Candidates file for county offices

By Donnie A. Lucas

Several local candidates for the March 1 primary elections officially completed the filing process on Tuesday, well ahead of the Dec. 13 filing deadline.

Two prospective candidates who picked up the required paperwork had yet to turn in their petitions and applications to get on the ballot for a county post.

Offices up for reelection this cycle include county judge, county and district clerk, county treasurer, justice of the peace, and two county commissioner positions.

The filing period will close at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

No one new indicated during the last week any interest in tossing their hat into the ring, according county and district clerk Cheri Hawkins.

All the candidates who have designated a campaign treasurer and picked up a petition have indicated that they will file for the Republican Primary Election set for March 1.

No one has filed for the Democratic Primary, or as a Libertarian or Independent.

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 elections will determine party candidates for the General Election set for Nov. 8, 2022.

Republican incumbents who filed on Tuesday included Hawkins – county district clerk, Tammy Brown – county treasurer, James Breeden – justice of the peace, and Ace Reames – precinct 2 commissioner. 

Precinct 4 commissioner Cody Jordan has filed the paperwork setting up a campaign treasurer, but has not yet paid the filing fee or submitted a petition to file for the post.

The county judge’s office has drawn two potential candidates, after current first-term judge Bob Skelton announced that he does not intent to seek another four-year term.

John Viertel officially filed for the county judge position on Tuesday, while Raleigh Breeden turned in his petition on Tuesday but has not officially filed for office.

Anyone interested in running for the Democratic party primary can contact the clerk’s office in the courthouse 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 a commissioner’s post must obtain signatures from within their own precinct.

The five candidates who filed Tuesday had to wait last week for the deputy voter registration clerk to return to work after an illness to verify signatures on their petitions as current registered voters.

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.

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.