Posted 12:01 am Sunday, November 04, 2012
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Wood County voters to pick justice of the peace and commissioner
By FAITH HARPER
fharper@tylerpaper.com
Wood County voters will be selecting a Precinct 2 justice of the peace on Tuesday, while voters in Precinct 3 will choose between a seven-term incumbent county commissioner and a newcomer.
fharper@tylerpaper.com
Wood County voters will be selecting a Precinct 2 justice of the peace on Tuesday, while voters in Precinct 3 will choose between a seven-term incumbent county commissioner and a newcomer.
The elected justice of the peace will serve the remaining two years left on the term of Neil Moseley, who passed away in May. After serving two years, the seat will go back up for re-election to return to its regular four-year term cycle.
Three candidates are vying for the position — Wes Criddle on the Republican ticket, Democrat Tiffany Dupont and Lucky Bolden as an independent.
Criddle, 46, of Mineola, said he has been in law enforcement for 22 years. He serves as chief deputy for the Wood County Sheriff’s Department but also worked as a sergeant for the Quitman department and did undercover work in Sulphur Springs. Criddle said he has wanted to become a judge for a long time, and the office would be a new challenge.
“I have done most everything in law enforcement, from working as a DA investigator in Smith County, to (many other) aspects, and without having the money or time to go back to college to get a law degree, it’s the closest I can get to experience a different type of law enforcement and experience a different section of it.”
Bolden, 49, of Mineola, said he has worked for the Mineola Police Department for 14 years and has served as an investigator for the past seven. Bolden said he got his start working for the Tyler Junior College Police Department as a night guard while he attended police academy during the day.
Bolden said the office works closest with community members.
“I have collected a lot of experience over the years,” he said. “I’m at a point in my life where I want to transition that experience into the judicial system.”
Dupont, 44, of Mineola, said she worked as a jailer for the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department from 2004 to 2008. She said her position was eliminated when Sheriff Bill Wansley took office. She said the practice is common.
Dupont currently works for the Mineola Andrews Center, and said she is very involved with the community and its youth.
“I think this position would find opportunities to work with our youth, our children and work with the community in general to treat people fair and impartially,” she said.
Criddle, 46, of Mineola, said he has been in law enforcement for 22 years. He serves as chief deputy for the Wood County Sheriff’s Department but also worked as a sergeant for the Quitman department and did undercover work in Sulphur Springs. Criddle said he has wanted to become a judge for a long time, and the office would be a new challenge.
“I have done most everything in law enforcement, from working as a DA investigator in Smith County, to (many other) aspects, and without having the money or time to go back to college to get a law degree, it’s the closest I can get to experience a different type of law enforcement and experience a different section of it.”
Bolden, 49, of Mineola, said he has worked for the Mineola Police Department for 14 years and has served as an investigator for the past seven. Bolden said he got his start working for the Tyler Junior College Police Department as a night guard while he attended police academy during the day.
Bolden said the office works closest with community members.
“I have collected a lot of experience over the years,” he said. “I’m at a point in my life where I want to transition that experience into the judicial system.”
Dupont, 44, of Mineola, said she worked as a jailer for the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department from 2004 to 2008. She said her position was eliminated when Sheriff Bill Wansley took office. She said the practice is common.
Dupont currently works for the Mineola Andrews Center, and said she is very involved with the community and its youth.
“I think this position would find opportunities to work with our youth, our children and work with the community in general to treat people fair and impartially,” she said.
Precinct 3 voters will choose between Republican incumbent Roger Pace and Democrat Uris Roberson.
Pace said he has served for seven terms, or 28 years, as county commissioner.
During his tenure, Pace said the court expanded the jail, put up a sub-courthouse in Hawkins and replaced every bridge in his precinct.
“I enjoy serving the people of Precinct 3, and I ask for their vote one more time,” he said.
Roberson, 69, of Hawkins, works as a math teacher at Mineola High School and is a former business owner. He said he owned Maliker Child Development Center in Houston for 17 years. He said the center was a combination of a day care and pre-education center.
Roberson said he is running because he wants to work with businesses to bring more jobs to Wood County. He said he would also like to educate the public on the national debt and the need to begin paying it off.
“I’m looking at the financial base we have in Wood County and in the state,” he said. “We are close to $16 trillion in debt as a nation, and I think each county needs to look at ways to increase ways to raise income. … We have a lot of financial difficulties to overcome.”
Pace said he has served for seven terms, or 28 years, as county commissioner.
During his tenure, Pace said the court expanded the jail, put up a sub-courthouse in Hawkins and replaced every bridge in his precinct.
“I enjoy serving the people of Precinct 3, and I ask for their vote one more time,” he said.
Roberson, 69, of Hawkins, works as a math teacher at Mineola High School and is a former business owner. He said he owned Maliker Child Development Center in Houston for 17 years. He said the center was a combination of a day care and pre-education center.
Roberson said he is running because he wants to work with businesses to bring more jobs to Wood County. He said he would also like to educate the public on the national debt and the need to begin paying it off.
“I’m looking at the financial base we have in Wood County and in the state,” he said. “We are close to $16 trillion in debt as a nation, and I think each county needs to look at ways to increase ways to raise income. … We have a lot of financial difficulties to overcome.”
