As the filing deadline closed for the March 4, 2014, Primary Election, many of the races began to take shape – several races will see three, four, and even five candidates.
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One of the most talked about races in Kaufman County is the rematch for District 4 State Representative between incumbent Lance Gooden and 2012 contender Dr. Stuart Spitzer. Gooden will be seeking this third consecutive term as state rep. In 2012, Gooden won Kaufman County by 51% and the portion of Henderson County in District 4 by 58%.
One of the most contested races includes Precinct 4 Kaufman County Commissioner with five candidates which is currently held by Commissioner Tom Manning who will be seeking re-election. Another race with five candidates is for Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace which is also being sought after by the incumbent, Mary Bardin.
Another talked about race in Kaufman County is for 86th District Court District Judge which is currently held by Judge Howard Tygrett. Tygrett filed early to seek re-election but has since withdrawn. The seat is now sought after by early-filer Rebecca Calabria (R - Kaufman, TX), Casey Blair (R - Forney, TX), Raymond Shackelford (R - Kemp, TX), and Wade Gent (R - Forney, TX).
Candidates running unopposed are Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood, Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley – who was appointed by Gov. Perry after the murder of D.A. Mike McLelland, Kaufman County District Clerk Rhonda Hughey (R - Kaufman, TX), County Surveyor Greg Sjerven (R - Kaufman, TX), Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Patricia Ashcroft (R - Forney, TX), and Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Mike Smith (R - Terrell, TX).
County Court at Law Judge #1 Dennis Jones is also running unopposed. Jones was appointed as the County Court at Law Judge #1 after then-judge Erleigh Wiley was appointed as the Kaufman County District Attorney.
Kaufman County Republican Party Chairman Bill Baker announced four candidate forums will be held in each commissioner precinct of Kaufman County before the early voting begins on February 18, 2014. According to Baker, each candidate will be given 3 minutes for an introduction and questions will come from the audience.
The first forum will be held in precinct 3 at Herman Furlough Middle School at 1351 Colquitt Drive, Terrell, Texas 75160, on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The second forum will be held in precinct 2 at First Baptist Church at 1003 College Avenue/ Farm-to-Market 741, Forney, Texas 75126, on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The third forum will be held in precinct 4 at Scurry High School at 8321 South State Highway 34, Scurry, Texas 75158, on Thursday, February 13, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The fourth forum will be held in precinct 1 which is tentatively scheduled to be held at Kaufman High School on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Candidates are listed in order as they appear on the Texas Secretary of State's website.
One of the most contested races includes Precinct 4 Kaufman County Commissioner with five candidates which is currently held by Commissioner Tom Manning who will be seeking re-election. Another race with five candidates is for Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace which is also being sought after by the incumbent, Mary Bardin.
Another talked about race in Kaufman County is for 86th District Court District Judge which is currently held by Judge Howard Tygrett. Tygrett filed early to seek re-election but has since withdrawn. The seat is now sought after by early-filer Rebecca Calabria (R - Kaufman, TX), Casey Blair (R - Forney, TX), Raymond Shackelford (R - Kemp, TX), and Wade Gent (R - Forney, TX).
Candidates running unopposed are Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood, Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley – who was appointed by Gov. Perry after the murder of D.A. Mike McLelland, Kaufman County District Clerk Rhonda Hughey (R - Kaufman, TX), County Surveyor Greg Sjerven (R - Kaufman, TX), Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Patricia Ashcroft (R - Forney, TX), and Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Mike Smith (R - Terrell, TX).
County Court at Law Judge #1 Dennis Jones is also running unopposed. Jones was appointed as the County Court at Law Judge #1 after then-judge Erleigh Wiley was appointed as the Kaufman County District Attorney.
Kaufman County Republican Party Chairman Bill Baker announced four candidate forums will be held in each commissioner precinct of Kaufman County before the early voting begins on February 18, 2014. According to Baker, each candidate will be given 3 minutes for an introduction and questions will come from the audience.
The first forum will be held in precinct 3 at Herman Furlough Middle School at 1351 Colquitt Drive, Terrell, Texas 75160, on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The second forum will be held in precinct 2 at First Baptist Church at 1003 College Avenue/ Farm-to-Market 741, Forney, Texas 75126, on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The third forum will be held in precinct 4 at Scurry High School at 8321 South State Highway 34, Scurry, Texas 75158, on Thursday, February 13, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The fourth forum will be held in precinct 1 which is tentatively scheduled to be held at Kaufman High School on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Candidates are listed in order as they appear on the Texas Secretary of State's website.
| Position | Candidate | Party |
| District 2 State Senator | Mark Thompson | REP |
| District 2 State Senator | Bob Deuell | REP |
| District 2 State Senator | Bob Hall | REP |
| District 4 State Representative | Lance Gooden | REP |
| District 4 State Representative | Stuart Spitzer | REP |
| Criminal District Attorney | Erleigh Norville Wiley | REP |
| District Judge 86th District Court | Casey Blair | REP |
| District Judge 86th District Court | Raymond "Rayme" Shackelford | REP |
| District Judge 86th District Court | Rebecca Calabria | REP |
| District Judge 86th District Court | Wade Gent | REP |
| County Judge | Bruce Wood | REP |
| County Court At Law Judge #1 | Dennis Patman Jones | REP |
| County Court At Law Judge #2 | Bobby Rich | REP |
| County Court At Law Judge #2 | David Lewis | REP |
| District Clerk | Rhonda G. Hughey | REP |
| County Clerk | Angie Tijerina | REP |
| County Clerk | Laura Hughes | REP |
| County Treasurer | Johnny D. Countryman | REP |
| County Treasurer | Ronnie Oldfield | REP |
| County Surveyor | Greg Sjerven | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 2 | Skeet Phillips | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 2 | Ray Clark | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 2 | Jon Foster | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 4 | Danny Newton | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 4 | Jakie Allen | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 4 | Thomas Kintz | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 4 | Tim Ratcliff | REP |
| County Commissioner Precinct 4 | Tom S. Manning | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 | Tony Torres | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 | Michelle Cheney | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 | Mary A. Bardin | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 | Lisa Gent Harrison | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 | Johnny Perry | DEM |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 | Patricia B Ashcroft | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 | Mike Smith | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 | Grover Sanders | REP |
| Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 | Johnny M. Adams | REP |