Voters take to polls

The Port Arthur News

April 07, 2008 07:50 pm

— By Sherry Koonce
The News staff writer
Port Arthur area voters will go to the polls today to elect a Democratic candidate for the Jefferson County Precinct 3 County Commissioner seat.
Michael “Shane” Sinegal and Thurman Bartie, both Democratic candidates, are in a runoff for their party’s candidate. No Republicans are running for the seat. The Democratic winner will face Libertarian candidate Kevin R. McCarthy in the November general election.
Those who did not vote in the March 4 Democratic Primary, or those who did not vote at all can vote in the April 8 runoff election.
Bartie, 53, of Port Arthur is a substitute teacher and an associate minister at First Sixth Street Baptist Church in Port Arthur. He is a former mortician and served as Justice of the Peace in Precinct 8. Bartie was removed from the bench after the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct considered allegations that he threatened prisoners he had arraigned, used obscene language while presiding over a truancy hearing and interfered with his brother-in-law’s arrest for possession of cocaine.
In an earlier interview Bartie said the experience “humbled” him.
So far in his campaign, he said, the experience has been a non-issue.
“No one but the newspeople are talking abut it, that is just an attack on me,” he said.
During his campaign, Bartie said maintaining the county’s road and bridges, listening to all citizen’s concerns and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars are primary issues affecting the county.
If elected, Bartie said he would ensure that the residents of South Jefferson and Southwest Jefferson County are given the first opportunity for employment during this time of industrial expansion.
Sinegal, 50, of Port Arthur has served on the Port Arthur City Council for the past six years and is currently the city’s mayor pro tem. He is 17-year educator with, 15 of those as a coach, with the Port Arthur Independent School District. From 1998 to 2000 he served on the Pleasure Island Commission.
He has also been a juvenile probation officer and a journeyman carpenter.
During his campaign, Sinegal said the county is blessed to have industrial expansion, but should be ready to deal with problems it will bring, such as increased traffic and security concerns.
Reconstructing Texas 87, overseeing industrial abatements, and drainage and infrastructure issues in the Hamshire-Fannett area are other key issues facing the county Sinegal said.
Both candidates said they had campaigned hard and were ready to serve the county as commissioner.
“I was ready about three months ago,” Sinegal said. “Things have been going real good. I’ve picked up the support from the other candidates, and now I just want a victory.”
Sinegal said he was prepared to win, but being a coach has taught him to never be overconfident.
“I’m prepared to win, I’ve practiced, practiced, practiced and not it’s time to play,” he said.
Since the March 4 primary, Bartie said he has encouraged people to vote early. This past weekend, since early voting concluded Friday, he has concentrated his efforts on reaching those people who did not vote early or who did not vote at all.
“Right now, I’m in the flush mode. I’ll be working until the polls close at 7 on election day,” Bartie said.
In addition to the commissioner’s race, Dale Henry and Mark Thompson are vying for the railroad commissioners’ seat are in a runoff. The railroad commissioner’s race will appear on all ballots, but only those in Precinct 3 will be eligible to vote for the commissioner’s race.
Contact this reporter at skoonce@panews.com