With early voting set to begin February 19 and the primary election just over a month away, local Democratic candidates had a chance to discuss issues in front of approximately 100 people attending the Fannin County Democratic Women's Candidate Forum held Monday night at American Bank's Elizabeth May Room.
U.S. Representative District 4 candidate Valinda Hathcox didn't pass up the opportunity to comment on such a large crowd showing at the same time President George Bush was delivering his final State of the Union address.
"Well, you must already know what state the Union is in or you wouldn't be here tonight," Hathcox remarked. A former Hopkins County District Attorney that get her first job working for former Texas Comptroller Bob Bullock, Hathcox has shuffled papers in Austin and shoveled manure at her family's dairy farm in East Texas. She feels an unfair tax burden on the middle class, a slumping economy and the crisis unfunded mandates are causing will the critical issues all the way to the general election in November.
When asked why she threw her hat in the ring, Hathcox said her supporters kept saying, "Look at the numbers."
Hathcox said she received 90,000 votes out of District 4 in 2006 when she ran for Commissioner of the General Land Office, while incumbent Rep. Ralph Hall tallied 100,000 votes to win the U.S. Representative District 4 race.
Opposing Hathcox in the Democratic primary will be Sherman resident Glen n Melancon. A history professor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Melancon received his Ph.D at LSU and he believes his campaign will result in a fresh voice in Washington from District 4.
"The root of all evil is that Washington is beholden to corporate interests," Melancon commented. "What we need to do is invest in our neighbors, invest in affordable health care, stop subsidizing dirty energy of the past and transition to clean energy of the furture."
In the race for State Representative District 62, Democrat Peter Veeck will run unopposed in the March 4 primary and then challenge incumbent Republican Larry Phillips in November.
"I didn't feel anyone was representing me," Veeck said. "You will have to choose whether you want a Hoover-Bush Republican or a Roosevelt-Rayburn Democrat."
Three Democrats will vy for their party's nomination for 6th District Judge.
David Hamilton said he is passionate about his belief that government must be a service organization.
Hamilton said that passion combined with his professional competence makes him worty of the voter's attention.
"If community safety is an issue to you," Hamilton told the crowd, "I'm the guy you want on the bench."
Paris, Texas lawyer Jess Nickerson is another one of the three Democratic candidates for 6th District Judge.
Nickerson sees this position as a culmination of his long legal career and he believes one facet of that career gives him an advantage in this race.
"I am the only candidate that has ever been a judge," Nickerson stated. "I know what this job is about. I will work hard, I'll show up every day and I'll do the very best job I can."
David Turner is the third Democratic candidate for 6th District Judge. Turner has practiced law for 38 years, with 33 years spent in Bonham, and he believes his extensive experience will be an asset to the 6th District.
"I have tried over 300 jury cases and I know how a court should be run," Turner remarked. The last thing we need in 6th District Court is someone with an agenda. I'm here because I'm the best man for the job."
With no Republican candidates in the running for Fannin County Sheriff, the race will be decided in the March 4 primary when Democratic challenger Donny Foster will face incumbent Democrat Kenneth Moore.
Foster acknowledged the standing-room-only crowd packed into the Elizabeth May Room.
"You certainly filled this room up and I'm happy to see this many people interested in the future of Fannin County and Texas," Foster declared.
Foster spent 15 years working his way up through the ranks in the Fannin County Sheriff's Department and he believes that thorough working knowledge will allow him to work smoothly with all the other local departments.
Foster believes he knows how to reduce the turnover rate in the Fannin County Sheriff's Office.
"I would like to hire local people and keep them by treating them right," Foster said.
Incumbent Fannin County Sheriff Kenneth Moore brings experience accumulated over a 35-year career in law enforcement to the position and he believes the job he has done leading the Fannin County Sheriff's Office for the past three years is the primary reason voters should give him the nod for a second term.
"We strive to earn the trust of the people of Fannin County," Moore stated.
He points to a policy and procedure manual now in place to improve standardization. Moore told the audience that between 80 and 85% of all property crime is drug related and that forces the department to dedicate one officer to investigating narcotics. In 2006, the narcotics officer filed over 150 cases with the district attorney.
"I'm your sheriff and I want to serve you four more years," Moore said. "If you've got a problem, call me."
Two Democratic candidates are running for their party's nomination for Fannin County Commissioner, Precinct 1.
Steve Edwards has spent the past 12 years working in Precinct 1 and he feels that experience has allowed him to become familiar with the people, as well as the roads and bridges, in that precinct.
Edwards believes Fannin County must find a way to compete for industries that could bring jobs to the area.
Joe Wiley Cox will oppose Edwards in the Democratic primary. Cox was born in Ector, gained valuable experience working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and then returned to Fannin County where he owned a restaurant until recently.
Cox said he would meet all obligations as commissioner and strive to work together with the county judge and other commissioners to serve Fannin County.
Three Democrats are running in the March 4 primary for Fannin County Commissioner, Precinct 3. Ronnie Rhudy and Alton Hainline will challenge the incumbent, Dewayne Strickland.
Rhudy spent the past seven years as Precinct 1 Commissioner and has a total of 32 years experience working with roads and bridges. That background includes an extensive knowledge of developing and submitting budgets, Rhudy remarked.
"No one wants higher taxes," Rhudy said, "but the loss of industry, particularly Blue Cross Blue Shield and General Cable Corp., places more burden on individual taxpayers."
Alton Hainline is a Honey Grove High School graduate. Hainline had 35 years experience in the construction business and has owned his own company for the past 20 years.
"I think I can handle your tax dollars very wisely," Hainline remarked. "I want to give back to the county that has given so much for me. I'm not a politician; I'm a businessman."
The incumbent, Dewayne Strickland is seeking his fourth term as Fannin County Commissioner, Precinct 1.
"I'm very proud of the accomplishment we've made," Strickland said. "I stay within my budget and I've never had to borrow money. I am also very proud of my work with the BEES (Beautification, Education and Enforcement Strategies) Committee. We have been cleaning up all over Fannin County."
Strickland is chairman of BEES and he has furnished a dumpster at his precinct barn to alleviate some of the trash that would otherwise wind up in creeks and ditches around Fannin County.
Two Democratic candidates that will be running unopposed in the primary, Fannin County Judge Butch Henderson and Fannin County Constable Precinct 3 Tammy Woods, also had a chance to address the audience attending the Fannin County Democratic Women's Democratic Candidate Forum.