Candidates begin filing for office

By BRAD KELLAR

GREENVILLE — Few declare intentions on first dayThere were only a few candidates rushing Monday to officially kick off their campaigns on the first day of filing for the Democratic and Republican party primaries next March.

Of the Hunt County offices to be determined, Richard Phillips of Celeste filed seeking the Republican Party nomination for Hunt County Commissioner Precinct 1, currently held by the incumbent, Kenneth Thornton.

Sandy Lane Berger was the first candidate to file for the Republican Party nomination for the office of Hunt County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, currently held by the incumbent Justice of the Peace Kenneth Newman Peters.

Please Read the rest of this article at: http://www.heraldbanner.com/local/local_story_338004725.html

Please also take a moment and read this related article:
http://www.heraldbanner.com/local/local_story_336004433.html

County Candidates

December 3rd 2007 was the day of filing for the Primary election in March. So far 6 candiates have formally filed for office.

Hunt County Sheriff

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Richard Hill

County Sheriff

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Justice of the Peace Candidates:

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Sandy Lane Berger
Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Place 1

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Brandon Bobbitt

Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Place 1
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County Commissioner Candidates:
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Mike Pierce
County Commissioner Pct. 1

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Richard Phillips
County Commissioner Pct. 1
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Constable Candidates:

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Kent Layton
Constable Pct. 4

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Glenn Parris
Constable Pct. 4
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Benny Brothers

Constable Pct. 1

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Terry Jones

Constable Pct 1

No Photo Available yet

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Candidates for Hunt County Republican Party Chairman
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Bill Hocutt
County Chairman

Jay Atkins (Hunt County GOP Club VP) Elected Mayor

Union Valley decides to become a city
By DANIEL WALKER Herald-Banner Staff

Voting in Union Valley was especially heavy Tuesday as residents decided their fate — to be a city or not.

“It’s been a pretty good turnout, much better than what we usually have for a mid-term election,” said Election Judge Robert Hernandez. When the day was done, voters had approved incorporating as a town by a 75-15 count.

At 9:30 a.m., 33 votes had been cast, two hours later the number had doubled to 66.

Please Read the rest of this article at: http://www.heraldbanner.com/archivesearch/local_story_311015135.html

Jay Atkins the Vice President of the Hunt County GOP Club was elected at the first Mayor of Union Valley

Hall faces three primary foes, Melancon running again

By BRAD KELLAR Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE — The official start of filing is still months away, but several candidates have already announced they are planning to run in the March 2008 Republican and Democratic party primaries for House of Representatives District 4.

The district covers the northeast corner of Texas, including all of Hunt and Rockwall counties and most of Collin County.

The surprise so far has been how longtime incumbent Rep. Ralph Hall of Rockwall, who has usually only faced mild opposition in the primaries since switching to the GOP from the Democratic Party several years ago, now has three opponents challenging him for the Republican Party nomination.

While Hall has not formally announced he is seeking re-election, he has maintained a campaign Web site since the 2006 election.

Please read the rest of this article at: http://www.heraldbanner.com/archivesearch/local_story_252004630.html

Owners Comments: This article is from way back in September but it does "Officially" list the people running for CD4.

Ralph Hall, the Incumbent
Gene Christensen, Businessman from Celina
Kevin George, Businessman from Celina
Kathy Seei, Former Mayor of Frisco

Congressman Hall has visited our club numerous times and was a sponsor of the Picnic
Mr Christensen has visited our club numerous times and was a sponsor of the Picnic
Mr George has attended one of our club meetings so far
Ms Seei has not been to any of our meetings so far, but contacted me last week about attending our November 12th meeting.

Hunt County Jail: PART I: Cracks in the system

By JANELLE STECKLEINHerald-Banner Staff

The door to the interview room screeches loudly in protest as Hunt County Jail Administrator Brian Alford yanks hard to open it partially.

The door will no longer open all the way, and to try and even open it a few inches creates a ruckus that drowns out yelling inmates.

The sound is so loud and piercing that those within hearing distance flinch and wary jailers on guard turn their heads to make sure everything is OK.

“It’s me,” Alford tells the alert jailers.

The door opened easily when the Hunt County Jail first opened in early 2002, but now, like many other areas of the jail, it has fallen victim to a shifting foundation.

“It was from the get-go that there were foundation problems,” Alford said. “Just like everyone else, you go to work, and you do your job and you try not to think about it. But when the talk’s around it, I think it bothers everybody.”

Please read the rest of this three part article at: http://www.heraldbanner.com/insidestory/local_story_053235941.html?keyword=topstory

The fact that our County Jail is falling part SHOULD be a major issue facing the Commissioners Court and the Sheriffs department.

New Direction

Since the Hunt Count GOP Club 2007 Picnic is over, a huge success, it's time to take this blog in a new direction for a few months. We will be posting candidate information and related news for Hunt County Republicans. Candidates for office can officially start filing on December 3rd 2007.

Picnic Agenda

Here is the Agenda for the Picnic, it is of course subject to change

Event: 2nd Annual Hunt County GOP Club Family Fun Picnic
Date: July 28th, 2007
Time: 10 AM till we finish
Place: Money Lake on CR 1031 right outside of Greenville

Tenative Agenda

10:00 Gates Open at Money Lake

10:30 Opening Prayer by "Mack" McCrory
Pledge of Allegiace by County Attorney Joel Littlefield

11:00 Opening Remarks by Bill Hocutt, President Hunt County GOP Club
Remarks by Jay Atkins, Vice President Hunt County GOP Club

11:30 Williams Family Band

12:15 Food Served

12:45 Speaker: Congressman Ralph Hall

1:00 Speaker: Chairman Tina Benkiser, Texas State Republican Party

1:45 Williams Family Band

2:30 Speaker: Clark Kirby, State Director Minuteman Civil Defense Corps

Other Speakers will be speaking off and on during the event. Food will be available from 12:15 till the end of the Picnic. The Bounce House will be open during the entire event.

Partial List of Officials in Attendance:

Chairman Tina Benkiser, Texas Republican Party
Cindy Burkett, SD 2, SREC Woman
Congressman Ralph Hall
Constable Randy Meeks, Hunt County
Councilman Chris Bracken, Greenville City Council
County Attorney Joel Littlefield, Hunt County
Gene Christensen
John Cooke, SD 2 SREC Man
JP Aaron Williams, Hunt County
Judge Andy Bench, Hunt County
Judge David Bridges, Rockwall County
Judge John Horn, Hunt County
Judge Robert Francis, Dallas County
State Representative Dan Flynn
State Representative Jodie Laubenberg

Sponsers of the Picnic

Level 1: Friend of Hunt County
1) Aaron Williams, JP Hunt County
2) Judge David Bridges, 5th Court of Appeals
3) Tim Stainback
4) Jay & Jan Atkins

Level 2: Silver Friend of Hunt Cnty
1) Judge Mary Murphy
2) Judge Robert Francis

Level 3: Gold Friend of Hunt Cnty
1) Representative Dan Flynn
2) Christensen for Congress

Level 4: Platinum Friend of Hunt Cnty
1) Senator Robert Deuell
2) Congressman Ralph Hall

I want to once more invite everyone to attend this event. Come on out and have a lot of fun and listen to some real consevatives speak on the issues facing us.

Picnic Update 6

Things continue to roll forward on the picnic. We are less than three weeks away from the bigt day and the committments and sponsers continue to roll in. As soon as I get in confirmed (Very Shortly) we will have a major announcement about who will be attending and speaking at the picnic. So watch this spot

Picnic Update

Sent out another 25 letters today to various State Officials and Presidential hopefulls. We are not only 20 days away from the Picnic and the excitement is begining to grow. We have added a "Bounce House" for the Kids and booked the Williams Family Band to play the Picnic.

Picnic Update4

Received Notice Today that Judge Robert Francis of Dallas will be attending and sponsering the Picnic.