By Donnita Nesbit Fisher
Managing Editor

Early voting for the Republican primary run-off election continues through Friday, April 9. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The election is set for Tuesday, April 13.

The local Republican run-off ballot contains statewide and area races, including the race for Collin County Commissioner, Pct. 2 between incumbent Jerry Hoagland and challenger Cheryl Williams.

All registered voters are eligible to vote in the Republican primary runoff  as long as they did not vote in the March 2 Democratic Primary Election.

Winners in the run-off will face Democratic candidates or appear on the ballot uncontested in the November general election.

Collin County Commissioner, Pct. 2

    
Jerry Hoagland                       Cheryl Williams

Longtime Collin County Commissioner Jerry Hoagland will face Cheryl Williams in the Republican party primary runoff. Hoagland garnered 3,849 votes or 36.76 percent to Williams 4,796 votes or 45.80 percent. The third candidate Karl Voigtsberger tallied 1,827 votes or 17.45 percent.

Hoagland has been a commissioner since 1980. Williams is a management, accounting and land-use consultant. She has served on the Plano City Council.

Hoagland said he is proud of the work he has done on as a commissioner. “The per capita spending is lower today than it was 20 years ago, he said. “Our financial reserves are very strong, and we are one four counties in the state with an AAA bond rating.”

“I gave serious consideration to retiring prior to this election, but after debating the issue with myself decided to run again,” Hoagland said. “I truly do enjoy what I do for the citizens of my district and would like to continue to represent them on the Commissioners Court.  I think I have made a difference in the lives of my constituents by getting Collin College created and the Collin County Adventure Camp built.  Hundreds of thousands of lives have been enriched by attending Collin College and over 20,000 children per year now attend the Adventure Camp.  We have been able to create these fine facilities and still keep your taxes low (the tax rate today is lower than it was 16 years ago).  During uncertain economic times such as we are faced with today, I believe my leadership and experience do matter.  So I humbly ask for your vote in the Republican Primary Runoff Election.”

Williams said she was happy about the primary election results but not surprised. “They reflect the same sentiments I have been getting for months now while walking neighborhoods,” she said. “People are tired of career politicians who put their own self-interest before that of their constituents.  People are tired of the wasteful spending, big pay raises for politicians and pay-for-play politics. It’s time we start running county government like a business, and I have a strong record of conservative leadership both in the public and the private sectors.”

Turnout for the primary runoff will be lower, but Williams said she thinks voters realize how important the race is. “We have an opportunity to restore conservative principles to our commissioner’s office,” she said, “so we’re going to keep working hard all the way through April 13 to make sure as many people come back out to vote again as possible.”

The March 2 election sent a message, Williams said. Voters “said they want a new leader on the commissioner’s court, not a career politician,” she said. “I’m a professional and a small business owner. And I think my record on the city council provided voters with insight into what kind of commissioner I will be. Not only did we lower the tax rate, but we even sent taxpayers refund checks. My commitment to protecting our tax dollars is unwavering, and I will work tirelessly to make county government accountable to the citizens – and no one else.”


 
Rick Green                            Debra Lehrmann

On the state level Statewide, Wylie native Rick Green will be in a run-off with Debra Lehrmann for the Texas Supreme Court, Place 3 position. There were six candidates on the Republican ballot for the judgeship. Green had 18.95 percent of the vote: Lehrmann, 18.25.
Green serves as the president of the Torch of Freedom Foundation, an organization “dedicated to educating future leaders about America’s heritage and giving them the skills and tools to make an impact on public policy processes,” he said. He and his family currently reside in Dripping Springs. A graduate of Angelo State University and the University of Texas School of Law, he served in the Texas Legislature from 1999 to 2003.

“As a graduate of Wylie High School, I am thankful for the opportunity to have this campaign covered by papers in the towns where I grew up playing baseball: Wylie, Sachse, Farmersville and Princeton,” Green said.

Although he has no judicial experience, Green said he thinks it was his conservative credentials that attracted voters. “Voters sent a clear message that experience is not measured by how many years you have been an incumbent, but is more importantly measured by how your life experience has impacted your philosophy and convictions,” he said.

“I have a clear record that shows my conservative credentials. Having been a legislator and teacher and author on the Constitution, I respect the process and understand the proper role of the judiciary. I believe I bring the right mix of conservative philosophy and experience to the table.”

Lehrmann is a judge with the 360th Judicial District in Fort Worth. She has been a judge for 22 years.

She is a graduate of the University of Texas and UT School of Law and prior to being named to the bench, she was an attorney with the Forth Worth law firm of Law, Snakard & Gambill.

Lehrmann said her experience makes her the best choice. “I have a proven record as a judge having served the citizens of Texas for more than 22 years,” she said. “I never legislate from the bench and I fairly apply the law. “

For the supreme court, experience is paramount, Lehrmann said. “The difference between my and my opponent is he has no judicial experience, no courtroom experience, no appelate experience. I have done it. For our state’s highest court, it is imperative citizens elect a candidate who had experience.”

219th District Court

Scott Becker                             Angela Tucker

In the race for judge for the 219th District Court, Scott Becker garnered 48.43 percent of the vote and will face Angela Tucker, who tallied 33.43 percent. A third candidate, Wendy McMillon, pulled 18.14 percent of the vote.

“We are excited to be in the run-off,” Becker said. “We are pleased about the number of voters who heard and agreed that my experience is well suited for this bench and who trust that I am the best candidate for this bench. As we go forward we realize it will be vital to rally those supporters to vote again in the run-off on April 13th to be sure their voices are heard.”

Becker said he expects to pick up most of McMillon’s votes. “I am also pleased that Mrs. McMillon has agreed to endorse my candidacy. She and her family ran a campaign to be very proud of, and we look forward to working with her and her supporters as we move forward to the runoff on April 13,” he said.

Tucker said she has been happy with the additional support she has picked up since the March primary. “I am looking forward to finishing this campaign with a victory. The number of individuals reaching out to join our campaign team is overwhelming,” she said.

Tucker said her experience is needed in the district court. “The citizens of Collin County need a judge with all of the experience necessary to hit the ground running from day one,” she said. “ I am the only candidate qualified to do just that.”

County Courts at Law

  
Stewart Matthews                Lance Baxter

For the County Court at Law #3 judgeship, Stewart Matthews got 31.66 percent of the primary Election Day vote to force a runoff with Lance Baxter, who gathered 36.83 percent.

Baxter said the main thing he wanted voters to know is that he has 23 plus years experience. “The court handles civil and criminal matters, and the docket is primarily criminal,” he said. “I am the only candidate that has ever handled a criminal case, and I have been handling them for more than 20 years from a Class C misdemeanor all the way up to capital murder. I have handled over a thousand criminal matters. My opponent purports to be a civil lawyer, but he has only filed seven cases total in Collin County in all of his six years of experience.”

Matthews said he is grateful to be in the runoff and his experience is applicable for the court position. “I think if voters looked not only at the length of experience but the breadth of experience (including in law and in businesses outside the area of law), then they will see why so many feel I am the best candidate for the bench,” Matthews said.


 
Matthew Goeller                   David Rippel

Matthew Goeller (28.09 percent) will face David Rippel (27.45 percent) for the County Court at Law No. 4 judgeship.

Goeller said his experience makes him the best suited for the workload of the court. “I am board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which I think is important considering that the County Court at Law No. 4 has a 90-plus percentage criminal law caseload.  I have lived in Collin County over 23 years and have practiced law, both as a state prosecutor and attorney in private practice for the same number of years,” he said.

He has also been an instructor at Collin College in Criminal Justice for the past 22 years and handled more than 7,500 criminal cases, both felony and misdemeanor cases, including capital death-penalty litigation, both as a prosecutor and defense counsel, he said.  

“My opponent, David Ripple, is an honorable, first-class man – I would like to think the voters have a difficult decision,” Goeller said.
Rippel said his experience would also benefit the court.

After completing law school, Rippel worked as a judicial clerkship and helped write opinions and assisted with docketing cases. “Few attorneys get this opportunity,” he said.

This experience helped him get “ an understanding of court administration that the other candidates do not have,” Rippel said.
Rippel said he has tried numerous cases in district and county courts and his private practice reflects the diversity of cases that County Court 4 decides.

He said his career has had  an emphasis on trial work and that he has “successfully tried and negotiated thousands of civil and criminal cases ... defended people and businesses in multimillion dollar lawsuits and criminal cases from misdemeanors to felonies.”

 
Jay Bender                           Terri Green

The County Court at Law No. 6 runoff race will pit Jay Bender (31.40 percent) against Terri Green (32.37 percent).

Bender said he has a strong background in the type of cases that come before the county court at law. “Approximately 85 percent of the cases in this court are criminal charges like DWI, theft and drug offenses,” he said. “That is why it is important to have a strong background in criminal law. My educational background and work experience uniquely qualify me to be the judge of County Court at Law 6.  I am a former assistant district attorney, a board member of the Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, an authorized attorney to receive court appointments, and a former instructor of the DWI section of the Collin County Citizen’s Prosecution Academy and previously served in the U.S. Navy.”

Greene said voters need to compare the two candidates’ experience. “The voters now need to compare the two candidates, length of time being licensed, their education, legal experience, the types of cases they handled and the different courts they have been admitted to practice law in,” she said.

“I have been practicing law for more than 20 years. The county courts at law hear three types of cases: criminal misdemeanors, civil and appellate cases. I have 20 years experience in litigation, handling cases involving civil, family, elder and probate law, as well as being appointed as teen court judge that hears 100 percent criminal misdemeanor cases.” 

Collin County District Clerk
 
Alma Hays                           Patricia Wysong Crigger

In the Collin County District Clerk’s race, Patricia Wysong Crigger gathered 43.35 percent of the vote to Alma Hays 33.36.

Hays said if elected, her office will be responsive to the public. “I will be a hands-on district clerk,” she said. “I want the public to know that I will have an ‘open door’ policy.  Any issues or concerns that they have can be brought to me for resolution.”

Hays said she has 26 years experience in private sector law and business management.

Crigger said her experience is needed in the clerk’s office. She has worked in the district clerk’s office for 23 years, the last 14 as chief deputy district clerk.

“Our district clerk’s office is one of the most highly regarded in the state; and yet, we are always striving for improvement,” she said. “Our advances in technology include fax filing, e-filing, and e-juror.  We have a new court management system for civil/family cases and are converting the criminal cases to the same new system.

“I am very proud of our district clerk’s office.  With a staff of 68 employees and a 5 million dollar budget, inexperienced management would be devastating to the office, the district courts, and the Collin County taxpayer.”

Early voting locations

Early voting locations include:

Collin County Elections Office, 2010 Redbud Blvd., Ste. 102, McKinney;

Allen Municipal Courts Facility, 301 Century Pkwy., Allen;

Carpenter Park Recreation Center, 6701 Coit Rd., Plano;

Collin College Central Park Campus, 2200 W. University Dr., McKinney;

Collin College Preston Ridge Campus, 9700 Wade Blvd. Frisco;

Collin College Spring Creek Campus. 2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano;

Celina ISD Admin Building, 205 S. Colorado, Celina;

Parr Library, 6200 Windhaven Pkwy., Plano;

Farmersville City Hall, 205 S. Main St, Farmersville;

Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd., Plano;

Harrington Library, 1501 18th St., Plano;

Lucas City Hall, 665 Country Club Rd., Lucas;

Murphy Municipal Complex, 206 N. Murphy Rd., Murphy;

Old Settlers Recreation Center, 1201 E. Louisiana St., McKinney;

Plano ISD Administration Center, 2700 W. 15th St., Plano;

Renner-Frankford Library, 6400 Frankford Rd., Dallas,

Texas Star Bank, 402 W. White St., Anna; and

Wylie Municipal Complex, 2000 N. Hwy. 78, Wylie.

Registered Collin County voters can cast ballots at any early voting location.

Sample ballots