Filing period ends for county races
BY LORI MELLINGER Bullard Banner News Special to the Tri County Leader

It appears that many Smith County offices up for re-election will be decided this year in the Republican primary.

Filing officially ended Jan. 2, but most candidates had already filed as of late last week.

Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith will face an opponent from his own party and it's one he's faced in the past.

Business owner and former DPS officer Andy Dunklin is running against Smith.

Smith has served as sheriff since 1976 and has been reelected eight times - once in the 2004 race against 49-yearold Dunklin

Dunklin is the owner of an outdoor cleaning company. He and his wife have three children.

With Judge Cynthia Kent not running this year, two Republicans have stepped into the race for the 114th District Court seat.

Christi Kennedy and Alan Brown, both Tyler civil attorneys, are seeking the spot in the Republican primary.

Kennedy has practiced at the Flowers Davis Law Firm in Tyler for the past eight years and primarily defends law enforce- ment, public officials and school teachers in civil lawsuits.

Brown clerked for U.S. District Judge William Steger at the beginning of his career.

After a three-year stint with Steger, he joined the law firm of Ramey & Flock in Tyler, where he stayed until 1992. He then practiced with Colley & Ewert law firm for four years and Potter Minton law firm for five years. In 2001, Brown and Paul Boyd began the law firm of Boyd & Brown.

In the seventh district judge seat, incumbent and Republican Judge Kerry Russell was the only one to file as of press time. The same is the case with Smith County Tax Assessor/Collector Gary Barber.

State Rep. Leo Berman (R), Tyler, has also filed, but sources said he could be facing a Democratic opponent. As of press time, no one has filed.

In the Precinct 3 constable's race, incumbent Danny Smith (R) is not seeking re-election. Four Republican candidates are vying for that spot: Terry Brunk, Gar y Guthrie, Rod Langlinais and Dustin Rust.

The primary is set for March 4. Early voting gets under way Feb. 19.

Early voting locations have yet to be determined.