4 February 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com
News
Dallas County Judge Race BILLY CLARK
CLAY JENKINS
EDWIN FLORES
Early voting: February 14-25
Primary is March 1 General Election is Nov. 8
THE MARCH TO NOVEMBER
LAUREN DAVIS
For more 2022 election coverage, go to:
(COURTESY PHOTOS, ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON)
Democratic incumbents face challengers in some races
Two Republicans ready to face off against Jenkins
By Bethany Erickson
By Bethany Erickson
bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com
Before Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins can face a Republican challenger, he’ll need to take on attorney Billy Clark in the Democratic primary on March 1. Jenkins announced in November that he would run for a fourth term. “I am filing for re-election because there is still a lot of work that needs to be accomplished in Dallas County,” he said. “From fighting back against COVID-19 to making sure our children have access to quality education and health care, I am ready to continue this fight alongside the people of Dallas County. Clark, an attorney from Cedar Hill, has more than 20 years of military experience. Before starting his legal career, Clark was a teacher at Klein Forest High School in Houston. He was the senior aerospace science instructor for the Junior Air Force ROTC program. After Hurricane Harvey, Clark returned to Dallas County. He said he’s running because he feels that he could be more proactive than his opponent — and a prime example of his frustration is the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. “The initial vaccine rollout was mass chaos,” he said in a Facebook post. “Frustration and confusion created doubt in our county
government’s ability to manage the process.” But the county judge race isn’t the only one that will be busy. Four Democrats will face off to see who will face GOP incumbent Dallas County Commissioner JJ Koch, whose district includes much of Preston Hollow and the Park Cities: Tom Ervin, Michelle Faulkner, Philip Kingston, and Andrew Sommerman. Democratic incumbent State Sen. Nathan Johnson didn’t draw a primary challenger. Still, Elizabeth Ginsberg or Freda Heald are on the ballot for the Democratic primary for State Representative District 108 (held by Republican Morgan Meyer). Democrats Charlie Gearing, Alexandra Guio, Chris Leal, Kendall Scudder, and former Rep. John Bryant have all thrown their hats in the ring to replace outgoing State Rep. John Turner, who represents District 114.
Other Democratic primary races include:
County Treasurer: Pauline Medrano District Clerk: Amye Thompson Hollins, Felicia Pitre County Clerk: Ann Cruz, Marcus Turner Jr., John Warren State Rep. District 103: Rafael Anchia State Board of Education, District 12: Alex Cornwallis, Roberto Velasco
bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com
Two will face off in the Republican primary for Dallas County Judge, and both Edwin Flores and Lauren Davis feel they bring something different to the job — something the county needs. Flores has served two stints on the Dallas ISD school board, from 2005 to 2012 and from 2015 until now. Gov. Greg Abbott recently appointed him to the Texas School Safety Center Board of Directors. Flores is an attorney and also has a doctorate in molecular immunology. “The vision Edwin Flores has for Dallas County is similar to the vision he had when he first ran for school board – to provide strong common-sense leadership in order to transform the way Dallas County operates,” Flores’ campaign website said, adding that he was “appalled” at how politicized the pandemic has become. “They (politicians) have tried to polarize communities between the masked versus the unmasked and the vaccinated versus the unvaccinated,” the campaign said. “As county judge, Edwin will restore individual liberty, focus on growing our economy, and work to enhance services to Dallas neighborhoods and businesses.” Davis, the chief culture officer and
co-founder of the men’s grooming company The Gents Place, insisted the Dallas County Judge doesn’t need to be a lawyer. “The official position is the top administrator and ‘CEO of Dallas County,’” she wrote. “I’ll bring good judgment back to this position, the same way I’ve done as a mother, successful business owner, and proven community leader over the last 15+ years.” Dallas County commissioner JJ Koch, whose district includes much of Preston Hollow and the Park Cities, won’t face a challenger in the Republican primary, and former Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson will try to regain her old job and is the sole contender in the GOP primary for that seat. Democratic incumbent State Sen. Nathan Johnson and his Republican challenger Brandon Copeland can start campaigning for the general election pretty much immediately, as neither drew primary challengers. GOP incumbent State Rep. Morgan Meyer (D-108) and District 114 candidate Mark Hadju didn’t draw challengers for their primary races, either.
Other Republican primary races: County Treasurer: Shelly Akerly State Board of Education, District 12 (GOP): Pam Little
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