Published: December 01, 2007 11:43 pm      

Filing begins for 2008 political party primaries

Filing will begin Monday for candidates seeking the nominations of the Republican or Democratic parties for various offices during the party primary elections next March.

There has already been one change, as the Hunt County Democratic Party has elected former State Representative Bobby Akin as its new County Chairman. The party’s executive Committee met Thursday night in Commerce to make the choice.

Mickey Mixson remains the chairman of the Hunt County Republican Party, but intends to step down once his current term expires in May 2008.

The filing period officially begins the process whereby hopefuls formally declare their intentions to seek offices from the President of the United States to county constable.

Candidates in Hunt County will be filing with their respective parties beginning today, while candidates for state office will be filing with the headquarters of the state political parties in Austin. Filing will continue until Jan. 3 for the March 4, 2008 primary elections.

While no official filings have taken place so far, there have been a number of announcements from candidates getting early starts to their campaigns.

Incumbent Republican Ralph Hall of Rockwall is expected to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives District 4, which covers the northeast corner of Texas, including all of Hunt and Rockwall counties and most of Collin County.

Hall has three announced opponents challenging him for the Republican Party nomination; including former three-term Frisco Mayor Kathy Seei and two businessmen from Celina, Gene Christensen and Kevin George.

Glenn Melancon of Sherman is the sole candidate to have announced he is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the office.

Dan Flynn of Van, the incumbent Republican State Representative for the Texas House of Representatives District 2, is also expected to run again. No candidates have announced their intentions to either face Flynn in the GOP primary or seek the Democratic Party nomination for the office.

The race for Hunt County District Attorney has drawn one candidate so far. Scott Cornuaud of Quinlan said he will be seeking the Republican Party nomination for the office. Longtime incumbent District Attorney F. Duncan Thomas has not yet announced whether he will be seeking the Democratic Party nomination for another term.

Incumbent 354th District Court Judge Richard A. Beacom is the only candidate to have announced for the office. Beacom, who is completing his third term, would seek the Democratic Party nomination.

Local attorney Steve Shipp has announced he will be seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to become the first judge of the newly-created Hunt County Court-at-Law Number 2.

The judgeship will be decided by voters during the general election in November 2008, and the winner will take office in January 2009.

Hunt County Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert White has announced he is seeking the Republican Party nomination for the office of Hunt County Sheriff. White is the first candidate to announce they are in the running for the position. Longtime incumbent Sheriff Don Anderson has not indicated whether or not he intends to seek re-election to the office.

The incumbent Hunt County Commissioner for Precinct 3, Phillip Martin, will be seeking the Democratic Party nomination as he runs for re-election to the office.

Sandy Lane Berger has announced she is seeking the Republican Party nomination for the office of Hunt County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, currently held by Justice of the Peace Kenneth Peters, who has not yet announced whether he is seeking re-election.

And Don Morrison has announced he is seeking re-election to the office of Hunt County Constable, Precinct 3.