GROVETON – With early voting in both the Democratic and Republican primaries set to end Friday, a heavier than normal Election Day turnout is being forecast for Tuesday’s elections.
As of the close of business on Monday, more than 16 percent of the county’s 11,035 registered voters had cast ballots either in person or by mail.
A combination of some hot local races plus the battle still being fought over the presidential nomination appears to be boosting turnout in the Democratic Party’s side of the primary.
In recent years, presidential candidates have sewn up their parties nominations by the time the Texas primaries are held.
This year, however, both Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) and Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) are still battling over the party’s nomination. Texas Congressman Ron Paul also is in the race.
On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain has all but lock up the GOP nomination for president but former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is still in contention.
According to Trinity County Clerk Diane McCrory, the number of ballots cast in early voting totaled 1,798 when the polls closed Monday. That includes 1,045 who voted in Trinity, 311 who voted in Groveton and 230 who voted in Apple Springs.
In addition, McCrory said a total of 212 mail ballots had been sent out. She noted that Tuesday was the last day that mail ballots could be requested.

“We’ve had 1,798 people vote, including those by mail, and that is an excellent turnout for early voting,” McCrory said, adding that some counties don’t experience 16 percent voter participation for their entire election.
The Apple Springs early voting station was open only through Tuesday, Feb. 19, through Saturday, Feb. 23.
Early voting at the Trinity City Hall and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton will run through Friday. Early voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at both locations.
On Tuesday, March 4, polls will be open at locations throughout the county (see ‘Where to Vote’ list on page six and Sample Ballot on page six). Election day polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In the county and precinct races, a total of 21 men and women are seeking the 10 open offices listed on the Democratic primary ballot.
No candidates filed for local offices on the Republican side.
Because there were no candidates seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for the local offices, the winners in the March 4 Democratic Primary are expected to be unopposed in the November general election.
The Republican Party will still host a primary election, but only district, state and national candidates will be on that ballot.
At the county level, the most popular race among candidates was that for the Trinity County sheriff’s position, which drew three contenders.

Sheriff Steven Lewis Jones, who was appointed to the post in April 2007 is being challenged by Pct. 2 Constable Richard “Ricky” Hortman and retired Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission super-visor Brent Lee.
Jones was appointed to the post following the resignation last year of former Sheriff Jimmy Smith.
Also facing opposition in the primary is 258th District Attorney Joe Ned Dean, who is being challenged in his bid for a second four-year term by Janet Reynolds Cassels.
In the race for the Trinity County tax assessor-collector’s post, Jolie Webb Lane and Lindy Madden Warren are seeking the office that is being vacated by longtime Assessor-Collector Kathy McCarty. McCarty, who has held the post since 1997, announced her plan to retire when her current term ends in December.
The only county-wide posts on the March 4 primary ballot which are being sought only by the incumbents include that of county attorney and Democratic Party chairman.
Joe Warner Bell, who has held the county attorney’s position since 1977, is seeking his eighth full term in 2008.
Running unopposed for another four-year term as the local party chairman is Fredie L. Chapman.
In the precinct races, all incumbent candidates are being challenged in their re-election bids.
    Pct. 1 Commissioner Grover “Tiger” Worsham is being challenged by Keith Kesinger while Pct. 3 Commissioner Cecil Webb is being challenged by Randy Barrett (Not Justice of the Peace # 1 Randy Barrett).

Pct. 1 Constable Woody A. Wallace also is being challenged by Jim “Doc” McLaughlin; Pct. 3 Constable James O. Reynolds is being challenged by Steve “Rusty” Barrett; and Pct. 4 Constable Donald Kent Blanchard is being challenged by Richard Steptoe.
In the Precinct 2 constable race, Robert Sterling Johnson and W. Rankin Ramsey are seeking the position being vacated by Richard “Ricky” Hortman, who is in the race for sheriff.
In addition to the county and precinct races on the Democratic Party side, both March 4 primary elections will feature races at the district, state and national level.
In the races for the District 6 and 8 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the two Republican incumbents will be unopposed in the primary election but will face challenges from Democrats in the November general election.
Seeking the District 6 congressional seat is Joe Barton (R-Ennis) while Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) is seeking re-election to the District 8 seat. District 6 includes most of Trinity County while District 8 includes are southern end of the county including Trinity and the communities of Sebastopol and Carlisle.
In the Democratic primary, Steven Bush and Ludwig Otto are seeking the District 6 nomination while Kent Hargett is running unopposed for the District 8 seat.
In the races for the District 12 seat in the Texas House of Representatives, longtime incumbent Jim McReynolds (D-Lufkin) will be unopposed for re-election in the March 4 Democratic Party primary as well as in the November general election.

Also unopposed in the March 4 Republican primary will be District 8 State Board of Education Member Barbara Cargill of The Woodlands. Because no Democrat filed for this office, Cargill also will be unopposed in November.