March 9 primaries take shape

By Jerry Daniel Reed / Reporter-News Staff Writer
January 3, 2004

Some surprises emerged on the last day for filing to run in the March 9 primaries in Taylor County.

Abilene attorney Dave Haigler, long a staunch conservative Republican, filed for Taylor County Democratic Party chairman after incumbent Bobby Clark chose not to seek another term.

And Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Bob Putnam, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in that post last year, decided not to run for an elected term, citing personal reasons. He said he will serve out his appointed term, which ends Dec. 31.

Haigler revealed his break with his former party and with the Bush administration in a column Sunday in the Abilene Reporter-News. He accused the Bush administration of deceiving the nation in its stated reasons for going to war in Iraq and endorsed the candidacy of Democratic frontrunner Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor.

"That tells the story right there," Haigler said Friday.

He said he remains a conservative on social issues such as abortion, which he opposes.

"I’ve not changed (on that issue)," Haigler said. "I don’t know of any Democrat who agrees with everything on the Democratic Party platform."

Haigler said he had offered to serve as a Democratic precinct chairman, but local Democratic leaders encouraged him to seek the county chairmanship.

Several Taylor County incumbents also drew opposition to their re-election bids: Sheriff Jack Dieken, Precinct 1 Commissioner Jack Turner and Precinct 3 Commissioner Stan Egger, all of whom are Republicans, and Democratic Precinct 2 Constable Larry Gill.State Rep. Bob Hunter, seeking his 10th full term in the Legislature, also drew an opponent in District 71, Abilene schoolteacher Steve Russell. Russell had toyed with running against state Sen. Troy Fraser, a Horseshoe Bay Republican. The 71st District includes Taylor and Nolan counties.

All other area House members except Vernon Republican Rick Hardcastle also drew rivals. The incumbents and their
opposition, respectively, are:

· Harvey Hilderbran of Kerrville, and Nicki Harle, of Baird, both Republicans.

· Sid Miller, a Stephenville Republican, and Rodney Nauert, a Copperas Cove Democrat.

· Jim Keffer, an Eastland Republican, and Roland Graves, a Brownwood Democrat.

· Scott Campbell, a San Angelo Republican, and Lynn Rutland, a San Angelo Republican and Jeri Slone, a San Angelo Democrat.

· Pete Laney, a Hale Center Democrat, and Kent Sharp, a Big Spring Republican.

Incumbent Republican state Sens. Fraser and Robert Duncan of Lubbock escaped major party opposition.

State Sen. Craig Estes of Wichita Falls drew a Democratic opponent, Paul S. Gibbs of Nocona.

Senators serve four-year terms. House members are elected for two years.

In congressional races, Martin Smith, a Paint Creek rancher and businessman, is seeking the Republican nomination to face U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm, an Abilene Democrat, in the 17th Congressional District.

In the 19th district, incumbent Randy Neugebauer, a Lubbock Republican, is opposed by Wayne Raasch, a Monahans Democrat.

Congressional filings remain subject to a final court ruling on which congressional map will be used for the 2004 elections.

Candidates were instructed to file for districts under the 2001 redistricting plan crafted by a federal court.

Stenholm and Neugebauer are paired in the 19th District under the map approved by the Legislature last year.

Taylor County candidates

Republican Democrat

42nd District judge John Weeks
(Incumbent)

104th District judge Lee Hamilton (I)

350th District judge Curtis Tomme
Thomas Wheeler

County judge George Newman (I)
(two-year unexpired term)

Sheriff Jack Dieken (I) Art Casarez
Frank Solis Jr.

Commissioner Prec. 1 Jack Turner (I)
Jack Ferguson

Commissioner Prec. 3 Stan Egger (I)
Wayne Turnbow

Tax assessor-collector Lavena Cheek (I)

Constable Prec. 1 John Howard (I)

Constable, Prec. 2 Larry Gill (I)
Charlie Hatfield
Eddy Boyd Harris

Constable, Prec. 3 DeWayne Bush (I)

Constable Prec. 4 Jerry Stevens (I)

JP, Prec. 1, Place 1 Bryan Smith (I)

JP, Prec. 2 Owen O’Kelly
(two-year unexpired term) Ronny Doan
Z. Urban Bright

Party chairman Paul Washburn (I) Dave Haigler

Contact public affairs writer Jerry Daniel Reed at reedj@reporternews.com or 325-676-6769

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