Candidates for district court judge and district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit spoke to potential voters at a political forum on Tuesday.

The forum was sponsored by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce and held at Senior Connection.

Thirteen candidates for Chilton County Commission spent most of the forum answering questions, but first, candidates for other local offices were given the opportunity to speak to about 150 people in attendance.

Incumbent District Attorney Randall Houston touted his record of prosecuting cases in a circuit that includes Chilton, Autauga and Elmore counties.

Houston also pointed to his office’s work proposing state legislation, including a bill that banned “clustering” of sex offenders, an issue that was raised in Chilton County.

“I am a proponent of law enforcement, and I support them in everything they do,” Houston said.

Houston’s challenger, Casey Biggs, said she began her career as assistant district attorney and in that position secured two capital murder convictions.

“Those aren’t all the cases you remember,” Biggs said. “I remember the cases involving the most innocent of our victims, which would be the children.”

Biggs said she could make improvements to the district attorney’s office.

“I will be a more hands-on prosecutor,” she said. “I can assure you that I’m going to lead from my feet.”

Ali Garrett was the first candidate for district court judge to address the crowd.

Garrett said that though she “quickly fell in love” with Chilton County, her lack of roots here give her an advantage.

“I promise to treat everybody who comes in front of me with dignity and respect,” she said.

Angie Mayfield pointed to her experience practicing law at several different levels.

“My experience is based on the variety of law I have practiced,” said Mayfield, who also talked about the importance of her existing relationships with others involved in the court process. “I feel like that experience puts me in better position to be your next district judge.”

Chris Speaks said he thinks the next district judge should be a person of principle, should interpret the law instead of forming the law, and should be firm, measured and thoughtful.

“I believe I have the qualities to be your next district judge,” Speaks said. “It’s a great and exciting time to be a Republican and conservative in our state…It’s time we the people stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough.’”