Savannah, Tenn.–Ben Harmon has thrown his hat in the ring as an Independent Candidate for Chancellor for the 24th Judicial District which includes Carroll, Henry, Benton, Decatur and Hardin counties. The position was formerly held by Harmon’s father, Ron Harmon.
Harmon is an attorney with broad experience.
Harmon said, “I’m the Independent candidate for Chancellor because
partisan politics has no place in the courtroom. The Chancellor must
be fair and impartial in their decision making. Therefore, they must
be independent in their rulings. I have had the privilege of growing
up around some of the best judges in the State of Tennessee and one
thing they all had in common was they did not allow partisan politics
to enter into their job. Currently, the Chancery Court has a
substantial backlog. I’m a hard worker, I always have been, and I will
see that the matters in the Chancery Court are handled fairly and
efficiently to eliminate the backlog.”
“I am, first and foremost, a father to two beautiful daughters. I take
a lot of pride in my children, and I am amazed every day by what
wonderful young women they have become.
“I am a lifelong resident of Hardin County and a second-generation
attorney. My Father, the late Ron Harmon, was the former Chancellor of
the 24th Judicial District. I started traveling this district with him
when I was a young man and I have always felt like the whole 24th
Judicial District was my home. He was a fair, honest, and hardworking
judge, just as I will be, if the citizens choose to elect me.”
“The position of Chancellor requires a judge who can preside over cases
that are diverse and sometimes very complicated. “During my practice I
have represented thousands of clients. I have handled divorces that
involved the identification and distribution of millions of dollars of
marital assets, including privately owned businesses and large
retirement accounts. I have represented clients in child custody cases
that involved dependency and neglect, termination of parental rights,
adoption, establishment of paternity, establishment of custody,
visitation, and support, as well as, modification of existing
parenting plans. I have also represented clients to reestablish
custody rights after having them suspended. Clients have trusted me to
represent them in real estate transactions, both commercial and
residential, with single transactions reaching into the millions of
dollars. I have represented clients in property issues that range from
boundary line disputes to adverse possession of property to
establishment and enforcement of easements. I have formed and
established Homeowner Associations and enforcement of the by-laws of
homeowner associations. I have both prosecuted and defended civil
lawsuits, many into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have
drafted leases, contracts and operating agreements. I have formed and
dissolved partnerships, LLC’s, and corporations. I have handled all
types of probate matters from the drafting and executing of wills to
the administration and closing of estates.”
“Also, the position of Chancellor requires a judge who as the finder of
fact has a diverse background outside of the law. In Circuit Court
most cases have a jury of your peers and these twelve jurors from
diverse backgrounds are the finders of fact. In Chancery Court there
is no jury in the vast majority of cases. The Chancellor is the sole
finder of facts. I believe it is important that a Chancellor have a
diverse background outside of the law for this purpose. I possess this
qualification. I owned a small business for many years and I
understand the struggles that a small business owner in rural west
Tennessee endures. While going back to school, I took on any work I
could find that allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming an attorney.
I have worked as a machinist and a welder/fabricator. I have worked
both as a server and a manager in the restaurant business. I have also
worked as a sales associate living off of commissions. All of these
jobs gave me a perspective into the daily grind that the people who
are appearing in the Court go through.
“I believe that the position of Chancellor is a position of service to
your community. I was raised from a young age to believe that one
should serve his community in whatever capacity possible. I have
served on numerous committees and boards over the years and it has
always made me proud to be a positive part of my community. I
currently serve as Chairman of the Historic Zoning Commission in
Savannah, Tennessee. I am a charter member appointed by the Mayor.
Also, I currently serve as a Commissioner of the Savannah Housing
Authority. I feel that my true calling to serve my community has been
through the law and providing the people of the 24th Judicial District
with legal representation. I am running for Chancellor because I
believe it is the best way I can continue to serve this district.
“I have the compassion, independence, and commitment to be your
Chancellor and I am sincerely asking for your vote.“