Filing period for primaries starts Nov. 9

By Melinda L. Lucas

The filing period for the March 2020 primary elections officially starts this weekend on Saturday, Nov. 9, but since the Shackelford County Courthouse is closed through Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, the first day that candidates can actually sign up is Nov. 12.

Republican county chair Lynne Teinert plans to be at the Courthouse on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 1:00 p.m. to help sign up candidates for the Republican primary.

According to County and District Clerk Cheri Hawkins, there is no local Democratic chair, but she can help prospective Democratic candidates contact the Austin office for information.

Hawkins also has copies of petitions that can be filed in lieu of the filing fee for all local elections.

The deadline to file for an office through a political party is Monday, Dec. 9.

The same dates apply to independent candidates who intend to file a declaration of intent. 

Among the offices to be decided in the primaries and in the general election later next year are those of County Sheriff Ed Miller and County Attorney Colton Johnson.

Terms for precinct 1 commissioner Steve Riley and precinct 3 commissioner Lanham Martin are also up for election.

Application Details

The first step in applying to run as a primary candidate is to designate a campaign treasurer, according to Hawkins. 

“The designated treasurer can be anyone, even the candidate,” she said. “Then the candidate can either pay the filing fee, which goes to the state party, or pick up the petition paperwork and obtain signatures from at least 50 registered county voters.”

Republican party candidates turn in their applications to Teinert, who in addition to next Wednesday will probably be at the Courthouse at another set time prior to the deadline.

Democratic candidates need to check with Hawkins at 325-762-9415 or contact the Texas Democratic Party at 512-478-9800 to find out where to file their application, since there is not a local Democratic party county chairman at this time. 

Any Libertarian party candidates should file with their party by the Dec. 9 deadline. They can contact the state party chair at 903-372-6931.

Candidates must officially file with the county chair of their party, not in the clerk’s office, said Hawkins.

Democratic or Republican candidates for most county posts carry a filing fee of $750, or they can choose to turn in the petition with 50 local voter signatures. 

Hawkins reminded prospective candidates that independent candidates fall under some of the same guidelines as party candidates, but there are some differences. 

Independent candidates must sign a “declaration of intent” with the county judge, she explained. Also, instead of a filing fee, independent candidates should file by petition. 

However, independent filers should not collect signatures on their petitions until after the party primaries have taken place, because people who vote in the primaries are not eligible to sign their petitions. 

Candidates for precinct chair or chairman of the two major political parties should also file before the deadline, but there is no filing fee as there is for public office.