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ZEBULON - This is a four (4) year seat currently held Lynn Brandenburg who is retiring and will not be seeking re-election.
Ginny Blakeney and Brent Taylor have both qualified for this seat and both are on the Republican ballot. The winner of this June race will take office in January.
Ginny Blakeney
My name is Ginny Blakeney, and I am seeking the office of Probate Judge for Pike County.
I began my career in public service with the Pike County Board of Commissioners in May of 2014, where I have worked hard to earn the trust and respect of my administrators, my colleagues, and my fellow citizens. My passion to serve the people of our community is evident in my proven work ethic and “extra mile” approach, which is deeply embedded in my daily tasks of conducting county business as a department head. I am familiar with streamlining services that are cost effective, and I know the importance of transparency and accountability to you, the citizens who employ me. I will remain a good steward of the county’s resources, and will uphold my moral standards to provide a public service that is courteous, fair, and efficient. M/p>
As your next Probate Judge, I will:
• Use a combination of innovation and experience, where I will rely on the current staff of the office to share their knowledge and preserve the history needed in order to make wise decisions for the future.
• Work diligently to keep expenses to a minimum, be prompt and respectful with all matters, and prioritize sincere service and excellent care for all public issues and concerns.
• Provide utmost professionalism and ethical conduct of both myself and the court.
• Utilize my formal education – Bachelors of Science in Human Services – to oversee an orderly and compassionate judicial system that is accessible and equal to all people
• Be quickly accessible, and maintain open and consistent lines of communication
• Remain devoted to my lifetime commitment of serving you
The many duties of Probate Judge demand full-time service, training, dedication, virtue, and common sense. I believe that any job can be learned, but passion and purpose for a work is not a given. That’s why your confidence can rest in my ability to be a proactive, firm, fair, and long-term constitutional officer for Pike County.
I am thirty years old and have been married to my husband, John Blakeney, for seven years. We are both lifelong residents of Williamson where we now enjoy raising our children in the home that John’s grandparents built. We have two children - Bowen (6) and Austyn Grace (4), and our family loves to work together on our small farm enjoying a simple lifestyle. We are members of Christ Chapel Community Church in Zebulon.
I am the oldest daughter of Jim and Angie Woodall, a graduate of Pike County High School (C/O 2008), and my first job was at Papa Willies BBQ in Williamson which is where I discovered my passion for serving others and developed my “community concierge” skills. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, taking camping trips, and music. I appreciate your consideration and am asking for your vote for Pike County Probate Judge on May 19, 2020 to allow me the privilege of providing you with “Sincere Service and Sensible Solutions”.
blakeneyforprobate@gmail.com or (770) 468 – 0379
Brent Taylor
I am Brent Taylor and I am seeking the office of Probate Judge for Pike County. I am married to Clint Taylor and I have 2 children and 2 stepchildren, 3 of which attended Pike County schools. I received my paralegal certification with the University of Georgia’s paralegal certification program in 2008.
I recently discovered that my 4 times great grandparents (Ancel Kitchens and Mary Harris) received their marriage license in the Pike County Probate Court on January 1, 1843. I find this amazing that after 177 years, I have come back full circle to the place they were married and hopefully hold the judge position.
I am the experienced candidate. I have served as a paralegal for our Pike County Administrator/Conservator (Eugene Dabbs) for almost 12 years. Mr. Dabbs is appointed by our Probate Judge to carry out estates and guardianships when no one else is eligible. During this time, I have gained experience in the probate process from start to finish, including reading case laws and understanding them as they apply to Probate law. I have assisted many families who were faced with settling their loved one’s estate and affairs during a very difficult period in their life. I have assisted with guardianships of adult and minor Wards of the court managing their income and expenses which provided me valuable insight and capability in completing court mandated reports. My knowledge and experience will help with a smooth transition from our current Probate Judge who carries many years of experience.
I have experience in general management and office management which I will use to efficiently and effectively operate the Probate Court within the budgetary guidelines set by the County Commissioners. I can assure the citizens of Pike County that the Probate Court office will be up to date as our county is quickly growing.
I am past chapter leader and current member of the steering committee for The Compassionate Friends of Central Georgia, a self-help support group for bereaved parents and families who have lost a child, I am a member of Oak Hill Baptist Church where I serve on the bereavement missions committee and I serve as Vice Chairman of the Pike County Board of Appeals. I have served on the Paralegal Advisory Board for Southern Crescent Technical College since 2018. I also served as chairman and vice-chairman of the Pike County Republican Party from 2010-2018 and have worked on numerous boards in Pike County over the past 20 years including the SPLOST committee, Pike Middle PTO officer and Slow Exposures.
I promise integrity and I earnestly ask for your vote and support in electing me as your next Pike County Probate Judge on May 19, 2020.