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Last minute filings create contested races
By Linda Bailey Potter / Staff Writer
The Jan. 2 filing deadline for a place on the primary ballot brought a number of surprises for both Democrats and Republicans. The primary election is a selection process by which political parties choose their candidates. The winners in the primary election will run against each other in the general election to determine who is elected to office.
In district races, U.S. Congressman Henry Bonilla, 23rd District, is unopposed in the Republican primary. Two candidates filed for the 23rd Congressional District in the Democratic primary: Joe Sullivan of San Antonio and Virgil Yanta of Boerne. Both Sullivan and Yanta filed on Jan. 2. The winner in the Democratic primary will face Bonilla in the general election.
State Rep. Pete Gallego filed for re-election in the Democratic primary. He has no opposition in the primary or general election.
District Judge Kenneth D. DeHart, 394th Judicial District, drew opposition in the Democratic primary. Monty Kimball filed on Jan. 2 for a place on the ballot. There are no Republican filings for the 394th Judicial District.
District Attorney Frank D. Brown, 83rd Judicial District, filed in the Democratic primary. He is once again challenged by Democrat Steve Spurgin, a Marfa attorney, who filed Jan. 2. The winner in this race will be unopposed in the general election.
In county races, Sheriff Ronny Dodson is unopposed in the Democratic primary. He has no Republican opposition in the general election.
County Attorney Steve Houston is uncontested in the Democratic primary. He drew opposition in the general election from Alpine attorney Kay Nehring, who filed as an Independent candidate on Jan. 2. Independent candidates file with Brewster County Judge Val Beard, who said there is a problem with Nehring's application and that she is working with the Secretary of State's office to resolve the issue. Beard said she has given Nehring a "courtesy call" regarding her application.
Tax Assessor/Collector Betty Jo Rooney has opposition in the Democratic primary. Sylvia F. Vega, tax deputy in the Tax Assessor/Collector's office, filed at the last minute to run against Rooney in the Democratic primary. The winner will be unopposed in the general election.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Asa "Cookie" Stone will have opposition in the Republican primary. Stone, who is the highest Republican office-holder in Brewster County, is challenged by Republican Jerry Johnson, who is self-employed and lives in Alpine.
John R. "Bit" Robertson is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for Pct. 1 Commissioner. Robertson is a rancher and small business owner in Alpine. He will face either Stone or Johnson in the general election.
Pct. 3 County Commissioner Emilio B. Salmon filed in the Democratic primary. He is challenged by Democrat Ruben G. Ortega, a route salesman from Marathon. The winner will be unopposed in the general election.
Incumbent Henry Ogletree, Pct. 1 Constable in Alpine, and incumbent Richard Hill, Pct. 2 Constable in Terlingua, filed in the Republican primary. Each candidate is unopposed in the primary and general election.
Two candidates from Marathon filed in the Democratic primary for the Pct. 3 Constable race. Incumbent Ruben Y. Gonzalez will face Barbara Jean Ramirez-Zimmerman, who filed Jan. 2 for a place on the ballot. The winner will be unopposed in the general election.
County party chairs and precinct chairs are also elected in the primary election. Dale Christophersen, Brewster County Democratic Chair, said, "The primary process is one vital function parties perform." Christophersen is unopposed in the primary.
There are eight voting precincts in Brewster County. Democrats and Republicans each have a chair position for each precinct. In the 2004 primary, there are six fillings for Democratic precinct chairs and no filings for Republican precinct chairs.
"The chair is not to favor any particular candidate. It will interfere in the process," said Republican County Chair Robert Posey, referring to the primary election. Posey, from Alpine, is challenged for the party chair position by Patricia A. Williams of Marathon.
If the Brewster County 2004 primary election is anything like prior primary elections in presidential years, there should be a large voter turnout. In 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000, the percent of registered voters in Brewster County who voted was 66.15, 63.85, 61.75 and 58.02 percent, respectively.
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