COLDSPRING – Local candidates stated their political platforms last Saturday during a rally hosted by the Women’s League of San Jacinto County.
With three minutes allotted to each candidate, State Representative District 12  Jim McReynolds (D-Lufkin) said going into his 12th year he’s got to think that he is doing something for the people to stay in that long. McReynolds has worked to find answers to health and education issues. Concerning education, McReynolds said the way to get our children into college is to keep the 10 percent rule that was under attack last year. He predicted that water is going to be a big issue in the near future and that the state’s criminal justice system is already facing issues with a shortage of 3,700 correctional officers.
Describing himself as an educator, McReynolds said he has been married 43 years to a school teacher.
McReynold’s republican opponent Van Brookshire of Evergreen did not attend the meeting.
District 12 includes San Jacinto, Angelina, Trinity and Tyler counties.
Elected six years ago, Chief Justice, 9th Court of Appeals Steve McKeithen (R-Beaumont), said he hears appeals for 10 counties, including San Jacinto.
“I promised six years ago to always follow the law and never legislate from the bench.  My philosophy is you always follow the law. I’ve kept that promise and will continue if you return me for another six year term,” McKeithen said.
Jay M. Wright of Conroe is also running on the republican ballot for Chief Justice, 9th Court of Appeals. Wright said he wants to change the system and bring it back to the original intent of our founding fathers.
“I want to push the pendulum back one case at a time,” Wright said as he described the courts as being too liberal.
The Ninth District justices hear civil appeals from state district courts in 10 counties: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto and Tyler.
Referring to himself as a “Traveling Judge,” 411th Judicial District Judge Robert Hill Trapp (D-Coldspring) said he hears 25 to 30 jury trials each year and hundreds of jury cases.
“I must have a job no one wants because I’ve been very blessed with no opponent since 1984,” Trapp said.
Trapp is a native of San Jacinto County. Before being appointed in 1995 to the 411th Judicial District, Trapp served as San Jacinto County Attorney and later as criminal district attorney.
The 411 Judicial District includes San Jacinto, Polk and Trinity counties.
San Jacinto County Tax Assessor-Collector Betty McKinzie Davis (D-Coldspring) told the audience she is the best candidate for the job because of her experience which is essential to get the job done. With endorsements from Vernon Lilley and Barbara Shelly, former San Jacinto County Tax Assessor-Collectors, Davis said she already has experience preparing and collecting taxes for the eight taxing entities in the county.
Her opponent, Republican Stanley Garza said he wants to create a broader tax base in the county.
“I want to use my experience with UPS to improve the office, ease the tax burden of residents and create more industry.” Garza said. Garza has resided in the county for 11 years.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Lacy Rogers (D-Coldspring) said he has been humbled for the last 20 years being sheriff.
“We have gone from a 10 capacity jail when I first took office to a 20 capacity jail, then 54. In about another five weeks we will have a 144 capacity jail. We will try to pay the notes for the jail by housing inmates and will continue to work on grants for the county. We’ve gotten a lot of grants in the past for more officers,” Rogers said.
His republican opponent James Walters said he is a 1964 graduate of Shepherd High School and has 23 years experience with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.
“I want to increase patrol visibility in all the county, get grants and seizure money and I guarantee fair and impartial treatment to all the people.”
Speaking for her father, Lisa Neal said, “Laddie McAnally is a man you can trust.”
McAnally is one of two democratic candidates for Pct. 1 Commissioner. He is a 28-year resident of the county.
“He has solid business management experience and never gives up on a project until it’s completed,” she said.
Also running for Pct. 1 Commissioner on the democratic ballot is San Jacinto County native Dale Smith.
“I can make a difference with my 42 years of experience working within a budget. I pledge to maintain roads within budget and I am capable of working with the judge and other commissioners,” Smith said.
Smith currently serves on the Coldspring City Council and the San Jacinto Water Supply Board of Directors.
 San Jacinto County Pct. 3 Commissioner James “Butch” Moody said he has experience in budgeting, building, purchasing, payroll and scheduling. He retired from the Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District where he taught auto-mechanics and later headed the district’s transportation department.
His democratic opponent Thomas Bonds and the incumbent republican candidate David Brandon did not attend the meeting.
Pct. 1 Constable Verlon Powdrill (D-Coldspring), running unopposed, said he has been a public servant for the last 40 years. He retired from the Houston Fire Department in 1988 and then worked for Sheriff Lacy Rogers.
“In 2005 I was elected Pct. 1 Constable and I work to do the job of constable serving civil papers and acting a court bailiff. I do my work and I do it well,” he said.
Pct. 2 Constable Jerry Everitt (D-Shepherd) said his precinct covers 82 square miles and see 50,000 cars daily traveling through San Jacinto County on Hwy. 59.
“I created a successful Public Safety Program serving the City of Shepherd and Shepherd Independent School District and commissioners’ court. I founded a drug team called ACE that has been successful in making drug arrests in Shepherd as well as Coldspring,” Everitt said. “It’s been a very rewarding job and sad at times. We buried one officer and life-flighted two in the past.”
His opponent Tom Yates (D-Shepherd) said he supports young people and seniors.
“I will take deputies off the highway and put them in the neighborhoods,” Yates said.
San Jacinto County Pct. 3 Constable Kenneth Hammond is unopposed for re-election. He did not attend the meeting.
Incumbent San Jacinto County Pct. 4 Constable Louie “Lou” Rogers (D-Pointblank) said he wants to keep doing his job.
“I do not plan to change a lot because my program has been very successful. I will keep my constable’s program working Hwy. 190 and the 22 large subdivision and 12 smaller subdivisions in my precinct,” Rogers said. “I will continue to fight for law and order and honest county government.”
Alvin Wyatt (D-Pointblank) opposes Rogers in the upcoming March 4 Primary.
“I want to step up patrols in neighborhoods and work closer with the sheriff’s department, justices of the peace and commissioners,” Wyatt said.
Wyatt said the Department of Public Safety patrols the highways in the county but they are not going to patrol the subdivisions and back roads.
“That’s where I will work,” he said.
San Jacinto County Democratic Party Chairman Richard “Dick” Countiss was the last candidate to speak during the meeting. Countiss said he has served 17 years in politics as district attorney, district judge and the court of appeals. As party chairman he said he has two responsibilities: (1) that of administration of business and (2) getting good candidates.
“I’m proud of our slate of candidates running this year,” he said.
San Jacinto County Republican Party Chairman Horace Wright did not attend the meeting.