Dawson County's chief magistrate judge has announced she will seek a second term.

"I care about magistrate court, I care about the citizens in this county, and I want to represent them for another four years," said Lisa Thurmond, who was elected in 2008 after serving as associate magistrate judge for four years.

No candidates have declared their intentions to run against Thurmond.

Qualifying for the July 31 General Primary is set for May 23-25.

As chief magistrate, Thurmond manages day-to-day court operations and presides over civil cases where filings do not exceed $15,000.

The court also handles dispossessory actions, such as garnishments and evictions, as well as arrest and search warrants issued in the county.

Thurmond said she and her staff have made needed improvements that streamlined the court while saving taxpayer money.

"We have video conferencing stations all around the county for officers to connect with the judges, which keeps them in their zones," she said. "We're also able to do bond hearings, first appearance hearings by video conferencing.

"I was able to do all this with a savings to the county taxpayers over the other system that we used."

Thurmond continues to look for cost-saving measures.

"I pay close attention to the budget to make sure we are operating as efficiently as we can and not wasting the taxpayer's money," she said.

She plans to look into online filing and wants to review the cost of certified interpreters required in court in the coming months.

Thurmond holds a paralegal degree with a specialty in civil litigation and a criminal justice degree. She is pursuing a master's in business administration.

She is married to Dawson County Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond and has two adult children and one grandson.