ROBERTSDALE, Alabama --- The Baldwin County Association of Realtors hosted a debate Tuesday for the office of Judge of Probate in Baldwin County.

The debate was held at the Association of Realtors building in Robertsdale and moderated by Jay Jennings, a member of the Board of Directors for both the Baldwin County and Alabama Association of Realtors.

Incumbent Tim Russell will square off against challengers Harry D’Olive Jr. and James Gordon for the position, which will be on the March 13 ballot in Baldwin County.

Judge of Probate is one of a few local races on the March 13 Republican primary ballot, which will also include elections for circuit court judge and district court judge as well as two districts of the Baldwin County Board of Education.

In addition to the Republican presidential primary, Alabama voters will also vote for Alabama 1^st Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives, chief justice, associate chief justice and State Board of Education District 1.

Jennings said the Judge of Probate race was of particular interest to Realtors in Baldwin County. In addition to overseeing elections, issuance of licenses and tags and the overseeing of those being committed to a mental institution in Baldwin County, the Judge of Probate also oversees the issuance of titles and deeds and oversees disputes of those areas, which directly relates to Real Estate, Jennings said.

“I believe the Judge of Probate plays and important role in what we do as professionals,” Jennings said. “I think it’s essential that we take an active role for the Association and for the residents of Baldwin County.”

Tuesday’s debate began with a 5-minute presentation from each candidate, followed by a question and answer session with those in attendance and questions read by Jennings, which were submitted via e-mail. After just over an hour, each candidate was then given a brief time to sum up.

Each candidates fielded questions about the importance of common sense in running the office and if they foresaw any problems regarding Alabama’s immigration law.

They were also asked about the recording of property values by the Judge of Probate’s office.

One question aimed specifically at Gordon, asked him to clarify his qualifications for the position and to confirm a report that information for Gordon’s campaign was improperly filed.

Gordon responded by saying as a reporter for WPMI Local 15 News, FCC regulations required that he resign his position with the television station before running for public office.

“I was waiting until the last minute to file all of my paperwork,” he said. “It later came to my attention that some of the paperwork was mistakenly filed improperly. I was told by the local Republican Party that if I submitted a written statement, explaining the error and take the necessary steps to correct it, there wouldn’t be a problem. It was taken care of at the local level and I was told it need go no further. If I didn’t know any better it sounds like someone doesn’t want me in this race and I didn’t realize I was a threat to anyone.”

Another heated moment came at the end of the debate when candidates were asked to give their closing statements.

Russell, who was appointed by Gov. Bob Riley to fill the term of Adrian Johns, took exception to a statement made by D’Olive, who served 14 months in the position from 1993 to 1994, filling the term vacated by the retirement of his father, Harry D’Olive Sr.

In his summation, D’Olive stated he had grown up in the office and was the only candidate to have performed every task of the office. He also said his experience as an attorney gave him an advantage over the other two candidates, saying he was the only candidate to have seen both sides of the Probabe Judge’s position.

“I run a positive campaign and will not say anything bad about either candidate, but I will not stand up here and say nothing while another candidate makes statements that are simply not true,” Russell said.

Russell then turned and addressed D’Olive directly, saying that as a professional in the insurance business for over 30 years, he has seen both sides of the Probate Judge’s position, representing clients in court disputes.

“I may not be an attorney, but I was accepted into one of the most prestigious law schools in the state,” Russell said, adding that after serving his country during the Vietnam conflict, he chose a different path. “Also, if you don’t think I have performed all of the duties of this office, I challenge you to come follow me around and see what I do on a daily basis.”