since she first announced her candidacy.
“We continue to work very hard, attending public events and trying to meet as many people as we can,” Copelan said. “I’ve knocked on a lot of doors all over Lee County and the response to my campaign has been very positive.
“It’s also been an opportunity for me to explain to people who have never experienced the judicial process exactly what District Court involves. Basically, anyone who’s ever had a traffic violation, been charged with a criminal offense, or divorce or protection from abuse, civil cases and evictions — these are the types of cases that are brought before the District Judge.
“I practice in this court all the time,” Copelan said. “I’m also a local person, born and raised here, and I love this community. I’m committed to doing what I can to help our community stay the great place that it is to live in and raise a family.”
Copelan is married and is the mother of two children. The family enjoys attending athletic events and engaging in activities at First Baptist Church in Opelika. She is also a member of the Opelika Rotary Club and Lee County Bar Association. Political endorsements include the East Alabama Board of Realtors, Lee County Area Realtors and retiring District Court Judge Russell Bush.
Kris Patton
Attorney Kris Patton is the first Democrat to run for a county judicial office since 2012. A native of Arkansas, she earned a degree in psychology from Hendricks College before obtaining a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She and her family moved to Auburn in 2014, when her husband transferred to Auburn University from a similar position at the University of Arkansas and she joined the law firm of Akridge and Balch, P.C.
“We immediately fell in love with this community and its people,” said Patton, who is a Department of Human Resources (DHR) attorney and a Deputy Attorney General, as well as is licensed for the Middle District of Alabama in Federal Court.
“I have represented individuals from all walks of life in a variety of situations, from corporations and landlords to indigent families and as guardian ad litem for children,” said Patton. “I understand the weight, concern and anxiety litigants carry when they walk into an unfamiliar building and put their case in the hands of a total stranger.”
Patton said she decided to run for District Judge because she felt she could bring versatility to the Lee County judicial system.
“Our court system is overrun with cases, and getting them to trial in a timely manner can be an issue,” she explained. “Because I have a strong background in family and juvenile law, I offer flexibility to our local judicial system. I can handle a different type of caseload which should help alleviate the backlog we are currently experiencing in other courtrooms.
“For example, because of their similarity, some cases in Circuit Court could also be heard in District Court. The transfer of cases between the two could be handled administratively without legislative action,” Patton said. “I have already proposed this arrangement to several of the other court judges and they have been receptive to the idea.
“How children are affected in the court system has also been of particular concern to me,” Patton added.
“Although the process of electing a candidate is done on a partisan basis through political party affiliation, I look at this position as not Democrat or Republican, but as a judge for all the people regardless of their political preference,” said Patton. “I’m thankful that my campaign has received bi-partisan support. I feel the best endorsement I can receive is someone allowing me to post a campaign sign in their yard.”
Patton describes herself as fair-minded with a passion for justice, and if elected, says she will bring understanding and compassion to the bench.
She and her husband have two children, and the family enjoys Auburn football, horseback riding and boating. They are also active members of Auburn United Methodist Church.
Nov. 5 election will decide district court judge
BY ANITA STIEFEL
EDITOR@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
LEE COUNTY — Federal Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 5, when Americans will select a new president, and Alabamians will vote for congressional representatives and state judges. Locally, Lee County residents will elect a new district court judge, choosing between two candidates, Samantha Burt Copelan and Kris Patton.
In Lee County Commission races, Doug Cannon of District 1, Jeff Drury of District 3 and Richard LaGrand Sr. of District 5 are all running unopposed, as are Lee County Board of Education candidates Roger Keel of District 4, Mary Ensley of District 5, Larry Patterson of District 6 and Napoleon “Sonny” Stringer of district 7.
Jere Colley is running unopposed for probate judge.
Locally, Lee County administers all county, state and federal elections. Cities only administer municipal elections, such as those for mayor and city council.
Absentee voting
Absentee voting is now underway. Absentee ballot applications may be obtained at the Bennie G. Adkins Meeting Center at 205 S. 10th St. in Opelika between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is Oct. 29, and the last day to apply in person is Oct. 31. For more information on absentee voting, visit leeco.us/government/elections/absentee.php or call (334) 737-3670.
Where to vote
After the 2020 census redistricting, some residents are in a different ward or district than they were in prior elections. Also, additional polling places have been added in response to population changes. As a result, you might not vote in the same place this year as you did in the 2020 presidential election or the 2022 municipal election. Those who voted in the March 2024 primary will vote in the same location unless they have moved to a new home address since then.
Auburn polling places are:
Boykin Community Center, 410 Boykin St.
Frank Brown Recreation Center, 235 Opelika Road
Dean Road Recreation Center, 307 S. Dean Road
Embrace Church, 2142 N. College St.
Church of the Highlands, 1920 E. Glenn Ave.
Parkway Baptist Church, 766 E. University Drive
Auburn Community Church, 2200 Hamilton Road
Wire Road Soccer Complex, 2340 Wire Road
Note: Voting will no longer take place at the Clarion Inn and Suites on S. College Street.
Opelika polling places are:
Covington Park Community Center, 213 Carver Ave.
Opelika Learning Center, 214 Jeter Ave.
Denson Drive Rec Center, 1102 Denson Drive
EAMC Education Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway
Opelika Sportsplex, 1001 Andrews Road
Farmville Volunteer Fire Dept., 7647 US Highway 280 West
Crawford Volunteer Fire Dept., 10801 AL Highway 169
Other county polling places are:
Providence Baptist Church West Campus, 2900 Lee Road 166, Beauregard
Beauregard Volunteer Fire Dept. Marvyn, 14656 AL Highway 51, Marvyn
Beulah High School, 4918 Lee Road 270, Beulah
Beulah Volunteer Fire Dept. Station #3, 8266 Lee Road 379, Beulah
Pine Grove Church, 7235 US Highway 29 North, Beulah
Mt Zion Family Enrichment Center, 1 Day Lily Street, Loachapoka
Lee County Learning Center (LC2), 5630 Lee Road 145, Salem
Smiths Station Senior Center, 3172 Lee Road 242, Smiths Station
Smiths Junior High School Auditorium/Gym, 1100 Lee Road 298, Smiths Station
Glenwood School Gym, 5801 Summerville Road, Smiths Station
Waverly Local, 1465 Patrick Street, Waverly
To verify your voting location, visit myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview.
Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. A photo voter ID is required to vote, and all residents are encouraged to verify their voting location before heading to the polls.
Dates to remember
Oct. 29: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail
Oct. 31: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person
Nov. 4: Completed absentee ballots must be received. Each voter’s absentee ballot must be returned in individual envelopes with a copy of the voter’s photo ID. Absentee ballots returned in person must be returned by the voter, who must have their photo ID with them.
Nov. 5: Election Day
More information
Information is available at www.leeco.us/government/elections. (*Note: The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 21.)
For more information, citizens may call Lee County at (334) 737-3670 (Office of the Probate Judge) with general election questions; the Absentee Election Manager, James Majors, at (334) 737-3670 for absentee voting questions; or (334) 737-3635 (Board of Registrars) with voter registration questions.
