W EBB Interim Editor
There will be nine DeWitt County offices along with state and federal offies on the March 3 Primary Election ballot this year.
In the Republican Primary the offices are Precinct 2 Commissioner, Precinct 4 Commissioner, County Clerk, County Judge, County Treasurer, District Clerk, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace and Party County Chair. There are 12 candidates seeking the party’s nomination for the General Election ballot Nov. 3.
Only the offices of Precinct 2 Commissioner and Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace are contested. Brenda Lopez, Ricky Nunez and Carl Smith are vying for Precinct 2 Commissioner and Johnny Garoni and Nancy Hosek are competing for Precinct 1 Justice of the peace. Neither race features an incumbent as James Pilchiek and Lindsay Rupert are leaving those respective offices.
Ben Zimmerman is uncontested for the County Judge office that Daryl Fowler is vacating, and incumbents Precinct 4 Commissioner Brian Carson, County Clerk Natalie Carson, County Treasurer Desirae Poth-Garibay, District Clerk Esther Ruiz, JP Pct 2 Blanca McBride and Party County Chair Jeannie Seidel are unchallenged.
In the Democratic Primary the only local office on the ballot March 3 is incumbent Party County Chair Joesph Sheppard.
In other races of special interest to De-Witt County voters are the U.S. Senate office, U.S. Congressional District 27, State Senate District 18, State House District 30 and 267th District Judge.
In the Republican Primary seven candidates are competing for the nomination for U.S. Senate. They are Anna Bender, incumbent John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, John Adefope, Gulrez Khan, Wesley Hunt, Virgil Bierschwale and Sara Canady.
Lois Kolkhorst is unopposed for State Senator District 18 and A.J. Louderback is alone on the ticket for State House District 30. Julie Bauknight is unchallenged for 267th District Court Judge. All three are Republican incumbents.
In the Democratic Primary three candidates, James Talarico, Ahmad Hassan and Jasmine Crockett are vying for the nomination for U.S. Senate. Erica Gillum is running unopposed for State District 18 and Crystal Sedillo and David Steves are vying for State House District 30.
Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 17 and ends on Friday, Feb. 27. The last to register to vote in the March 3 Primary is Monday, Feb. 2. Ballot by mail applications must be received by Friday, Feb. 20. Ballots by mail must be received by Tuesday, March 3 or Wednesday, March 4 at 5 p.m. if the envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
For information, contact the DeWitt County Elections Administrator at 361275-0859 or email dewitt-county-elections@ dwcotx.org
