Incumbent David Cannon Jr. of Canton is seeking his third four-year term with a challenge from Channing Ruskell of Hickory Flat.
In 2002, Cannon defeated Ruskell in the Republican primary to become the solicitor. The two faced each other again four years later when Ruskell unsuccessfully challenged Cannon to get his old job back.
Cannon, 39, said he wants another term to continue making improvements to the office.
"I have been working over the years to improve the way we do business," he said.
Improvements include using e-mail and thumbdrives for disclosure instead of using mail, having the 911 center electronically place calls into a hard drive instead of having to burn a CD and the installation of a Web-based case management system.
"I want to help us do our jobs better," he added.
Cannon said Cherokee voters should keep him in the position so the office can continue becoming more efficient.
"We don't want to go backwards," he said. "We need to keep moving forward in terms of how we are doing things."
Before his election to office, Cannon worked in a private law practice in Canton with his father, David Cannon Sr.
Cannon earned a business administration degree from University of Georgia and a law degree from Mercer University.
Past president of the Cherokee Bar Association, Cannon has served on the executive council of the Georgia Association of Solicitors General and is a past fellow of the Georgia Bar Association.
He and his wife, Jory, have two children and are members of Canton First United Methodist Church.
Ruskell, 55, said he's running on his record of practicing law for 30 years.
"I have handled a lot of cases in state court. I live here. I feel like a can do a good job," he said.
A lawyer with Carson and Ruskell Attorneys in Woodstock, Ruskell earned his law degree from Emory University.
Past president of the Canton Kiwanis Club, Ruskell has one daughter and attends First Baptist Woodstock.
Ruskell said his view of the position of solicitor and his opponent's view of the position are different.
"I feel like the position is one of a prosecuting attorney actively prosecuting cases," Ruskell said, adding he feels Cannon acts as more of an administrator. "If it is an administrative position, then hire an administrator. The voters are hiring a lawyer to represent them. I am an experienced litigator."
Ruskell said he would spend less time on "nonessential matters," noting he thinks the office's purchase of nine iPads was unnecessary.
Cannon said the purchase of the iPads was justified because they help attorneys access the electronic case management system from the courtroom.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this is the future," Cannon said of the technology.
Cannon is a good man, and he won by a huge margin. That should send a message that the people of Cherokee County appreciate the job he does.
I'd vote for him anytime!