DA candidate radio forums begin today
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Wharton County voters will get their first chance to hear viewpoints from district attorney candidates during a radio broadcast today at noon.

Republican contenders Josh McCown, the incumbent, and Dawn Allison, challenger, will be responding to media questions during a 45 minute live broadcast on radio station KULP 1390 AM.

Each candidate will have a two minute opening statement followed by the question and answer session. To round out the discussion, each will be allowed a two minute closing statement.

The roundtable will be broadcast live, Moderator Jerry Aulds said, adding it will be rebroadcast again at some point during the early voting period along with future roundtables.

McCown and Allison are vying for the GOP nomination and a spot on the November ballot.

Democratic contenders John C. Maher Jr. and John Roades, both of Wharton, are hoping for that party's nomination.

They will have their chance to share their views during a radio roundtable scheduled for noon Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Early voting for the March primaries starts Tuesday, Feb. 19 and runs through Friday, Feb. 29.

Election Day will be Tuesday, March 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The district attorney's post is the only opposed local office at the primary level, although several incumbents will face a November challenger.

Constable Precinct 4 Democratic incumbent Shawn Ferguson will be challenged by Republican candidate Thomas Drapela.

In Wharton County Precinct 1 Wharton resident Leroy Dettling is seeking the commissioner's post on the Democratic ticket challenging Republican Incumbent Mickey Reynolds, while Constable Precinct 1 Incumbent Donald Barbee, a Democrat, is being opposed by Republican Dale Potter.

Those unopposed in both the primary and general election include:

• Republicans - 329th District Judge Randy Clapp, Sheriff Jess Howell; County Attorney G.A. "Trey" Maffett; Precinct 3 Commissioner Philip Miller and Precinct 4 Constable Lowell Howard.

•Democrats - Tax Assessor Collector Patrick Kubala, Tax Assessor-Collector and Precinct 2 Constable J.A. Szymanski. All are incumbent office holders.

At the state level, Texas House Representative District 28 John Zerwas did not have an opponent file in the Republican Primary. Dorothy Bottos filed as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the position. She challenged Zerwas in 2006.

Incumbent U.S. Representative 14th District and presidential hopeful Ron Paul is opposed in the Republican primary by Chris Peden of Friendswood. No candidates filed for the position in the Democratic Primary.