Early voting begins for primary election
Each local primary will have contested races for respective party's nomination for District Attorney
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

After weeks of watching other state's residents cast their ballots, Texans' turn to make their voices heard in the election primaries arrived yesterday with the start of early voting by personal appearance.

The early voting runs from Feb. 19 to 29 and is offered in both Wharton and El Campo. The Wharton location is the Wharton Civic Center at 1924 N. Fulton. Regular voting hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended weekday voting hours will be the last two days of early voting, Feb. 28-29 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There will also be two days of weekend voting, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24. Saturday voting will be from 9 a.m. to noon with the Sunday voting from noon to 3 p.m.

In El Campo, early voting will be held at the El Campo Fire and EMS Building, 220 Merchant using the Hillje entrance. The same weekday, extended and weekend voting hours apply.

County residents can vote early at either of the county locations.

Applications for ballots by mail should be mailed to Wharton County Elections Administrator Judy Owens, who is serving as the early voting clerk, at P.O. Box 390, Wharton, Texas 77488.

Each of the local primaries will have contested races for their respective party's nomination for district sttorney. The Democratic Party candidates are Wharton attorneys John C. Maher Jr. and John Roades.

The Republican DA race has incumbent Josh McCown being challenged by El Campo Attorney Dawn Allison.

While unopposed in the primary, several candidates will be in contested races in the general election in November.

Those include commissioner Precinct 1, where incumbent Mickey Reynolds is the Republican candidate and will be opposed by Democrat Leroy Dettling. Others are constable Precinct 1, with incumbent Democrat Donald Barbee opposed by Republican Dale Potter and constable Precinct 4, featuring Democratic incumbent Shawn Ferguson challenged by Republican candidate Thomas Drapela.

Those current office holders who are 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.

In the Democratic Party, unopposed candidates include Tax Assessor-Collector Patrick Kubala and Precinct 2 Constable J.A. Szymanski. All are incumbent office holders.

In looking at the federal offices on the ballot, incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn will be opposed in the Republican Primary by Mansfield consultant Larry Kilgore for the party's nomination. Four Democrats, Gene Kelly, Ray McMurrey, Rick Noriega and Rhett R. Smith have filed for the primary.

Incumbent U.S. Representative 14th District and presidential hopeful Ron Paul is opposed in the Republican primary by Chris Peden, a CPA from Friendswood.

No candidates filed for the position in the Democratic Primary.