Commissioner Pct. 3 update

In the Jan. 15 edition of The Examiner, it was first released that Michael Raska was declared ineligible in the Grimes County Pct. 3 race by the Fourteenth Court of Appeals.

The Fourteenth Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Barbara Walker’s petition for writ of mandamus Jan. 13, to declare Michael Raska ineligible as a candidate for the office of County Commissioner Precinct 3 because he was not a registered voter in Pct. 3 at the time of the Dec. 9, 2019, filing deadline.

Per the court ordered writ of mandamus, Grimes County Democratic Party Chair James Harris ruled Raska ineligible and submitted notice to Grimes County Elections Administrator Lucy Ybarra.

However, even though Raska is ineligible as a candidate, his name will still appear on the ballot. Walker issued a “Motion to Enforce Writ of Mandamus,” stating at the time of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals ruling Jan. 13, to the original writ of mandamus filed Jan. 6, there was still time to remove Raska from the ballot.

According to email evidence provided to The Examiner by Harris in the “Motion to Enforce Writ of Mandamus” filed by Walker, Ybarra reached out to the Legal Director-Elections Division in the Office of Texas Secretary of State, Christina Worrell Adkins.

Adkins documented in an email Jan. 15, “Per 172.058, if a candidate that is declared ineligible at this point, their name is not removed from the ballot unless a court order expressly provides this. My understanding is the court did not do so and only instructed the chair to declare the candidate ineligible. Therefore, the candidate’s name would remain on the ballot.”

Early voting

Early voting for the 2020 Primaries begins Tuesday, Feb. 18, and runs through Friday, Feb.

28. Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours Tuesday, Feb. 18, and Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting locations include the Grimes County Courthouse, 100 Main Street in Anderson and the Navasota Center, 101 Stadium Drive in Navasota.

The final day to register to vote in the Primary Election is Monday, Feb. 3. Voters not registered to vote by the deadline will not be eligible to vote in the March 3, Primary election.

To register to vote visit grimescountytexas.gov or call 936-873-4422 or 936-873-4425.