Fayette County's

state court solicitor plans to run for a superior court judgeship in two

years.

Steve Harris,

who has been Fayette's first and only solicitor for seven years, wants

to run for the seat currently occupied by Tommy Hankinson, who was appointed

last year by then-Gov. Roy Barnes to replace retiring Superior Court Judge

Ben J. Miller Jr.

Harris was

one of the applicants for the appointment, but he felt the appointment

of Hankinson was an example of "cronyism".

Only one thing

might change Harris's mind about running for a judgeship: if Fayette was

segregated into its own judicial circuit. [See accompanying story.] Currently,

Fayette shares four judges in the Griffin Judicial Circuit, comprising

Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson counties. Three of the four judges live

in Upson County: Hankinson, Paschal English and Johnnie Caldwell. Judge

Chris Edwards lives in south Fayette.

Harris said

he has made no formal announcement of his candidacy nor has he put together

a campaign committee. But he is serious about seeking the office.

"We've

got a good system that works well here (at state court)," Harris

said. "I've accomplished everything I can here. There's not much

left to be done."