TYLER COUNTY – With the death of Pct. 4 Commissioner Buck Hudson two weeks ago, County Judge Milton Powers and the Commissioners Court are tasked with appointing a replacement to fill out the remainder of his term.
At this time, there has not been anyone named.
The county’s Republican Party Chair Robert “Chappy” Poynter said that Hudson, who was running unopposed in the November general election, did “an outstanding job representing Precinct 4” in his capacity, and though he will be missed, the county GOP must find a qualified candidate for the November ballot. “We have a limited amount of time to fill the position and get the candidate on the November ballot,” he said.
Poynter added that the decision for District Attorney Lucas Babin to not seek reelection has also complicated the process, and said it is rare for something of this nature to happen, likely the first time in the county’s history that two offices have become vacant following the March primary.
“While it rarely happens, we see that it can and does happen. I was hoping for an easy mid-term election, but it wasn’t meant to be,” Poynter said.
Poynter, along with the GOP precinct chair of the county, will select and decide on the candidates to replace the vacancies on the November ballot.
Poynter said if anyone is looking to fill either position, they have until August 23 to file the necessary paperwork and filing fees with the County Clerk’s office, and all paperwork has to be certified and turned into the Secretary of State Jane Nelson by August 26.
Poynter said that hopefuls must meet with him and the County Executive Committee in the “very near future” in order to discuss qualifications and plans to enhance the lives of voters, respective to the office sought. “We will also be taking input from the community on those candidates,” he said. The County Executive Committee (CEC) is comprised of Poynter and the GOP Precinct Chairs of the county.
Poynter encouraged anyone intending to file for the positions to contact him so that he and the CEC would know what to, or what not to expect, and encouraged anyone interested to attend the GOP County Chair’s meetings to meet with the CEC, as they will be the ones making the decisions as to who will end up on the November ballot in accordance with the state’s election laws.
Poynter can be reached by phone at 281-661-0035.
