By Angie Thompson

angie.thompson@gaflnews.com

TIFTON — Ronnie Wheeler announced Tuesday afternoon on the courthouse steps that he is endorsing Joseph Carter for Superior Court Judge of the Tifton Judicial Circuit. Carter and Melanie Barbee Cross are facing each other in the Dec. 2 General Election Runoff for the seat.

Wheeler, a local attorney working as an assistant district attorney in Paul Bowden’s office, was knocked out of the running in the Nov. 4 General Election by Carter and Cross. The Tifton Judicial Circuit includes Tift, Turner, Worth and Irwin counties. In that election, Carter received 40.2 percent, Cross received 40.0 percent and Wheeler received 19.8 percent of the votes cast in the circuit.

“I got into this race because I wanted the best for this circuit, and that desire didn’t go away on Nov. 4,” Wheeler said. “Joseph Carter is the best choice for the voters of this circuit. He has the experience, compassion and integrity we need in a judge.

“I look forward to casting my vote for Joseph Carter in the runoff and I urge those who supported me to do the same.”

Wheeler said that his journey into politics last spring was “very strange” because he usually enjoys being in the background. He thanked his family and friends for the support they gave him during his candidacy and said he realized by the votes that the majority of people had rather him “be on the hiring committee instead of on the bench.”

Wheeler said friends and family members kept asking him after the election how he would vote in the run off and that is what inspired him to make Tuesday’s announcement that he supports Carter.

“Considering the quality of both candidates, I’m going to vote for Joseph Carter,” Wheeler said.

Carter said he was humbled when Wheeler called him and told him he supported him for the judgeship.

“I appreciate so much Ronnie’s support,” Carter said. “Ronnie Wheeler ran a strong race based on his desire to bring principled, experienced leadership to the bench. I am humbled and honored that he has decided to support our efforts to do the same.”

Carter is currently serving as the Republican senator for District 13 and chose not to seek re-election to the post in this election. He announced his intention to run for the judgeship in June after Gary McCorvey announced that he would not seek re-election to the post. Carter had qualified to run for re-election as senator of Georgia’s District 13 and was unopposed when qualifying ended. He will continue to serve as senator through the end of his term on Dec. 30.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.