It’s four months before Democratic and Republican primaries and already candidates are lining up for the 2010 county elections.
County Clerk Mary Ann Daigle last week announced she would not seek re-election. She said she plans to serve out her term and then step aside.
Daigle’s announcement had barely stopped echoing in the county courthouse before two candidates tossed their hats into the ring. Daigle’s chief deputy, Brandy Chapman, already has filed a campaign treasurer’s report, while the county’s election coordinator, Douglas Godinich, announced Thursday he would run for the office.
Both will run as Democrats, and Daigle sounds as if she already has decided who she will back.
“(Chapman) already has the keys to the office, she just needs to move over one chair,” Daigle said.
On the Republican side of the race, Dwight Sullivan, the assistant treasurer for Galveston County, also tossed his hat into the ring.
Sullivan’s boss, County Treasurer Kevin Walsh, a Republican, already has said he would run again. For the Democrats, former Santa Fe City Councilwoman Pam Schwertner has announced she wants to challenge Walsh.
District Clerk Latonia Wilson also will run again.
For the Republicans, former district clerk office employee Tina Longcoy already has signs in yards across the county.
The Republican field for County Commissioner Precinct 2 is really crowded. Former Bayou Vista alderman and son of a legendary county commissioner Eddie Janek Jr. is running against Pct. 4 Deputy Constable Joe Giusti and Santa Fe businessman Kevin O’Brien. There is even a rumor that former Tiki Island Mayor Charlie Everts is considering a run for the seat.
The winner will try to unseat Democrat Bryan Lamb, who likely will be unopposed in his primary.
County Court Judge Mary Nell Crapitto, a Democrat, has campaign signs up for her re-election bid, and County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk also is pressing the flesh trying to drum up support for his return to office.
Jack Roady has entered the district attorney’s race for the Republicans.
With longtime Probate Judge Gladys Burwell also deciding not to seek re-election, her bench has two candidates: Democrat Phil Roberts of Texas City, who is a member of the Texas City school board, and Republican Kim Sullivan.
As for the big-ticket Galveston County race, Democrat Jim Yarbrough put down rumors months ago that he would resign to help clear the way for County Commissioner Patrick Doyle to run for the county’s top elected job.
As for the county GOP? Well, the list of those saying they won’t run is easier to figure out than the list of those who may seek to challenge Yarbrough next fall.
Former Friendswood Mayor pro-tem and former congressional candidate Chris Peden had considered running but announced he won’t. Pct. 4 County Commissioner Ken Clark, who locked horns with Yarbrough on the UTMB tax rate hike vote, put down rumors he was considering a run and will seek re-election to his commissioner’s seat.
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At A Glance
Key March Primary Election dates
Dec. 3, 2009 — First day for candidates to file for March Republican and Democratic primaries
2010
Jan. 4 — Candidate filing ends
Feb. 1 — Last day to register to vote in primary elections
Feb. 16 — First day of early voting
Feb. 26 — Early voting ends
March 2 — Primary Election Day
Got some political news or rumor? Submit your campaign announcements via e-mail to tjaulds(at)galvnews.com. Follow the announcements and other county political news in the Politics blog at galvnews.com.
