Texas primaries: Pair running for county judge seat

Parmer and Bailey counties will have a combined six contested Republican primary races on March 1, with a three-way race to fill a vacant county judge seat.

Winners in the 16 races will not face a Democrat in the general election.

With Parmer County Judge Trey Ellis retiring, two are vying to replace him in the primary. The race features longtime County Sheriff Randy Geries and Isabel “Izzy” Carrasco, who is retired from the Department of Public Safety. Will Anderson, who is retired from the U.S. Navy and as a college instructor, will appear on the ballot. He told The News he withdrew after the ballot was printed.

The Parmer County Commission will feature two contested races, with incumbent Charles Wilkins facing Gene Schueler in Precinct 2 and incumbent Casey Russell facing John O’Brian in Precinct 4.

There are three Justice of the Peace positions on the ballot, with only Precinct 1 contested. The open race includes Rhonda Wilkins and Joe Fuente. Running unopposed are incumbents Deena Leuea in Precinct 2 and Pamela Haseloff in Precinct 3.

Three other incumbents are unopposed in the primary — District Clerk Sandra Warren, County Clerk Susan Spring and County Treasurer Sharon May.

In Bailey County, there are two contested primary races.

The county judge race will feature Sherri Harrison, the incumbent, against Wayne Copley truck foreman Basil Nash. Jimmie Daniel is running to keep his county commission Precinct 4 seat against Shorty Drennan. Daniel is a teacher, while Drennan is an electrician.

Five other county races are uncontested — Irene Espinoza for county clerk, Rhonda Black for treasurer, Rodney Baker for justice of the peace, Mike Slayden for Precinct 2 county commissioner and Becky Espinoza for district clerk. All are incumbents except for Becky Espinoza.

The deadline to register for the primary election is Jan. 31. Early voting runs Feb. 14-25, while the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Feb. 18.