Filing opens for primary elections
Trinity Standard - December 2007

TRINITY – Filing for positions on the March 4, 2008 party primary elections got underway on Monday, Dec. 3, with local, district and statewide offices up for grabs.

Locally, a number of candidates have already announced their plans to seek office in 2008 and many more are expected to open their campaigns now that filing is underway Dec. 3.

According to Trinity County Democratic Party Chair Freddie Chapman, candidates interested in running in the Democratic Party primary for a local office can begin filing on Monday at the Trinity County Democratic Party Primary Election Office in Groveton.

The office, located at 133 N. Magee Street next door to Groveton Floral, formally opened at 8 a.m. on Dec. 3 to begin processing the applications.

The phone number for the Democratic Party office will be (936) 642-0264 and the office will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Those interested in filing for a position on the Republican Party ballot should contact Trinity County Republican Party Chair Janet Brannen at 581-2270.

The sheriff’s position has drawn the most interest among candidates with three already announcing their plans to run in the Democratic Primary.

Sheriff Steven Jones, Pct. 2 Constable Richard “Ricky” Hortman and retired Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission supervisor Brent Lee have all entered the race.

Jones, a former sergeant with the Trinity Police Department, was appointed as sheriff in April following the resignation of former Sheriff Jimmy Smith.

Also announcing plans to run for Trinity County’s district attorney position as a Democrat was Janet Reynolds Cassels.

A native of Groveton and current resident of Apple Springs, Cassels will be seeking the office now held by Joe Ned Dean. While he has not formally announced his plans, Dean also is expected to seek re-election in 2008.

In addition to district attorney and sheriff, other county officers whose terms will be expiring next year include County Attorney Joe Bell, Tax Assessor-Collector Kathy McCarty, Pct. 1 County Commissioner Grover “Tiger” Worsham, Pct. 3 County Commissioner Cecil Webb, Pct. 1 Constable Woody Wallace, Pct. 2 Constable Ricky Hortman, Pct. 3 Constable James O. Reynolds and Pct. 4 Constable Kent Blanchard

All of the local offices carry four-year terms.

Also on the upcoming ballot will be the 411th District Judge’s position now held by Robert Hill Trapp. The district includes Trinity, Polk and San Jacinto counties.

In addition to the local races up for grabs in 2008, the primary election ballots also will include a number of national, state and district races ranging from U.S. president to District 8 seat on the State Board of Education now held by Barbara Cargill of The Woodlands.

Also on the primary ballots will be the U.S. Senate seat now held by John Cornyn; the District 6 and District 8 U.S. House of Representative seats now held by Joe Barton (R-Ennis) and Kevin Brady (R-The Woodland) respectively; a Texas Railroad Commission seat now held by Michael Williams; the Chief Justice seat on the Texas Supreme Court now held by Wallace Jefferson; the Place 7 and Place 8 seats on the Texas Supreme Court now held by J. Dale Wainwright and Phil Johnson, respectively; the Place 3, Place 4 and Place 9 seats on the Court of Criminal Appeals now held by Thomas Price, Paul Womack and Cathy Cochran, respectively; the District 12 seat in the Texas House of Representatives, now held by Jim McReynolds (D-Lufkin); and a number of district courts of appeals seats.