The timeline for the 2012 primary elections has become a thing of Byzantine proportions. Today would have been the last day to file for a place on the March primary election ballot but a court in San Antonio has extended it until next Monday (Dec. 19).
Further, some of the reports I’ve seen leaves the possibility that the courts could re-open filing to accommodate any future changes to the maps for State Senate and House districts, and for congressional districts. Who knows how that might affect us but, frankly, the whole thing is pretty messed up.
Still, since today would have been the last day to file, here is a Democratic Party perspective on the county races. Remember, folks still have until Monday at 6 p.m. to file.
First, a little bit about our team so far.
Tommy Grimes filed for the Democratic nomination for county tax assessor-collector today. Tommy is a CPA with decades of experience, and has been Pct. 207 Precinct Chair and Democratic election judge for about eight years.
This brings to four the number of county-wide candidates we have on the March ballot. Kerry Spears is running for re-election as district and county attorney. Linda Acosta is running for election as county treasurer, the job she’s been doing for the last 18 months or so. Norman Lanford has filed for the Democratic nomination as district judge. These candidates all filed back in November.
Also, today, Brian Fisher of Thorndale filed for a place on the March ballot as Constable, Pct. 4. He will face long-time incumbent Giles Summerlin for the job. Brian is also on the Thorndale school board and Giles, who filed in November, is Milam County’s longest-serving elected Democrat.
Right now, those are the only Democrats running. Which means, there are no Democratic candidates for sheriff, commissioners of precincts 1 and 3, or constable of precincts 1, 2 or 3. In fact, as I write this, I’m not sure that there is even a Republican candidate for Constable, Pct. 3.
As today wore on, I fielded calls from several people asking about how to get on the ballot but it looks like they will put off a decision until Monday but the fact is, there is room and support for more Democrats on the ballot.
Now, about the other guys. As you are all probably aware, we’ve had a few high-profile defections.
David Greene defected last spring. His campaign signs boast that he is the conservative Republican choice for sheriff, despite the fact that he called himself a life-long Democrat a few short months ago. Herbie Vaughn, the incumbent Pct. 3 Constable, has also defected and will challenge Greene for the Republican nomination. Greg Kouba, who ran as a Democrat for sheriff in 2008, is also running for the Republican nomination
Charlie West was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Constable, Pct. 2 and is running for that seat as a Republican. When he served as our sheriff for 12 years, he was a Democrat. He has an opponent in the Republican primary (can’t call the opponent’s name). John Anderlee, Constable Pct. 1, also defected and is running for re-election as a Republican. Commissioner Pct. 1 George Tomek, elected as a Democrat, has also defected.
Bill Torrey is unopposed for the Republican nomination for District Attorney. He is a self-styled Democrat who has run for the office — unsuccessfully — three times, as a Democrat. It was Kerry Spears who beat him.
Finally, Kolette Morgan is filling an unexpired term as county tax assessor-collector. We had thought that she would run as a Democrat but she never declared. Right before filing, she decided to go the other way. A day or two later, Karen Berry announced she would also run for the Republican nomination. The winner of that race will face our guy, Tommy Grimes.
So, there’s a summary of the 2012 primary election. The last day to file is Monday by 6 p.m. If you know anyone who might be interested in serving Milam County as an elected Democratic official — especially county commissioner, sheriff or constable — please have them get in touch with me.
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