COLUMBUS, Ga. — Six prominent Columbus leaders have joined nearly 70 current and former elected officials, faith leaders and community leaders from across Georgia in signing a letter supporting the proposed constitutional amendment that would require all probate judges in Georgia to be elected in nonpartisan elections.

The Columbus signatories include Mayor Skip Henderson; former Mayor Teresa Tomlinson; former Georgia State Representative Calvin Smyre; Rev. Dr. Johnny Flakes; Rev. Dr. Ralph Huling; and Rev. James C. Elder, Jr.

They join a statewide group that includes former Governors Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal; U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter; Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper; former Georgia Labor Commissioner and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond; former Lieutenant Governors Casey Cagle and Mark Taylor; former Secretaries of State Karen Handel and Lewis Massey; former U.S. Representative Buddy Darden; and dozens of state and local leaders from communities throughout Georgia.

Together, nearly 70 Georgia leaders have signed the letter supporting the constitutional amendment appearing on the November ballot: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to require that all probate judges be elected in nonpartisan elections?”

The letter centers on the principle that Georgia’s judges should be elected based on their qualifications, experience and ability to administer justice fairly — rather than their affiliation with a political party. Georgia already elects its Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, superior court judges, state court judges and magistrate judges on a nonpartisan basis. Probate judges remain the exception.

Probate courts serve Georgians during some of the most important and personal moments in their lives. Depending on the jurisdiction, these courts handle matters involving wills and estates, guardianships, marriage licenses, weapons-carry licenses and other responsibilities established by Georgia law.

“The participation of these six Columbus leaders demonstrates the breadth of support represented on this letter,” said Kevin Holder, executive director of the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia. “Mayor Henderson, former Mayor Tomlinson, Calvin Smyre, Rev. Dr. Flakes, Rev. Dr. Huling and Rev. Elder have each served the Columbus community in different ways. Their participation brings together voices from government, civic life and the faith community as part of a statewide group approaching 70 signatories.”

The nearly 70 signatories represent communities across metropolitan Atlanta, North Georgia, Middle Georgia, South Georgia and coastal Georgia and include current and former state officials, legislators, mayors, county commissioners, faith leaders and other community leaders. The letter states that moving probate judicial elections to a nonpartisan basis would bring probate judges in line with Georgia’s other elected judges and further the principle that judges should serve without the label of a political party attached to their names on the ballot.

The proposed constitutional amendment will appear statewide on Georgia’s November 2026 general election ballot.