Party election filing ends

Filing for party primary elections, which will be held March 4, has ended. Runoff elections will follow April 8, if necessary.

Today (Friday) is the first day to apply for a ballot by mail. Applications for mail ballots must be received by Feb. 26. Feb. 4 is the deadline for voter registration.

Early voting begins Feb. 19 and continues until Feb. 29.

Lampasas County voters in the March primaries will cast ballots for a variety of county and statewide offices, as well as for the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

The following Republican candidates will vie for county positions: Robert Vincent for the Lampasas County Commissioners Court, Precinct 1; Lowell Ivey for the Commissioners Court, Precinct 3; David Whitis and Joe Lorette for sheriff; Linda Crawford for tax assessor-collector; Gordon Nelson for Precinct 1 constable; Camron Brister for Precinct 2 and 3 constable; and Larry Allison for county attorney.

Skipper Wallace has filed for reelection as Lampasas County Republican Party chairman. Party precinct chair candidates follow: Ray Upp, Precinct 1; Marcia Wallace, Precinct 2; Bruce Crawford, Precinct 3; Diana McDonald, Precinct 4; Betty Fontaine, Precinct 5; Zane Harry, Precinct 6; Misty Maldonado, Precinct 7; T.P. Wingo, Precinct 8; and Vicki McLean, Precinct 9.

For the Democrats, Hiram Walker Jones has filed for the Precinct 4 constable position, and Dan Melder will run for Lampasas County Democratic Party chairman.

Dale Henry of Lampasas has filed as a Democrat for the office of state Railroad Commissioner. He will face Mark Thompson of Hamilton and San Antonio resident Art Hall in the Democratic primary. Republican Michael Williams, the incumbent, did not draw an opponent for his primary. David Floyd has filed as a Libertarian candidate.

Incumbent United States Senator John Cornyn has filed for reelection and will face Larry Kilgore in the Republican primary. Democratic candidates for the Senate seat include Rick Noriega of Houston, Ray McMurrey of Corpus Christi, Gene Kelly of Universal City and Rhett Smith of San Antonio.

Libertarians Scott Jameson, Jon Roland and Yvonne Adams Schick also have filed for the Senate seat.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, whose District 11 includes Lampasas County, has filed as a Republican candidate. John Strohm has entered the race as a Libertarian.

Incumbent District 24 State Senator Troy Fraser, who represents Lampasas County, has filed for reelection in the Republican primary. Bill Oliver has filed for the Libertarian primary.

Jimmie Don Aycock, incumbent state representative for District 54 -- which includes Lampasas County -- has filed for the Republican primary. Nicolaas Kramer has filed for the seat as a Libertarian.

Incumbent Gail Lowe of Lampasas, State Board of Education member for District 14, has filed for re-election in the Republican primary. John Shuey has filed for the Libertarian Party nomination, and Edra Bogle will seek the post as a Democratic candidate.