County residents readying for two sets of elections this spring

by Jo Anne Embleton news@thecherokeean.com

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Local residents are gearing up for two separate elections – one a March primary that will decide who is on the ballot this November, while the other will decide who becomes the newest school board and city council members in the various cities here.

March 1 Primary

This year’s primary, slated March 1, features only Republican candidates for Cherokee County races, while other races have Democratic candidates tossing their hats into the ring.

Four of the 13 local races in the March Primary are contested, with the following candidates:

• County Judge – Incumbent Chris Davis and Dean Dublin

• Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace – Don McCormack, Michael Goff and Amber Lusk Hood

• Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace – Incumbent Phillip Grimes, Al Chavira

• Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace – Incumbent Rodney Wallace, Joey Ray

Uncontested races with incumbents filing for re-election include:

• District Judge, 369th Judicial District – Michael Davis

• County Court at Law – Janice Crosby Stone

• District Clerk – Alison Parrott Dotson

• County Clerk – Laverne Lusk

• County Treasurer – Erin Thrash Curtis

• County Surveyor – Kristopher Morgan

• Precinct 2 County Commissioner – Steven Norton

• Precinct 4 County Commissioner – Billy M. McCutcheon

• Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace – Brenda Dominy

Early voting for the March Primary is from Monday, Feb. 14, to Friday, Feb. 25, with registered voters invited to cast ballots in person at any of the three polls in Cherokee County. They are located at the Cherokee County Elections Office, 138 W. 5th St. in Rusk; Jacksonville Public Library, 526 E. Commerce St.; and the River Church, 595 S. Marcus St. (U.S. Highway 69 South in Alto).

During the early voting period, polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19. Polls will be closed Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of President’s Day.

A list of election day polling places will be published at a later date in the Cherokeean Herald.

May 7 municipal/school board elections

Filing opens Jan. 19 for municipal and school board elections slated for early May.

According to a calendar published by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, the filing period lasts through 5 p.m. Feb. 18 – the last day to file a declaration of write-in candidacy is soon after, on Feb. 22.

The early voting period is from April 25 through May 3, with polling places to be published at a later date by the Cherokeean. Polls for the May 7 municipal and school board elections will be published prior to that election.