Dateline: January 10, 2002

County incumbents draw several challengers  

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Filing for local offices closed last Wednesday with all but three local incumbents drawing opponents.

The Democratic and Republican primaries will be held March 12, 2002, and early voting by personal appearance in the county clerk’s office will be February 25 through March 8. No local candidates are contested in the primary elections however.

In countywide races this year, incumbent Democrat Jack Hall will face Republican challenger William J. “Jimmy” Thompson for the office of county judge. Democratic incumbent Fay Vargas is opposed by Republican Vicki Knowles to be county/district clerk. The incumbent county treasurer, Republican Becky Jackson, will face Democrat Vicki Sloan.

Justices of the Peace Jimmy Johnson (R) and Ann Kennedy (D) drew no opponents this year. County Commissioner Pct. 2 Don Hall (R) is also unchallenged.

The incumbent Pct. 4 commissioner, Democrat Bob Trout, will face Republican Wayne Riggs in the general election.

In other offices of local interest, District 13 Congressman Mac Thornberry (R) of Clarendon will be challenged by Democrat Zane Reese of Crosby County and Libertarian Dale Sutherlin of Sheppard Air Force Base near Wichita Falls. State Rep. Warren Chisum (R) of Pampa is unopposed as is State Sen. Robert L. Duncan (R) of Lubbock.