Candidates draw for ballot positions
Grimes County Candidates seeking election in the 2020 Primaries participated in a ballot draw. Democratic Party Chair James Harris hosted the Democratic ballot draw Monday, Dec. 16 and Republican Party Chair Susan Patrick hosted the Republican ballot draw Thursday, Dec. 19.
Examiner Photos by Erica Grifaldo
ANDERSON- Local candidates now know the order in which their names will appear on the ballot in the 2020 Primaries.
Locally Grimes County has multiple positions that are contested on the 2020 Primary Ballot. Of the contested positions, the Grimes County Democratic Party has two candidates vying for one position and the Grimes County Republican Party has six candidates vying for three positions.
Each year party chairs gather for a ballot draw to see how the names will appear on the official ballot. The Democratic Party ballot draw was hosted by Grimes County Democratic Party Chair James Harris at the Progressive Outreach Center in Navasota Monday, Dec. 16.
The ballot order drawn for was that of Grimes County Commissioner Pct. 3. Incumbent Barbara Henley Walker drew the first ballot position and candidate Michael Raska will have his name appear in the second ballot position.
Grimes County Republican Party Chair Susan Patrick hosted the Republican Party ballot draw, Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Grimes County Republican Headquarters in Navasota. Local positions with multiple candidates include the position of Grimes County Sheriff, Grimes County Commissioner Pct. 1 and Grimes County Constable Pct. 3.
Candidates drew cards with the high card representing the top position on the ballot. In the Sheriff race Incumbent Donald G. Sowell drew the top position and challenger Travis Higginbotham will appear second on the ballot.
In the race for Grimes County Commissioner Pct. 1, challenger Randall Griffin will have his name appear first on the ballot followed by Incumbent Chad Mallett.
Preston Goode drew the first position as a challenger to Incumbent Wes Male in the Grimes County Constable Pct. 3 race.
United States District 8 Representative Kevin Brady sent someone to draw his position on the ballot, but he drew the No. 2 card making him third on the ballot behind Kirk Osborn and Melissa Esparaza-Mathis.
Also, on hand to draw for his position on the ballot was James Lombardino from Harris County. He drew a King giving him the top spot on the ballot for Justice 1st Court of Appeals District Place 5. Names appearing blow his are candidates Terry Adams, Levi J. Benton and Chad Bridges.
A complete sample ballot will be posted on the Grimes County Elections website, grimescountytexas.gov/page/Elections, after Jan. 1, 2020.