Local attorney files ‘intent to run’

A Shackelford County incumbent drew an opponent this week,notfortheMarchprimary butintheGeneralElectionnext November.

Local attorney John Montgomery, who has a practice in Albany, filed an “intent to run” with county judge John Viertel on Monday.

Should he decide to file for the ballot by June 27, 2024, he will be on the Nov. 5 ballot as an independent candidate.

Althoughindependentsmust file for election within the same time frame as Republicans and Democrats, with a Dec. 11, 2023 deadline, they are not involved in the March Republican or Democratic primaries.

Viertel explained that Montgomery was unable to file for the primary because he will not be registeredtovoteinShackelford County until after the Dec. 11 filing deadline.

“His only option is to run independent in the General Election,” Viertel said. “For that option, he will need to file for the ballot by June 27, 2024. He will not be ‘committed’ until he actually files for the ballot.”

The county judge also said that Montgomery will need to solicit 50 Shackelford County registered voters who did not participate in any primary election.

“He doesn’t have the option of paying a filing fee; he has to file by petition,” Viertel said.

Montgomery is running againstincumbentRollinRauschl, who filed for reelection during the first few days of the filing period, which started Nov. 11.

Also filing for reelection this week was Pct. 3 commissioner Lanham Martin, who brought his petition and completed paperwork to the Courthouse on Monday.

Xavier Perez, incumbent countyconstable,filedforreelection on Wednesday morning.

Others who have already filed include incumbent sheriff Edward Miller and incumbent Pct.1commissionerSteveRiley.

So far, except for Montgomery, all the local candidates will be on the Republican primary ballot.

Atleastacoupleofothershad pickeduppaperworkforvarious offices, according to county and district clerk Cheri Hawkins.

In addition, the seat for district attorney of the 259th Judicial District, occupied by Joe Edd Boaz of Anson, will be on the ballot. Boaz has announced that he will not seek reelection.

Candidates wishing to file for a place on the Republican primary ballot should contact Republican chairRodneyCaseyat325370-2468.

According to Hawkins, thereisnolocalDemocratic chair, but she can help prospective Democratic candidates contact the Austin office for information.

Hawkinsalsohascopies of petitions that can be filed in lieu of the filing fee for local elections.

Thecountyofficesinthis cycle all have a $750 filing fee.Acandidatecansubmit a petition with a minimum of 50 eligible voters instead of posting the fee.

Application Process

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

“Thedesignatedtreasurer can be anyone, even the candidate,” she said. “Then thecandidatecaneitherpay the filing fee, which goes to the state party, or pick up a petition and obtain signatures ofatleast50registered county voters.”

Completed paperwork then is turned into the party chairman.

Democratic candidates would need to check with Hawkinsintheclerk’soffice at 325-762-9415 or contact theTexasDemocraticParty at512-478-9800tofilesince there isn’t a local Democratic party chairman.

The actual filing process must be done with the county chairman of the candidate’s party, not in the clerk’s office.

Anyone who files as an independentcandidatefalls under the same requirements as party candidates, with a few exceptions.

Like Montgomery, independent candidates must sign a “declaration of intent” withthecountyjudge, Hawkins said.