CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — On election day, voters in Clarendon County will choose who will serve as probate judge for the next four years.
The candidates said this is a choice between an experienced judge and a newcomer who has served the public for years.
Current Clarendon County Probate Judge Margaret Sorrell said she lives to serve her community.
“I love being the probate judge. I love what I do. It’s a great way to use my law degree. It’s a great way to serve the public. It’s a wonderful job,” Sorrell said.
But her opponent, Terrance Tindal, said it’s time for a change.
“The reason I’m running is to make a difference. Our current probate judge has been there for eight years now. For the last couple of years, we have not seen the best from our probate court,” Tindal said.
Tindal believes education is key to providing a better experience for residents.
“I feel like if there are different programs in place where individuals in Clarendon County can learn about wills, learn about estate matters, the process will be easier for them because they’ve already had an opportunity to start the process,” Tindal said.
Sorrell said voters should consider each candidate’s experience before deciding who to vote for.
“This is one of those positions where you get better the more you do it. It is in fact, a court. And everything that happens there is based in law. It’s statutory. So, I have a lot of experience and that law degree is very helpful,” Sorrell said.
Tindal addressed questions about his experience.
“There have been questions concerning the experience I’ve had. As I've stated before, I worked in funeral services for 20 years, which allowed me to work with family members, helping them through the process of preparing for the court, Tindal said. "I’m sure there’s a lot to learn, but I’m willing to learn. We can move forward with making it a better court system for everybody."
Sorrell said she was hopeful she would be allowed to continue to serve.
“I feel like I bring a lot to the table. I’ve enjoyed my eight years as probate judge, and I would love to have four more, to continue doing this for the county,” Sorrell said.