Kim Blair's Remarkable Record Highly Qualifies Her For Magistrate

The Putnam County Magistrate court race features two experienced and capable people who display the common sense needed in what is often referred to as the people's court.

But Republican Kim M. Blair, 44 is a find. She graduated cum laude from the University of Houston with a degree in criminal justice. She was a correctional counselor for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and also conducted home visits for a federal halfway house.

When her husband wanted to return to his home state, Blair set up her family's household in Hurricane and became active in the community. She worked in the truancy diversion program for Putnam County schools until the state cut off funding this summer.

Among her affiliations, she is a member of the boards of the Hurricane Juvenile Justice Diversion Program, the Putnam County American Red Cross and the Tri-County YMCA.

As Putnam County's population continues to grow, the county needs magistrates with a good knowledge of the criminal justice system, particularly the juvenile justice system

Her opponent has done a fine job. Democrat Lee Roy Cooper, 74, returned to fill in as a magistrate following the death of June Sovine last November. He has 20 years of experience as a magistrate and served six years as a justice of the peace.

But Blair's training makes her the superior candidate to meet the changing needs of the changing county.