Unless you have had your head in the sand for the last few months, you are well aware that an election is approaching. The actual election day will be Tuesday, November 3.
Certainly the biggest decision on the ballot is that of President. Our President Donald Trump is running as a Republican against the Democrat candidate Joe Biden. This is a decision that is of great importance in our country. We need to be very much in prayer for God’s guidance in this particular race, as well as all races.
There are many other important races on the ballot, as well. In Terry County, this year both the County and the City elections are both on the ballot. The City election was postponed from its original May date, due to the pandemic. As a result of this addition to the ballots, the Elections Office had to prepare no less than 25 different ballots.
This many ballots are required to cover all County Commissioner races and City Council races, as boundary lines are not the same for each. You will see in this story a couple of examples of ballots, but your ballot will be specific for your address and what precinct in the County or what Place in the City you may fall into. Don’t worry too terribly much about this. Once you give your ID to the folks at the polling place, they will know exactly which ballot you are to receive. But, it is confusing! And remember, there are two sides to the ballot.
Also, there will be no straight party voting space on this year’s ballots. That is, unless a judge makes a ruling that it is unconstitutional to not allow a straight party voting space. This is currently up in the air, so watch for possible changes on this.
Other races on the ballot include, United States Senator and United States Representative. John Cornyn and Jodey Arrington, respectively are the incumbents in these races.
There are several State races including Railroad Commissioner and several State Supreme Court Places, as well as other Judges.
We will also be electing a member of the State Board of Education for District 15, in which all of Terry County lives.
The Texas State Senator position is on the ballot with Republican Charles Perry being the only candidate. State Representative Dustin Burrows is being opposed by Democrat Addison Perry-Franks.
In the County Election, you will be electing a County Attorney, which is currently Jo’Shae Ferguson’Worley, who is running unopposed, and a Sheriff, which is currently Timothy Click, who is also running unopposed. Rexann Furlow is running unopposed for reelection to the office of County Tax Assessor-Collector.
Mike Swain is running unopposed for reelection to his position as Precinct 1 Commissioner.
The Precinct 3 race got interesting when current Commissioner Shorty Martinez, who was running as a Democrat voted in the Republican Primary and was rendered ineligible to run as a Democrat. That made it appear that Martin Lefevere would be running unopposed as a Republican. However, the Democrat Party Chair Geronimo Gonzales had the option of naming a Democrat candidate to run for that office and Ricky Rocha’s name was placed on the ballot. You are only eligible to vote in this particular race if you live in Precinct 3.
On the City side of things, all voters who live in the City will be voting on the office of Mayor. Geronimo Gonzales is facing current City County member Tom Hesse for this office. There are no other contested races in the City election, however District 1 member Judy Besler, District 2 newcomer Celso Duran, and District 3 Council Member Ricky Rocha are all running unopposed.
Yes, Ricky Rocha’s name will be on some ballots twice. In the event that he wins both County Commissioner and City Council, he will have to resign City Council at the end of this year, as the swearing in of newly elected County Officials does not take place until January 1, 2021.
Early voting for this election does start on Tuesday, October 13 and will run through October 30. The Elections Office will offer extended hours during this time and will have an Early Voting Annex in the building adjacent to the Elections Office on West Main, directly north of the Courthouse.
Below a just a couple of examples of the ballots for Terry County this year.
