Clifton F. Hastings has announced his candidacy for the circuit judge position currently held by retiring Judge Robert W. Barr at the July 22 meet of the Republican Women of Pike County.

In announcing his candidacy, Hastings said he believes that he is well qualified for the judgeship because he is “a man of the working people, a man of God and a man of the law.”

When he was 10 years old, Hastings worked on a neighbor’s farm bailing hay and worked his way up to using the tractor and to doing general farm work. During his college years at Troy University, Hastings worked in his dad’s bauxite mining company in Barbour County. He operated the different kinds of mining equipment.

After college, he worked as a police officer and detective for the Eufaula Police Department. He also has worked in management and sold real estate and insurance.

For several years, Hastings was an insurance adjuster and claims manager for Alfa Insurance. While working fulltime with Alfa, he also attended law school fulltime.

“In making the decision to seek the office of circuit judge, I considered the strong background of life experiences I had to bring to the table,’ Hastings said. “After prayerful consideration, I realized that this is what I want to do and should do. “I know that, as circuit judge, I will be fair and impartial and will apply the law justly.”

Hastings said that God has always played an important role in his decision-making.

“I have always sought God’s guidance through prayer,” he said. “Gina and the children and I spent much time in careful consideration before embarking on this path.”

Hastings said that judges should apply the law as written but also bring to the court their knowledge of the community in which they live.

“Judges need to be aware of the need for speedy, just decisions so as not to waste the time and resources of their communities,” he said.

Hastings has experience in multiple areas of the law, both civil and criminal. His trail experiences include successful judgment for clients in both areas.

“I believe that I am the right man for this job,” he said. “I’ve always said that if I’m given a job and the tools to do it, I will do my very best to do the job and do it with pride.”

Hastings is an attorney with Cervera Ralph & Reeves in Troy. His wife, Gina, is a teacher at Charles Henderson Middle School. They have three children, Cliff, a sophomore at Troy University; Marli, a sophomore at Charles Henderson High School; and Luke, a freshman at CHHS.