Posted 12:12 am Thursday, February 09, 2012
Local Officials, Challengers Tout Their Qualifications
Editor's Note: This is the second story about Tuesday night's Cherokee County candidate forum.
JACKSONVILLE -- Cherokee County elected officials and their challengers asked for votes and told audience members what they bring to their potential position Tuesday night during a forum at Jacksonville College.
JACKSONVILLE -- Cherokee County elected officials and their challengers asked for votes and told audience members what they bring to their potential position Tuesday night during a forum at Jacksonville College.
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- Cherokee County elected officials and their challengers asked for votes and told audience members what they bring to their potential position Tuesday night during a forum at Jacksonville College.
The candidates were in the second session of the forum, which was hosted by the Cherokee County Republican Club in Buckner Chapel.
The first session involved commissioner hopefuls, state representative candidates and state senate candidates while the second included other local offices, such as constable, county attorney, district attorney and tax assessor/collector.
Each candidate gave a two-minute introduction, in which they described themselves and why they are running. Questions were then posed by moderator Michele Reese of KYTX CBS19, and candidates had 30 seconds to respond. The forum ended with candidates giving one-minute closing statements.
Kelley Peacock, an assistant county attorney running for the county attorney seat, described herself as a Christian, mother and experienced prosecutor who has had more than 50 jury trials.
If elected, she said she hopes she can "instill things that are important in the county attorney's office."
"I think it's important we effectively and ethically prosecute crimes and help officials in an impartial manner," she said.
Mrs. Peacock said she plans to have a long career in prosecution and believes in justice.
"I want your vote, and I won't disappoint you," she said.
William "Bill" Wilder, a private and court-appointed attorney who also is running for county attorney, has served two elected terms as county attorney in Jackson County and as city attorney in Edna.
If elected, Wilder has said he will work with other lawyers who have cases pending and try to get things done.
"We'll have to handle our business the way it's supposed to be done and work with the county judge and the commissioners court and the other offices," he said in December.
He also noted that he has attended a couple juvenile justice seminars, which gave him knowledge he can use with child cases.
"I love people. I love politics and getting in there and trying to make a difference," Wilder has said.
Angela Johnston-Rios, a city of Rusk employee running for Cherokee County tax assessor/collector, attends Antioch United Methodist Church in Jacksonville and is a Jacksonville High School graduate.
She said she has loved being in Cherokee County and has worked there all her life.
"I am a taxpayer, not a politician," she said. "I'm here to fight for the taxpayer."
Incumbent Tax Assessor/Collector Linda Little discussed how she has implemented things that residents asked for. That includes keeping her office open until 5 p.m. on Fridays rather than closing it at lunch and trying to get payments deposited the day after they're received.
"That's for the security of the check and that bank account earns interest ...," she said. "We all pitch in to see that gets done."
She said her office also gave residents the option of paying their tax bills online with a credit or debit card.
Ms. Little encouraged voters to go to her website, www.lindalittle.org for more information on ways she has saved them money.
Incumbent Precinct 1 Constable Lynn Kelley, who is running for re-election, is a Cherokee County native, graduating from Rusk High School.
He said he went into a highway patrol career that lasted nearly 30 years and retired from the Texas Department of Public Safety on two occasions.
He was unanimously appointed as constable by commissioners after his predecessor resigned. He said he wants voters to know he has served as constable for seven years and already has the necessary experience for the position.
Mark Johnson, who is running for Kelley's position, is a Jacksonville High School graduate and served as chief of the Jacksonville Police Department.
Johnson described himself as a dependable person who fosters good relationships with law enforcement officials.
Incumbent Precinct 3 Constable Eddie Lee, who is running for re-election, noted that he has numerous certifications and received many awards.
He also told audience members that he did away with one of the largest tire dumps in the county.
Lee's challenger, private investigator James Stewart, was born in Oklahoma but moved to Cherokee County in 1976.
He said the core values of law enforcement always have been to "protect and serve," but he believes law enforcement has gotten away from that.
"It seems to be more about writing tickets ... People don't see them as 'protect and serve' anymore," he said.
Therefore, he said he wants residents to know that his core value is to "protect and serve," which he will make a reality if elected.
Others who participated in the second session are district attorney hopeful Rachel Patton, Precinct 2 Constable Jack White, Precinct 4 Constable Jamie Beene and Jean Brewer, who is running for Republican Party County Chairman.
