Georgia House Election To Replace Fleming In February

Georgia Republican Barry Fleming has left his House District 125 seat to serve as a superior court judge in Columbia County.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recently appointed Fleming to the bench, replacing Judge James Blanchard Jr., who recently retired January 1.

Blanchard was recently appointed a Senior Judge of Superior Courts of Georgia by Kemp following his retirement.

Blanchard had served the Columbia County Superior Court for more than two decades, after serving as a judge for the Columbia County Juvenile Court.

Fleming earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia, and was the founding partner with Fleming Nelson, LLP and a partner with Fulcher Hagler, LLP.

Fleming, who lives in Harlem, will be sworn in as a superior court judge January 10.

Kemp has called a special election to fill Fleming's empty House District 125 seat on February 13.  Qualifying for the race is tentatively set for Monday through Wednesday next week.  Members of all parties will run together in the special election with no primaries to select nominees.  If no one wins the majority of the vote in the election, a runoff will be held March 12, also the date of Georgia's presidential primary.

Fleming's 125th House District includes parts of Columbia and McDuffie Counties.

Fleming was first elected in 2002 after serving as chairman of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners.  He stepped down in 2008 for what turned out to be an unsuccessful bid for Congress.  Fleming won reelection to the House in 2012, where he served until his recent resignation to replace Blanchard on the bench.