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Early voting under way for judge, clerk, sheriff posts
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
Early voting for the May 29 Republican and Democratic primaries is under way and runs through Friday throughout Texas, with Collin County Republican voters asked to decide on at least three county races.
No Democrats filed as candidates for any of the Collin County offices.
Four candidates are seeking the Republican nomination to replace Suzanne Wooten, who was removed as 380th District Court judge in November after a jury found her guilty of bribery and related charges.
Thompson practiced law under the name Andrea Stroh for several years in Collin County. Baker is a businessman who currently serves on the McKinney Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Terry Box, longtime Collin County sheriff, is being challenged by Michael Brooks and Chuck Presley.
Gene Sera, Barnett Walker and Sharon Ramage are facing each other for the County Court at Law Judge Number 2 position.
In the 380th District Court judge race, all candidates list impressive qualifications and have experience in law.
The candidates are Ben Smith, Jody Johnson, Terri Green and Chip Jarvis. Piper McGraw originally filed as a candidate, but dropped out. James Mosser, a longtime Collin County attorney, also filed as a 380th District Court judge candidate, but at the last minute changed to face 401st incumbent Mark Rusch for his seat.
Smith, who has been endorsed by the Collin County Conservative Republicans Club, has worked for the Collin County District Attorney's Office for the past seven years and says he has handled more than 5,000 criminal cases and been prosecutor for more than 100 jury trials.
Johnson, who says she has practiced law longer than any other candidate, is most preferred by the Collin County Bar Association. She has been a licensed attorney in Texas for 28 years.
Green, who's been endorsed by the Coalition for Better Government and by several mayors and legislators in the county, says she is the candidate most qualified for the position because she has had the most experience in handling cases in which the 380th District Court is most involved, family law and civil matters.
Jarvis, who has been endorsed by the Plano Police Association, has practiced law for almost 15 years and says he has actively handled family, criminal and civil cases. He also served as an enlisted infantryman in the U.S. Army.
In the sheriff's race, Box has served as Collin County sheriff since 1985 and has seen the department evolve over the years into the large operation it is today. Brooks retired in 2007 after 24 years experience with the El Paso Police Department. Presley has been the Pct. 3 constable for the past three years and before served in various supervisory positions in the sheriff's department for 22 years.
In the County Court at Law Number 2 race, Sera has 13 years of criminal trial experience, including 11 in Collin County, and has prosecuted thousands of cases both as a prosectuor and a defense attorney. State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, 11 Collin County mayors and more than 30 precinct chairs have endorsed Sera, and he says he is the only candidate in this race approved by both the North Texas Tea Party and the Texas Tea Party Alliance.
Walker says he has prosecuted more than 1,000 cases for the Collin County District Attorney's Office and has the endorsement of a large number of police officers and attorneys.
Ramage, who is preferred by almost 61 percent of those in the Collin County Bar Association, has been a lawyer for 19 years and previously worked in the Crimes Against Children Division of the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office.
Registered voters in Collin County may vote early at any voting location in the county. On May 29, they must cast their ballots in their respective precincts.
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