Leflore County Judge Solomon Osborne says education made a big difference in his life, and he wants to continue stressing the education of youthful offenders.
Osborne was appointed county judge by former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in 2001, replacing Richard Smith, and was elected to a full term the following year.
He is opposed by attorney Leman Gandy in the Nov. 7 election.
The county judge also oversees juvenile court. Any registered voter in the county may cast a ballot in this race.
Osborne, 58, was born just outside Leflore County and graduated from Amanda Elzy High School. He began his legal career in 1973 as a staff attorney for North Mississippi Rural Legal Services and went on to work for Southwest Mississippi Legal Services. He went into private practice in 1989 and later represented the Leflore County School Board and the Delta Correctional Facility Authority.
As judge, he has added a number of educational options for the youths at the detention center, as well as 25 new computers. He also established Saturday classes for some young offenders. He hopes to find someone from the schools who can assess students and recommend what they need to do to improve. "My emphasis, really, is trying to do as much as we can in the area of education," he said. "I think that's what saved me from the cotton fields."
The judge wants to offer online courses, especially for youths on probation. He also would like to expand GED preparation. Those wanting to earn GED certificates first take the Test of Adult Basic Education to determine how much they need to learn before taking the GED, but many at the Detention Center have trouble with TABE.
Osborne is planning to add a youth drug court, which would include treatment, academic and vocational programs, parenting classes and other offerings.
"It would emphasize treatment, plus we would work with the family," he said. "If there were some family members in the household on drugs, we would work with them."
His office will apply for a federal grant and a state grant for the drug court. Circuit Court Judges Margaret Carey-McCray and Betty Sanders have told him about the success of their adult drug court in the district that includes Leflore County, and he knows some people who have gone through it. "I know one particular guy who had been on drugs for 10 or 15 years, and he went through."
Osborne has said he is concerned about children of all races and treats everyone the same. But he finds it discouraging to see so many black youths in his court. "They have to pay the consequences, but it's kind of depressing doing preliminary hearings."
Some have accused the judge of being racially divisive. However, he said, race is an important aspect of Mississippi and Leflore County history, and young people in particular should know about it.
"The same people who don't want us to talk about it yet hold on to things in the past that I consider to be negative," he said. As examples, he cited Confederate Memorial Day observances, the presence of Confederate statues and the vote to keep the state flag with the Confederate emblem.
Osborne's outstanding tax obligations have also been a source of controversy. At one time, the IRS had liens totaling more than $190,000 in taxes, interest and penalties against the judge. Osborne said he has paid off all but $50,000 to $60,000 of the debt.
The tax problems, Osborne said, were caused when a convenience store that he partially owned went out of business. His partners in the venture left him holding the bag for the unpaid federal taxes, he said.
"It was just a failed business venture," he said. "That's not anything out of the ordinary, in my opinion."
However, Osborne said, it set him back in paying taxes for his law practice, which contributed to the tax liens.
Gandy, 69, who was raised in Copiah County, came to Leflore County in 1987. He has practiced law for 35 years and has served as family master for Leflore County Chancery Court since 2001.
"I want to bring honesty, integrity and fairness to the County Court," he said.
Youth court is very important to him, but he would give the civil and criminal areas their due attention, too, he said. When a case is over, the order should be signed and executed as soon as possible, he said.
He is concerned about safety, both for the youthful offenders and the officers dealing with them. "I wouldn't tolerate brutality by anyone, whether it be a youthful offender or an enforcement officer."
If elected judge, he would continue testing juvenile offenders for drugs, and he also wants periodic screening of all court employees, including those at the Detention Center. Anyone caught using illegal drugs would be terminated immediately.
Gandy said he had recommended hundreds of paternity orders to the Chancery Court and, as far as he knew, all had been approved.
He has served as a guardian ad litem for adoption cases, meaning a judge can appoint him to represent the child, investigate both sides and make a recommendation to the court. "That gave me a lot of insight into dealing with young people," he said.
Gandy said he would try to save taxpayers' money by bringing in as many qualified volunteers as possible to work with young offenders. He believes many people are available who would be willing to do this. "Whatever their expertise is, they could help straighten out these young children so they can lead a good and productive life."
Increasingly younger children are committing crimes now, and Gandy said sometimes a judge can address a contributing problem in a youth's home, such as truancy or drug use.
Gandy believes some first offenders who aren't a threat to themselves or others should be allowed to return home and attend school, with certain restrictions. He would like to see control officers ensure that these youths go to school, return home at a certain time and follow other rules.
Gandy has focused his law practice in recent years mainly on domestic and family work, such as adoptions, custody, child support and divorces. He still tries some criminal cases but handles almost no felonies in Circuit Court.
He said he has learned that "a child will do what you ask them much quicker out of respect for you than they will out of fear."
Gandy said he believes in treating everyone the same, regardless of race or other considerations. If a person receives a break, it will be because that person deserves it, he said. People should be evaluated according to their character, and he urged voters to make their decision accordingly.
"If character counts, look at my background and the background of my opponent, and on Nov. 7, go to the polls and vote your conscience," he said.
