Candidates slowly filing for election
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

Through the first four days of filing for positions on the primary election ballot, a combined 11 hopefuls filed applications as candidates.

Monday was the first day to file for a spot on the ballot with either the Democratic or Republican parties. The filings listed are through Friday at 11 a.m.

The most recent filing in the Democratic primary was by incumbent Precinct 1 Constable Donald B. Barbee, who filed for reelection.

Previous filings announced by party Chairman Roger Benavidez were incumbent office holders seeking a return to their current office. That list is made up of Tax Assessor-Collector Patrick Kubala, Precinct 2 Constable John Szymanski and Precinct 4 Constable Shawn Ferguson.

Additional late week filings in the Republican Party include Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Reynolds and Precinct 3 Constable Lowell Howard. Both are incumbents with Howard appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Precinct 3 Constable Rudy Machala. This is the first time Howard will run as an incumbent.

Earlier in the week, GOP Chairwoman Debra Medina announced several filings, including the first contested primary race which will feature incumbent District Attorney Josh McCown being challenged by El Campo attorney Dawn Allison. Others filing for spots on the Republican Primary ballot are incumbent Sheriff Jess Howell, incumbent Precinct 3 Commissioner Philip Miller and Precinct 1 Constable candidate Dale Potter.

In discussing the primary election, Wharton County Elections Administrator Judy Owens stressed candidates seeking county office should file with their respective party chairs and not with her office. Those seeking state or national offices file with those respective party offices.

"When a person files for office there is a candidate's application form that has to be filled out and the fees vary depending on the office being sought," she said. "The next step would be to fill out a campaign treasurer's report, which is done with the county clerk."

In lieu of the filing fee, the Texas Secretary of State's Web site states a candidate has the option to submit in a nominating petition signed by a certain number of qualified voters.

The Democratic chairman in Wharton County is Roger Benavidez in El Campo, 979-543-1978.

The Republican chairwoman in Wharton County is Debra Medina in Wharton, 979- 282-9955.

Local offices appearing on this year's ballot include district attorney, sheriff, county attorney, tax assessor-collector, county commissioners precincts 1 and 3 and constables. All are four-year term offices.

Federal offices on the ballot include president, U.S. senator (John Cornyn) and U.S. representative (Ron Paul, 14th District). State offices include railroad commissioner, supreme court chief justice, supreme court judge (two places), court of criminal appeals, Texas House District 28 (John Zerwas), state board of education and various chief justices of the courts of appeals, court of appeals justices, district judges, criminal district judges and family district judges.

A brief calendar of this year's election cycle, according to the Secretary of State's office, has the last day to file as a candidate as Jan. 2. The last day to register to vote is Feb. 4. Early voting for the primary runs Feb. 19 to Feb. 29 with Election Day being March 4.

For more candidate or voting information, the Texas Secretary of State Web site is www.sos.state.tx.us/elections.