Published: November 24, 2009 09:45 pm      

Time to file for March primaries

Three incumbents to seek re-election

The first day to file for the March 2 primary election is a week away with three Walker County officeholders announcing their intentions to seek re-election and six others announcing their candidacies for three different positions.

Candidates can start filing Dec. 3 with either county Republican Party chair Russell Martinez or with county Democratic Party chair Tom Wood.

Precinct chairs can start filing Dec. 4.

The last day to file for a place on the ballot is Jan. 4.

The last day to register to vote is Feb. 1, while early voting runs Feb. 16 through Feb. 26.

County positions on the March 2 ballot will be county judge, criminal district attorney, district clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, commissioners in Precincts 2 and 4 and the four justices of the peace.

Elections on the state level include the Texas House District 13 and Senate District 5.

Danny Pierce is serving his second four-year term as county judge while Precinct 2 commissioner Robert Earl Autery has served four terms and Precinct 4 commissioner Tim Paulsel has served three terms.

David Weeks currently serves as Walker County Criminal District Attorney; Robyn Flowers, district clerk; Sharon Duke, county treasurer; and Janie Farris, Precinct 1 JP; Richard Duncan, Precinct 2 JP; Loyd Roark, Precinct 3 JP; and James Mature, Precinct 4 JP.

James Patton announced he is not seek re-election as county clerk. When he steps down, he will have worked for the county for 34 years, three months, with 32 1/2 of those years as county clerk.

District 13 state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham will seek re-election. She represents Walker, Grimes, Washington and Austin counties.

State Rep. Dan Gattis of Georgetown and Walker County businessman Ben Bius have announced intentions to seek the Senate District 5 seat being vacated by Steve Ogden of Bryan.

Ogden said he is not seeking re-election.

Walker County is among 14 counties in the district along with Brazos, Burleson, Freestone, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Trinity and Williamson.

Farris, Duncan and Mature have announced they will seek re-election to their respective offices.

Huntsville businesswoman Kari French and David Standlee have announced their candidacies for the county clerk position in the March primary.

Standlee is retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after 33 years as the director of executive services.

The Precinct 2 county commissioner’s position has drawn the attention of Bill Don Avritt, Cindy Blaylock and Ronnie White.

All three have announced their candidacies.

Frank Novark of New Waverly announced his candidacy Tuesday for Precinct 4 commissioner.

Novark lost to Paulsel in 2006 for the Precinct 4 job by a count of 1,368 votes to 1,056 votes.