One race contested as filing deadline nears
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

As today's deadline for March primaries nears, the Wharton County District Attorney's office is still the only locally contested race - both on the Republican and Democratic sides.

In the Republican primary, incumbent DA Josh McCown is being challenged by his former staffer Dawn Allison. In the Democratic primary, John C. Maher Jr. and John Roades have both filed as candidates seeking the party's nomination for the November ballot.

Neither party reported any new filings during the past week. The last day to file as a candidate is today, Jan. 2. Please look to the upcoming Saturday edition of the Leader-News for a complete list of those seeking local office.

Potential candidates are reminded that for the primary elections they file with the respective party rather than with the county. Democratic candidates can reach Party Chairman Roger Benavidez in El Campo by calling 979-543-1978. Republican candidates should contact Party Chairwoman Debra Medina in Wharton by calling 979- 282-9955.

In addition to the district attorney candidates, Republican Party filings for county- countywide office include Randy Clapp, 329th District Judge; Jess Howell, sheriff; and G.A. "Trey" Maffett, county attorney. Other filings include Mickey Reynolds, Precinct 1 commissioner; Philip Miller, Precinct 3 commissioner; Dale Potter, Precinct 1 constable; Lowell Howard, Precinct 3 constable, and Thomas Drapela, Precinct 4 constable.

Filing for a countywide office in the Democratic Party primary is Patrick Kubala, tax assessor-collector. Others seeking office include Donald Barbee, Precinct 1 constable; J.A. Szymanski, Precinct 2 constable; and Shawn Ferguson, Precinct 4 constable.

With the combined current party lists, at least one candidate has filed for all of the local offices appearing on the ballot. Those offices are 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).

Currently Paul and Chris Peden, mayor pro tem of Friendswood, had filed for the office on the Republican ticket as of Friday.

State offices include Texas House District 28 (John Zerwas), state board of education who has filed for reelection.