Chris Speaks in all likelihood will be Chilton County’s next district court judge—a position that could be seen as a long time coming.

Chilton County voters overwhelmingly favored Speaks in Tuesday’s Primary Election over opponents Angie Collins Mayfield and Ali Upchurch Garrett.

Speaks earned 6,311 votes (or 63.9 percent) to Mayfield’s 2,078 (21.1 percent) and Garrett’s 1,481 (15 percent).

The election results won’t be official until provisional ballots are counted, though it’s unlikely to matter because of the margin of victory.

“I’m very humbled by the amount that I won by,” Speaks said. “I really appreciate all the support, but it also puts a lot of pressure on me to do what I said I’d do. I’m ready to get to work doing it.”

Speaks said he does not expect to have any opposition in the November General Election, which would mean the position would be his.

Speaks lost an election for Chilton County district judge in 1998 by 150 votes to Rhonda Hardesty.

Speaks, whose brother Bill retired from the position, said he always thought his talents made him well-suited to be district judge.

“It’s something I’ve been planning on doing for several years when I felt like the time was right, and I thought the time was right,” he said.

Speaks said he especially hopes to be able to help local youth through new initiatives and community involvement.

“I’ve worked with youth since I was a youth myself, and I want to try to show them that there’s a better way.”