Primary candidates hit the ground running

Published 7:05 pm Friday, January 12, 2018

The primary election comes the first Tuesday in March. The deadline to file to run was Dec. 11.

That doesn’t give candidates much time to plan and campaign. Local candidates involved in the Democrat and Republican primary elections explained what they’ve been doing for the time and what they’re focusing on.

For instance, the Jefferson County Precinct 8 justice of the peace election and the District Judge, 172nd Judicial District have primary challengers. The county judge election doesn’t have any primary election challengers, but it seems to be generating much interest.

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Jefferson County Precinct 8 justice of the peace

 

Democrat incumbent Tom Gillam III will face primary challengers Antoine Leonard Freeman, Joseph Guillory II and Melanie Ned. If three’s a crowd, well, Precinct 8 has four.

Freeman said he doesn’t think the short campaign season has affected his election, but Tropical Storm Harvey has had an effect.

“It has pushed back our announcement a month or so. I’ve been trying to get my office back in shape,” he said.

Freeman said he’s been working on getting volunteers to go door-to-door and he plans to meet as many people as he can and let them know what his platform is.

“My platform is Precinct 8 needs an attorney who understands Texas law and applies it. I’m the only practicing attorney in this race,” he said.

Guillory II said though it’s a shorter political window to work with, he’s positive he will reach his voter base.

Prior to running as a justice of the peace, Guillory served on the Port Arthur Independent School District Board of Trustees, the Port Arthur Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors and as a business owner as part of his experience.

“We have just approved PAISD as a district of innovation, which means we will be able to offer more to our students,” he said. “Hopefully we move in the direction of a second high school with a curriculum focus on specialized training for our student success after graduation.”

He added that a shortened primary season may cause some campaign problems, but it means he must work harder and smarter.

Ned and Gillam could not be contacted.

 

District Judge, 172nd Judicial District

 

After Judge Donald Floyd announced his retirement, several candidates announced their candidacy. Judgeships are rarely so available.

The only Republican on the ticket is Mitch Templeton, who doesn’t have a primary challenger.

Democrats in the primary are Kent Johns, Tina Bradley and Melody Chappell.

Chappell, an attorney, said this is her first time running for office.

“The thing that has mostly directly affected the campaign season is the devastation of Harvey. People are trying to recover their homes and lives,” she said. “I am working on voter turnout. I started my race in August, so I have been laying the groundwork for a March primary for several months.”

Bradley, who visited The Port Arthur News last week, said open judgeships are precious. With two decades of law practice, she said she’s got the legal acumen and experience in civil law and right disposition to serve well. She’s an unabashed Democrat in a district that leans Republican, so she has to convince voters to pay attention to issues more than to party labels.

Johns could not be contacted.

 

Jefferson County judge

 

Incumbent Republican Jeff Branick said he doesn’t have a primary opponent, so he hasn’t dealt with the issue of a short campaign season. In fact, his race will come Nov. 6. That’s when the Republican Party newcomer, the sole candidate in his party for this race, will face the only Democrat who qualified.

“I have not really been working on my campaign other than to send thank you notes to all my donors,” he said. “I’ve been too busy dealing with Harvey recovery and can’t campaign right now.”

Democrat Nick Lampson could not be contacted.