Caldwell seeks re-election as Cherokee County attorney

CRAIG CALDWELL

Cherokee County Attorney Craig D. Caldwell has announced that he will file for reelection. He said he will pay the filing fee as soon as the Democratic Party chairman begins accepting applications and filing fees.

"I have enjoyed my tenure since being elected to this office on Jan. 1, 2001. It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Cherokee County for these seven years. We have been able to make significant progress in the prosecution of misdemeanor cases and applications for protective orders in domestic violence cases since taking office in 2001.

"The focus of my current term of office will continue to include DWI prosecutions, getting cases to court in a timely fashion and assault family violence cases. I greatly appreciate the commissioners court allowing an additional secretary and an assistant county attorney to be added to my staff," Mr. Caldwell said.

He was born and grew up in Fort Worth. He graduated from high school in 1962 and entered the Virginia Military Institute in the fall of 1962, graduating in June of 1966 with a B.A. degree in history.

He entered the U. S. Army as an infantry second lieutenant in February 1967. He volunteered for parachute and ranger training; and duty in Vietnam. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. The unit left for Vietnam in December 1967. He served as an infantry platoon leader and as a staff officer until he was wounded in September 1968. He was medically evacuated from Vietnam to Okinawa, returning to the United States in November 1968 and was honorably discharged in February 1969.

Among other awards he was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" device, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Mr. Caldwell graduated from Baylor Law School in June 1971. He was licensed to practice law in December 1971 and practiced in Fort Worth until 1980 when he moved to Cherokee County. He served four years as Cherokee County Judge from 1991-94.

The office of Cherokee County attorney represents the state, state agencies and the citizens of Cherokee County in criminal misdemeanor cases (which includes DWIs, assaults, resisting arrest, hot checks, etc.), bond forfeitures for defendants who do not show up for court, child protective services, adult protective services, juvenile prosecutions for felony and misdemeanor cases, mental health commitments to Rusk State Hospital, protective orders for victims of domestic violence, trials in the justice of the peace courts, and appeals from the justice of the peace courts and the municipal courts to the county court.