Candidates continue to fill petitions

By Donnie A. Lucas

No new candidates started11 the filing process for county posts since last week, with the filing deadline set for Monday, Dec. 13 at 6:00p.m.

County and district Clerk Cheri Hawkins said Tuesday that a couple of the candidates who have taken petitions to have them signed by registered voters in lieu of the filing fee are ready to have the signatures verified.

“The deputy voter registration officer who will check the signatures with names on the voter registration roll has been out with an illness,” Hawkins said. “We will have to wait for her to return to officially move forward.”

Once the signatures are checked and verified, a candidate then must fill out the actual application to be placed on the primary ballot and submit it to their party chairman.

Currently, only the Republican party has a county chair with which to file.

The county has not had a Democratic Party chairman for several years and no one has filed locally to run on that ticket.

The primary election to determine party candidates is set for May 1, 2022. The General Election will be held Nov. 8.

Terms ending next year include the county and district clerk, county treasurer, justice of the peace, county judge, and two precinct commissioners posts.

Republican incumbents Cheri Hawkins – county district clerk, Tammy Brown – county treasurer, and James Breeden – justice of the peace, each filed to designate campaign treasurers last week and took petitions to have signed in lieu of the filing fees in oder to file for re-election.

Commissioners Ace Reames – precinct 2 and Cody Jordan – precinct 4 have also filed the paperwork setting up campaign treasurers, with Reames taking a petition to collect signatures. Jordan had not yet decided whether to pay the filing fee or collect the required 50 signatures. Both have indicated they will file as Republicans.

The county judge’s office has drawn two potential candidates, with current first-term judge Bob Skelton announcing he does not intend to seek another four-year term.

According to Hawkins, two residents have started the paperwork to file for the position.

John Viertel and Raleigh Breeden both filed the form to designate a campaign treasurer last Monday, and both picked up petition forms to have signed.

No candidates planning to file for the Democratic primary have contacted the clerk’s office where the paperwork for designating a campaign treasurer is required, along with picking up an official copy of the petition necessary to skip the filing fee.

Anyone interested in running for the Democratic party primary can contact the clerk’s office at 325-762-9415 or the Texas Democratic Party office in Austin at 512-478-9800.

Candidates for either primary can obtain the signatures of at least 50 currently registered voters instead of paying the filing fee, which is $750. The one exception is the justice of the peace filing fee, which is $350.

Candidates for a county-wide office can obtain signatures of any Shackelford County registered voters, while those filing for commissioners’ posts must obtain signatures from within their own precinct.

Precinct lines are in the midst of being updated, with minor changes made to a few residents living in Albany. Signatures will have to be obtained within the new precinct lines.

The new Republican party chairman is Rodney Casey, who is also placing his name on the ballot for the primary after being appointed earlier in the year to replace retiring chair Lynne Teinert. Casey is not required to pay a fee or obtain signatures to have his name placed on the ballot.

Republican candidates will need to officially file for office with Casey, filling out the application presenting him with the petitions once the names are verified or paying the filing fee. 

Any Libertarian party candidates should file with their party by the Dec. 13 deadline. They can contact the state party chair at 903-372-6931.

Hawkins reminded anyone thinking of filing as an independent candidate that they fall under the same requirements as party candidates, with a few exceptions.

Independent candidates must sign a “declaration of intent” with the county judge to be placed on the ballot, Hawkins said.