Brazos Valley Report: Filing Ends and Primary Campaigns Begin

by: liberaltexan

Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 06:55 PM CST

The campaign for the Republican nomination for Congressional District 17 is much more crowded than it was last year. Last year's Republican nominee, Waco businessman Rob Curnock, is joined by fellow Waco businessman Chuck Wilson, College Station nurse Timothy Delasandro, Houston businessman Bill Flores, and Texas A&M security expert Dave McIntyre. The Republican primary will probably be between Curnock and McIntyre, however, Flores is well funded and will be able to spend more than the other candidates. Democratic Congressman Chet Edwards is going to have a financial advantage over whichever Republican emerges from the primary. How the Republican primary evolves is going to greatly affect the general election in November and whether or not a Republican candidate can serious challenge Edwards.

Texas State Senator Steve Ogden had announced his retirement and State Representative Dan Gattis appeared to be the front runner to receive the Republican nomination for the vacated Senate seat. However, after Gattis withdrew from the campaign for personal reasons Ogden decided to run for reelection and facing a primary challenge from Ben Bius. Ogden will be campaigning as his experience as a State Senator, but the budget and the economy are going to be central issues in the campaign.  

Texas State Representative Fred Brown is facing a primary challenge form three candidates; former Brazos County Tax Collector Buddy Winn, former candidate for Brazos County District Attorney Rick Davis, and Blinn College professor Blanche Brick. During the 2008 election Left of College Station reported on the almost unopposed Republican, who only faced a Libertarian opponent in the general election. However, during the primary Brown will face a longtime Brazos County  public office holder in Winn, and candidate that will pull no punches during the campaign in Davis. Brown's record as a legislator will be the focus of the primary debate, including the dubious distinction as being named by Texas Monthly as being a piece of furniture.

More Below the Fold...

Other notable primaries include the Republican primary for Brazos County Commissioner, Precinct 2, which includes Jerry Fickey, Sammy Catalena, and Hugh Seale. In the Democratic primary for Brazos County Commissioner, Precinct 4, incumbent Irma Cauley is facing a challenge from current Bryan, Texas City Council member Paul Madison. In the Republican primary for Brazos County Treasurer the candidates include Thomas Van Kinerd, Jerry Pitts, Tanya Kay Skinner, and Laura Taylor Davis. Candidates in the Republican primary for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2 are Tommy Munoz and Stanley Wells. In the Republican primary for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, incumbent George Boyett is facing a challenge from Bruce Wick. The primary with the most candidates from both political parties is Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4; the Republican primary candidates are Jim Cashion and Mike Fleming, and the Democratic primary candidates include Darrell Booker, Rose Jones, Greg Banks, Manuel Aguilar, Martha Garcia Opersteny, Richard Cortez, and Joe Marin.

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