Candidates can begin to file for March primaries

By Jay Ermis

Candidates can start filing today for the March 2 Democratic and Republican primary elections.

Candidates seeking office in Walker County can file with Republican Party chair Russell Martinez or Democratic Party chair Tom Wood.

Precinct chairs can start filing Friday. The last day to file for a place on the ballot is Jan. 4.

The last day to register to vote in the primary is Feb. 1, while early voting runs Feb. 16 through Feb. 26.

County positions on the March 2 ballot will be county judge, criminal district attorney, district clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, commissioners in Precincts 2 and 4 and the four justices of the peace.

Elections on the state level include the Texas House District 13 and Senate District 5.

Danny Pierce is serving his second four-year term as county judge while Precinct 2 commissioner Robert Earl Autery has served four terms and Precinct 4 commissioner Tim Paulsel has served three terms.

David Weeks currently serves as Walker County Criminal District Attorney; Robyn Flowers, district clerk; Sharon Duke, county treasurer; and Janie Farris, Precinct 1 JP; Richard Duncan, Precinct 2 JP; Loyd Roark, Precinct 3 JP; and James Mature, Precinct 4 JP.

James Patton announced he is not seek re-election as county clerk. When he steps down, he will have worked for the county for 34 years, three months, with 32 1/2 of those years as county clerk.

Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Lloyd Roark announced this week he will not seek re-election to the position he will have held for 32 years when he retires Dec. 31, 2010.

Walker County resident Johnny Holland also announced this week his candidacy to seek Roark's position in the March primary.

Holland, a 25-year resident of Precinct 3 and former owner of Holland Chevrolet/Nissan in Huntsville, is currently a private investigator.

District 13 state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham will seek re-election for a new term. She represents Walker, Grimes, Washington and Austin counties.

State Rep. Dan Gattis of Georgetown announced late Sunday night he is dropping his candidacy for the Senate District 5 seat to spend more time with his family.

Sen. Steve Ogden of Bryan said in early September he was not seeking re-election, but Gattis decided to drop his candidacy since Ogden indicated he might seek a new term.

Walker County businessman Ben Bius has announced intentions to seek the Senate District 5 position and said late Tuesday night he will officially file the necessary documents today with the Republican Part of Texas to be a candidate in the March 2 primary.

Walker County is among 14 counties in the district along with Brazos, Burleson, Freestone, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Trinity and Williamson.

Farris, Duncan and Mature have announced they will seek re-election to their respective justice of the peace offices in addition to Holland filing for Precinct 3.

Huntsville businesswoman Kari French and David Standlee have announced their candidacies for the county clerk position in the March primary.

Standlee is retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after 33 years as the director of executive services and French is a Huntsville businesswoman.

The Precinct 2 county commissioner’s position has drawn the attention of Bill Don Avritt, Cindy Blaylock and Ronnie White.

All three have announced their candidacies.

Frank Novark of New Waverly has announced his candidacy for Precinct 4 commissioner.

Novark lost to Paulsel in 2006 for the Precinct 4 job by a count of 1,368 votes to 1,056 votes.

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