A horse race has developed in the Republican Primary with four candidates now jockeying for position to succeed Donley County Judge Jack Hall.
Jack Craft is the most recent addition to the lineup. Filing on the deadline day Monday, Craft is a local rancher and businesman who spearheaded the petition drive that led to Donley County voting to allow alcohol sales this year.
Gary Campbell was the first candidate to step forward several weeks ago. He is a retired haz-mat engineer and realtor who is currently representing Clarendon on the Greenbelt Water Authority Board.
Randy Bond is also seeking the county’s top job. He has more than 30 years in law enforcement and is currently Donley County’s chief deputy as well as a local businessman.
Last week, Dr. John Howard threw his hat in the ring. In addition to serving as the community’s medical doctor, Howard is active in the United States Navy and serves as the chairman of the Clarendon College Board of Regents.
All four men will face each other in the March 4, 2014, Republican Primary. If one candidate does not get more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates will be in a run-off election. The top Republican is facing no opposition in the November General Election.
A competitive primary race has also developed for the Precinct 2 County Commissioner’s seat currently held by Donnie Hall, who is not seeking re-election. Three candidates will be on the March ballot. Daniel Ford signed up last week and joins Mitchell Martin and John Grady in the race.
Two competitive races have emerged for the November election. Precinct 1&2 Justice of the Peace Connie Havens is running for re-election as a Democrat and is being challenged by Republican Pam Mason. Precinct 1 County Commissioner Dan Sawyer seeks re-election to his post on the Republican ticket and faces a November challenge from Ricky Rattan on the Democratic side.
County Treasurer Wanda Smith (R) and County/District Clerk Fay Vargas (D) are unopposed for re-election as is Precinct 3&4 Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand (R).
Also of local interest, State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) and State Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) have both announced their filings for reelection.
US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) is also running for re-election and is being challenged by Dr. Pam Barlow of Bowie and Elaine Hays of Amarillo.
Can anyone explain to me why county candidates want their party affiliation mentioned when they are running for office? If they cannot lay out their agenda when campaigning , they do not deserve consideration. To try to ride the enfluence of a party in today’s climate of political connivance I is short sighted. I would shy away from being associated any with party and try to convince the local voter that I have ideas and methods to make Donley county better.
Candidates align with a specific party so the voters will know what primary to vote in. If I support a Democrat candidate I need to know that showing up at the Republican primary probably isn’t a good idea because my ‘guy’ will not be on the ballot. There are other reasons like access to party funds, events & database info — but from a voter’s perspective, it all starts with the primary election between the choices within a specific party.
Boog…….You are old time. The current party system is dysfunctional. Local politics should demand honest and functional ideas. Not attaching a party label. Political affiliation on a local level means nothing. Demand that the candidate present a platform of ideas that are specific and address the needs of Donley county.
rayland46 — I was just trying to answer your question as to why candidates want their party affiliation mentioned when running for office. If a candidate wants their name on a primary ballot in the State of Texas — they have to declare a party by Law & according to Texas Election Code. That’s what makes the Primary election serve its purpose to nominate candidates in each party that will represent them in the General Election. Texas election law allows registered voters to vote in the primary of only one party in a given election. I agree that party lines have overridden common sense — but the blame there lies with the voters, not the system. Personally, I make it a point to vet the candidates through research & past experience — NOT whether the candidate is a Democrat or a Republican. Just knowing what party a person is with doesn’t impede my ability to do that to my satisfaction – regardless of Federal, State, County or City elections.
These are not my rules — BTW. If you are unhappy with the system, call the election commission.