Terry County is poised for pivotal changes that will shape its electoral landscape. On Monday, November 4, 2025, Kim Carter, the Clerk of Terry County, convened a special meeting of the Terry County Elections Commission. The primary focus of this meeting was to appoint a new Terry County Joint Elections Administrator (EA) following the recent resignation of the current administrator.
Krystal Valentin has served as the EA since 2013, demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication since she began her career in the county clerk’s office in 2010. Over the years, she has played a crucial role in managing elections for the county and local municipalities, school districts, the hospital, and the water district, ensuring the integrity and smooth operation of the electoral process across these entities.
Valentin’s decision to step down from her position comes as she embarks on a new professional journey with the Texas Secretary of State (SOS), a critical agency responsible for overseeing all state elections, from local contests to gubernatorial races. She will serve as an Education Specialist for the Secretary of State Election Division. Her departure marks the end of an era for Terry County’s electoral administration and creates an opportunity for a new leader to bring fresh perspectives and innovations to the role.
The special-called meeting was essential for selecting a successor to fill Valentin’s role and address the community’s evolving needs in ensuring fair and transparent elections. During the meeting, Valentin recommended Crissy Franco as her replacement. Franco has been with the Terry County Joint Elections Office since 2019 and has attended numerous conferences to continue her education for this position. She is currently enrolled in the Registered Election Official (REO) courses and is expected to receive her certification in January 2026. The Election Commission voted unanimously to appoint Franco to the position. Valentin’s last day will be November 14, 2025, at which point Franco will officially take over.
As the primary filing period opens on November 8, 2025, there are seven county offices up for election. These positions include the County Judge, County Clerk, County Treasurer, Justice of the Peace, County Commissioners for Precincts #2 and #4, and the District Clerk. The current County Clerk, Kim Carter, has announced that she will not seek reelection. TownTalk has obtained Carter’s letter stating her intent not to file to run for the Terry County Clerk’s position. It reads:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
I look at that beautiful verse, and it speaks volumes to me. We may not run the race on a track but on different mission fields that God has us step onto in our lives. I have been so blessed to serve Terry County for 25 years, 8 years at the Extension Office and 17 years as the County Clerk.
January 2026 will be the start of my last year to serve as Terry County Clerk. I have loved every minute serving the citizens of Terry County and I am thankful for the amazing deputies I have been able to serve with. I’m thankful for the elected officials in our courthouse as we work together for the betterment of our county and our constituents. I pray I have shined Christ light in everything I have done and to all who walked through my office door no matter what business was being done.
There comes a time when the Lord impresses upon your heart that this race is ending and he has something else for us to do. For me at this point it is to put my family first and look to see what doors God opens next. I want to say a huge thank you to my sweet husband and my precious family who have walked with me every step of the way and have been huge prayer warriors, given encouragement and supported me during this season.
Integrity, kindness and customer service have been important standards that were set when I stepped into office and have strived for those goals every day. Thank you, Terry County Citizens, for your love and support that has been shown in so many ways. I’m grateful for each of you allowing me to serve as your Terry County Clerk.
I know God is preparing a new clerk for the next race to be run. Please join me in prayer and lift up whom ever God places in office as your next Terry County Clerk.
Sincerely,
Kim Carter
These are the county offices in Terry County up for election for the primaries and the midterm general election:
- County Judge: Current officeholder (incumbent) is Judge Tony Serbantez, who has made his intentions to file and run for re-election.
- District Clerk: Current officeholder (incumbent) is Tiffany O’Briant, who has made her intentions to file and run for re-election.
- County Clerk: Current officeholder (incumbent) is Kim Carter, who has announced she will not seek re-election.
- County Treasurer: Current officeholder (incumbent) is Andrea Perry, who has made her intentions to file and run for re-election.
- Justice of the Peace: Current officeholder (incumbent) is Judge Angie Garza, who has made her intentions to file and run for re-election.
- County Commissioner Precinct #2: Current officeholder (incumbent) is Richard Cavazos, who has made his intentions to file and run for re-election.
- County Commissioner Precinct #4: Current officeholder (incumbent) is Ernesto Elizardo, who has made his intentions to file and run for re-election.
Filing fees:
- Justice of the Peace: $375
- County Judge: $750
- District Clerk: $750
- County Clerk: $750
- County Treasurer: $750
- County Commissioner: $750
Important information regarding filing for a primary
- Filing Period
- The application must be filed between November 8, 2025, and 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025. [Sec. 172.023]
- Candidate Application
- In order to become the Republican or Democratic Party nominee for a particular office, you must file an application (PDF) for a place on the ballot with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). [Sec. 172.022]
- Terry County Republican Chair is Eric Horton
- Terry County Democratic Chair: NONE – if you plan on running in the Democrat primary, you will need to contact the Texas Democratic Party.
- Candidates for federal office must file a federal application (PDF).
- Filing Fee or Petition in Lieu of Filing Fee
- The application for a place on the primary ballot must be accompanied by either a filing fee or a petition in lieu of filing fee (PDF) signed by a certain number of qualified voters.
- Judicial Candidates
- Candidates for certain judicial offices must provide additional information with their judicial application (PDF) for a place on the ballot. [Sec. 141.0311] See Running for a Judicial Office in 2026 for more information.
- Candidates running for Courts of Appeals in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 14th, and 15th Districts and all candidates running for judicial offices in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant Counties, including justice of the peace, must file additional petitions (PDF).
- Candidates running for chief justice or justice of the Supreme Court, or presiding judge or judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals must also file an additional petition using the Petition for a Judicial Office with the Texas Supreme Court or Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in a Primary Election (PDF).
- Withdrawal
- A candidate may withdraw their application and have their name omitted from the ballot by submitting a notarized Certificate of Withdrawal (PDF) or a notarized letter to the same filing authority.
- The deadline for a candidate to submit their withdrawal is Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
NEW LAW: Pursuant to SB 901 (89th Leg., R.S.), effective September 1, 2025, a person who files an application with more than one political party (primary or convention) is ineligible for a place on the ballot for a general primary election, nomination by convention, and the succeeding general election as an independent candidate or as a write-in candidate. [Sec. 162.0151] See the S.O.S. FAQs on Party Affiliation and Candidacy for more details about how primary voting or candidacy affects (or does not affect) candidacy in the general election.
