Of the 28 Wise County candidates on the ballot, all but one are Republican.
County Judge Bill McElhaney drew an opponent Monday in Jim Cowell, a building inspector who previously worked for the county. McElhaney is seeking his second term in office.
The other race that drew a last-day opponent was Precinct 2 commissioner. Incumbent Kevin Burns will be opposed by funeral director Rob Hawkins.
The area of the county where you'll most likely see the most campaign signs will be in Precinct 3 where 13 candidates are seeking election - six each for commissioner and justice of the peace as Republicans and one for justice of the peace as the lone Democrat.
The commissioner seat is for a two-year, unexpired term following the death of Mikel Richardson last November. The field of candidates includes current Precinct 3 foreman Danny Lambert, Precinct 3 road hand Wayne Davis, Boyd Police Chief Harry Lamance, Boyd Mayor Brent Wilson, excavation company owner Don "Yank" Underhill and Wise County jail administrator Ken Steel.
Republican filings for justice of the peace in Precinct 3 include Tarrant County Deputy Sheriff David Montgomery, Wise County Deputy Sheriff Chad Hightower, Harold Lisby, teacher Mandy Hopkins Hays, attorney Bill Burdock and paralegal Dee Long. The lone Democrat on the ballot, Ken Murray, is also seeking the position of Precinct 3 justice of the peace.
In Precinct 4, County Commissioner Terry Ross will be opposed by former commissioner Paul Wood, who has switched to the Republican party. Ross beat Wood in 2002 when Wood was running for re-election as a Democrat.
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Terri Lynn Johnson will be opposed by Chico municipal Judge Karen Hall Green.
Wise County District Clerk Cristy Begeman Fuqua will run for re-election, this time as a Republican. Her opponent is Brenda Starnes Rowe, chief clerk for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace.
Several incumbents did not draw challengers, including Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Clay Poynor, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jan Morrow (who switched to the Republican party), Wise County Clerk Sherry Coursey Lemon, Treasurer Katherine Canova Hudson and Wise County Court at Law Judge Melton Cude.
Other Republican ballot filings of local interest include the following:
U.S. Representative, District 12 - Kay Granger, Mike Brasovan and Matthew E. Kelly (District 12 includes Wise, Parker and the western half of Tarrant County.)
State Representative, District 61 - Phil King (District 61 includes Wise and Parker counties)
271st District Judge - John H. Fostel (District 271 includes Wise and Jack counties)
