As Nov. 2 quickly approaches, few reminders of an upcoming election are visible. But several candidates are speeding to the finish line. A race for Warren circuit court judge, family law division, is happening between incumbent Judge Margaret Huddleston, who was appointed to the position in September 1998, and attorney Ralph Beck. There also is a race for fifth district magistrate between incumbent Lonnie White and Republican Alan Blythe. Margaret HuddlestonHuddleston, a Bowling Green High School and Western Kentucky University graduate, has a varied background. It includes working in Appalachia and being an intensive coronary care nurse, where she learned crisis-intervention skills she continues to use today, she said. Huddleston continued to work as a nurse on weekends while she attended Chase Law School at Northern Kentucky University. After graduating in 1983, she worked briefly at a private practice and then returned to Bowling Green, where she practiced for 14 years. She worked at Cumberland Trace Legal Services, which offers services to the impoverished, by handling many family law cases. She was frequently appointed as a guardian to represent children’s interests. A family court judge’s week has been known to include dealings with messy divorces, abused children, crack-addicted babies and out-of-control juveniles. But the job has great rewards, Huddleston said, like seeing what a family gains from a ruling, or “seeing a child who has been beyond control of his parents come around.””There are avenues to recover and change old ways,” she said. W. Ralph BeckBeck has a wide range of experience with family law and has served as a full-time domestic relations commissioner since 1996, a position that oversees the same type of cases as a family court judge. Although a legal option, Beck has refused campaign contributions from other attorneys. Beck graduated from BGHS in 1973. He received his undergraduate degree from Western and received a law degree from the University of Louisville in 1980.After law school, Beck returned to Bowling Green where he worked three years as a public defender. He then worked 10 years at a private firm before establishing his own practice. Between 1987 and 1995, Beck said he handled “hundreds” of family law cases. His own parents divorced when he was five years old, so Beck said it was natural for him to develop a strong personal interest in domestic law.”I was the only divorced child in my class … I wouldn’t say it was traumatic, but it gave me a feel for what (children) go through,” he said. If elected, Beck said he would “tailor” each case to fit individual families and would offer the resources of family court to the community. Fifth District MagistrateLonnie WhiteTen days after he was elected magistrate in the 1998 election, Ephram White died and his son was appointed by Gov. Paul Patton to fill the position. Lonnie White hopes to retain his position for the Fifth District, which covers about 45 percent of Warren County and includes Browning, Hadley, Richardsville and part of Plum Springs. White said his accomplishments as magistrate include getting roads paved and improving parks and playgrounds. During his first year as magistrate White said he enjoyed meeting new people. White farms 600 acres. Alan BlytheRepublican Alan Blythe ran for magistrate in 1998, campaigning door to door at 2,000 homes. He lost to Ephram White by a little more than 300 votes. Following what he calls a “common sense” approach, Blythe advocates less taxes and waste, and efficient government. Blythe is a car salesman, runs a wholesale tire business and drives a school bus for the county school system.