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A sample Democratic ballot in Freestone County shows voters some of what to expect come March 3.
A busy week in Freestone County culminates with a March 3 election, featuring several county positions at stake, as well as various Texas state races.
Precinct No. 3’s Commissionership is up for grabs, with the victor of Tuesday’s contest taking over for departing Commissioner Michael Daniels, who decided to not seek reelection.
The three candidates vying for the job, all on the Republican ballot, are Sonoma Adkins, Lloyd Lynn Lane and Ronnie French.
Adkins has previously worked in the County Judge’s office, as well as an administrator under Daniels for three years. Lane is a veteran of the business world, growing six different companies in varying fields, including the chemical industry. French comes with 30 years of construction experience.
Two of the primary issues for all three candidates have been the state of road and bridge within Precinct No. 3, as well as the budget for the county. At a Jan. 30 candidate forum held at Fairfield High School, both Adkins and Lane pledged to work with TxDOT in securing state grant funding for road and bridge projects.
French noted that if elected, he would work alongside road and bridge employees, teaching them “proper and efficient” techniques for maintenance.
All three seek to oversee the budget throughout Freestone County as well.
“We’re not the same county we were ten years ago…so we need to look at how we can continue to provide services to the community,” Adkins said.
She suggested at the Jan. 30 forum that extra funding on certain projects should be received through a bond election process, rather than a tax hike.
“To me, the county is a business, it should be run like a business,” says Lane, who seeks to deal with funding by bringing up the county’s taxable values. This will be done through bringing in new employers to the area. Lane concurred with his fellow citizens that “no one wants their taxes to go up.”
French also plans on dealing with the budget, saying “our needs versus our wants are a fine line.”
Precinct No. 3 will also have an election for Constable, with incumbent Pamela Brackens Barnes running against Richard Lee Mc-Gowan and L.J. McAdams. The Constable position for Precinct No. 4 will also be decided between Ken I. Sessions and Michael Fred Carter, with the victor replacing the outgoing Wade Harrison.
The following candidates are running unopposed in their respective races:
-County Attorney: Brian Evans
-Sheriff: Jeremy Shipley
-County Tax Assessor-Collector: Daniel M. Ralstin
-County Commissioner, Precinct No. 1: Andy Bonner
-Constable, Precinct No. 1: Buck Bonner
-Republican County Chair: Doug Sanford
-Democratic County Chair: Richard O’Dell
Voters will also be deciding for the federal positions of President, United States Senator, and United States Representative in District 17.
On the state level, ballots will include elections for Chief Justice of Texas Supreme Court, several Justice positions on the Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and State Board of Education. Democratic ballots will be deciding on Railroad Commissioner, with four choices available.
Both Republican and Democratic voters will also decide on Ballot Propositions, with 10 Republican propositions and 11 Democratic propositions.
Republican propositions deal with issues such as prayer in public school, the right to keep and bear arms, and supporting the construction of a physical barrier along the entire southern border of Texas.
Propositions for Democratic ballots touch on the issues of right to quality healthcare and education, among other platforms.
Early voting will continue to take place on Feb. 27 and 28, with ballots accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For those who want to cast an early ballot in Fairfield, residents can cast a ballot at the Fairfield Civic Center (Green Barn) at the fairgrounds.
In Teague, early ballots can be cast at Teague City Hall at 105 South 4th Avenue.
These locations will also be polling places on Election Day.