Registered Nurse Announces Bid for Forsyth County Coroner

Mary Beth Pais, a registered nurse and faculty member at the Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State University, announced Wednesday that she is a candidate for Forsyth County Coroner.

Pais, who has more than 30 years of nursing experience, trained with many of the country's top forensic pathologists including, Michael Baden M.D., Henry Lee M.D., and Werner Spitz M.D.

Her expertise ranges from emergency department nursing, supervision, management, education, to medical legal death investigations (MLDI). She has served voluntarily as a pathology tech in the Alabama Forensic Lab in Montgomery for the past five years and has taken calls as a Deputy Coroner for Tallapoosa County.

"The job of coroner is critically important," Pais said in a news release. "It requires a specialized knowledge and exceptionally high level of professionalism. My many years of medical experience, professional training and desire to serve my community have led me to make this commitment."

Pais earned a Master's Degree in Education from Ashland University, a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Cleveland State University, and trained as an MLDI at St. Louis University School of Medicine.

She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society Epsilon Chapter, and lives in the Sweetbriar subdivision in south Forsyth County with her husband George.

Pais said if elected she will reduce the coroner's budget by at least 10 percent by limiting the number of deputy coroner's calls.

"In this time of economic uncertainty, I think it's important for all areas of government to tighten their belts and be more fiscally responsible," she said.

for the past 11 years and a volunteer firefighter for 24 years, announced his candidacy for sheriff last month.