2020 Tarrant County Election Overview

This blog is not to be considered legal advice or an endorsement of any candidate. It is an overview of the elected positions that will be on the ballot in Tarrant County in the upcoming election.

It is election time in America and the Law Office of T. Maxwell Smith, PLLC has decided to put together a summary of Tarrant County candidates and the offices which they are running for. This is not meant to be an endorsement of any candidate, it is just meant to be a reference of the different offices and names of the major candidates on the ballot in Tarrant County this November. Thus far it appears that many states and counties have had historic levels of early voting and it is sure to be an interesting election season.

NATIONAL ELECTIONS

President of the United States:

“The President is both the head of state and head of government of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress.” See www.whitehouse.gov

• Donald J. Trump (R)

• Joseph R. BIden (D)

• Jo Jorgensen (L)

• Howie Hakins (G)

Vice-Presidential Candidates:

“The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States is to be ready at a moment’s notice to assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his duties. This can be because of the President’s death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet judge that the President is no longer able to discharge the duties of the presidency.” Id.

• Michael R. Pence (R)

• Kamala Harris (D)

• Spike Cohen (L)

• Angela Nicole Walker (G)

UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTION

United States Senator from the State of Texas:

“The Constitution prescribes that the Senate be composed of two senators from each State (therefore, the Senate currently has 100 Members) and that a senator must be at least thirty years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and, when elected, be a resident of the State from which he or she is chosen. A senator's term of office is six years and approximately one-third of the total membership of the Senate is elected every two years.” See www.senate.gov

• John Cornyn (R)

• Mary “MJ” Hegar (D)

• Kerry McKennon (L)

• David B. Collins (G)

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS

“Also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman, each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. Among other duties, representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The number of representatives with full voting rights is 435, a number set by Public Law 62-5 on August 8, 1911, and in effect since 1913. The number of representatives per state is proportionate to population...To be elected, a representative must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least seven years and an inhabitant of the state he or she represents.” See www.house.gov

United States Representative - Texas District 6:

• Ron Wright (R)

• Stephen Daniel (D)

United States Representative - Texas District 12:

• Kay Granger (R)

• Lisa Welch (D)

United States Representative - Texas District 24:

• Beth Van Duyne (R)

• Candace Valenzuela (D)

United States Representative - Texas District 25:

• Roger Williams (R)

• Julia Oliver (D)

United States Representative - Texas District 26:

• Michael C. Burges (R)

• Carol Iannuzzi (D)

United States Representative - Texas District 33:

• Fabian Cordova Vazquez (R)

• Marc Veasey (D)

TEXAS STATEWIDE ELECTIONS

Railroad Commissioner:

“The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) is the state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining operations. The Commission exists under provisions of the Texas Constitution and exercises its statutory responsibilities under state and federal laws for regulation and enforcement of the state’s energy industries. The Commission also has regulatory and enforcement responsibilities under federal law including the Surface Coal Mining Control and Reclamation Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Pipeline Safety Acts, Resource Conservation Recovery Act, and Clean Water Act.” See www.rrc.state.tx.us

• James “Jim” Wright (R)

• Chrysta Castaneda (D)

Justice, Texas Supreme Court

“Composed of the chief justice and eight justices, the Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters in the state. The Supreme Court is in Austin, immediately northwest of the state Capitol. Supreme Court justices are elected to staggered six-year terms in statewide elections...By statute the Court has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas. Tex. Gov't Code § 81.011...The Court promulgates the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Texas Rules of Evidence and other rules and standards.” See www.txcourts.gov

Justice, Texas Supreme Court - Chief Justice:

• Nathan Hecht (R)

• Amy Clark Meachum (D)

Justice, Texas Supreme Court - Place 6

• Jane Bland (R)

• Kathy Cheng (D)

Justice, Texas Supreme Court - Place 7

• Jeff Boyd (R)

• Staci Williams (D)

Justice, Texas Supreme Court - Place 8

• Brett Busby (R)

• Gisela D. Triana (D)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

“The Court of Criminal Appeals is Texas' highest court for criminal cases. The Court consists of a Presiding Judge and eight Judges. They are elected by the voters of the entire state, and they hold their offices for terms of six years.” www.txcourts.gov

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals - Place 3

• Bert Richardson (R)

• Elizabeth Davis Frizell (D)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals - Place 4

• Kevin Patrick Yeary (R)

• TIna Clinton (D)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals - Place 9

• David Newell (R)

• Brandon Birmingham (D)

TEXAS STATE SENATE ELECTIONS

Texas State Senate

"The Texas State Senate is the upper chamber of the Texas State Legislature. Alongside the Texas House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Texas state government and works alongside the governor of Texas to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Texas State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes." See ballotpedia.org

Texas State Senate - District 12

• Jane Nelson (R)

• Shadi Zitoon (D)

Texas State Senate - District 22

• Brian Birdwell (R)

• Robert Vick (D)

TEXAS STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS

Texas House of Representatives

“The Texas House of Representatives is composed of 150 members, each elected for a two-year term. A member of the house must be a citizen of the United States, must be a qualified elector of the state, and must be at least 21 years old. He or she must have been a resident of the state for two years immediately preceding election, and for one year immediately preceding election must have been a resident of the district from which he or she was chosen.” See house.texas.gov

Texas House of Representatives - District 90

• Elva Comacho (R)

• Ramon Romero (D)

Texas House of Representatives - District 91

• Stephanie Klick (R)

• Jeromy Sims (D)

Texas House of Representatives - District 92

• Jeff Cason (R)

• Jeff Whitfield (D)

Texas House of Representatives - District 93

• Matt Krause (R)

• Lydia Bean (D)

Texas House of Representatives - District 94

• Tony Tinderholt (R)

• Alisa Simmons (D)

Texas House of Representatives - District 96

• David Cook (R)

• Joe Drago (D)

Texas House of Representatives - District 97

• Craig Goldman (R)

• Elizabeth Beck (D)

Texas House of Representatives - District 98

• Giovanni Capriglione (R)

• Debra Edmondson (D)

DISTRICT JUDICIAL ELECTIONS

The Texas Judicial System

“The judicial power of the State of Texas is derived from Article 5, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution, which provides: The judicial power of this State shall be vested in one Supreme Court, in one Court of Criminal Appeals, in Courts of Appeals, in District Courts, in County Courts, in Commissioners Courts, in Courts of Justices of the Peace, and in such other courts as may be provided by law. The Legislature may establish such other courts as it may deem necessary and prescribe the jurisdiction and organization thereof, and may conform the jurisdiction of the district and other inferior courts thereto.” See www.txcourts.gov

Texas 2nd Court of Appeals - Place 6

• Mike Wallach (R)

• Delonia A. Watson (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 48th Judicial District

• David Evans (R)

• Lawrence Meyers (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 67th Judicial District

• Don Cosby (R)

• Matthew Hegeman (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 96th Judicial District

• Pat Gallagher (R)

• Tim Brandenburg (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 153rd Judicial District

• Susan McCoy (R)

• Alisha Dardin (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 213th Judicial District

• Chris Wolfe (R)

• Lakesha Smith (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 342nd Judicial District

• Kimberly Fitzpatrick (R)

• Valerie Batson (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 348th Judicial District

• Megan Fahey (R)

• Maryellen W. Hicks (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 352nd Judicial District

• Josh Burgess (R)

• Olyn Poole (D)

Tarrant County District Judge - 360th Judicial District

• Patricia Baca Bennett (R)

• Michael Munoz (D)

Tarrant County Criminal District Judge - Number 2

• Wayne Salvant (R)

• Karen Williams (D)

TARRANT COUNTYWIDE ELECTIONS

Tarrant County Sheriff

"The sheriff acts as a conservator of the peace and the executive officer of the county and district courts, serve writs and processes of the courts, seizes property after judgment, enforce traffic laws on county roads and supervises the county jail and prisoners. In counties of fewer than 10,000 residents, he may also serve as ex officio tax assessor and collector." See www.county.org

• Bill Waybourn (R)

• Vance Keyes (D)

Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector

"The tax assessor-collector calculates property tax rates for the county, collects taxes for the county (and sometimes for additional local taxing entities) and collects various other fees for the state and county." See www.county.org

• Wendy Burgess (R)

• Olliephine Anderson (D)

TARRANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ELECTIONS

Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court

“The county commissioner is responsible for roads and bridges within their precinct and makes policy-making budget decisions. Four commissioners, elected from a quarter of the county's population, serve along with the county judge on the commissioner’s court.” See www.county.org

County Commissioner - Precinct 1

• Roy E. Lozano (R)

• Roy Brooks

County Commissioner - Precinct 3

• Gary Fickes (R)

• Kathy Braatz (D)

TARRANT COUNTY CONSTABLE ELECTIONS

Tarrant County Constable

"A constable is a licensed peace officer and performs various law enforcement functions. They also serve legal documents and perform other duties." See www.county.org

County Constable - Precinct 1

• Dale Clark (R)

• Scot Gerlikovski (D)

County Constable - Precinct 2

• David Woodruff (R)

• Robert J. McGinty (D)

County Constable - Precinct 6

• Jon Siegel (R)

• Kelicia Lyons (D)

County Constable - Precinct 7

• Clint C. Burgess (R)

• Sandra Lee (D)