Filing comes to end
Most seats will be decided in the primaries

It appears, as of late last week, that many Smith County offices up for re-election will be decided this year in the Republican primary.

Filing officially ends today, 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-year-old 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 a 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 enforcement, 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.

Locally, former Bullard Councilman and current DA investigator Todd Thoene will face incumbent Frank Creath for the District 2 constable seat in the Republican primary.

Thoene has been involved in law enforcement for 16 years and holds an advanced peace officer certification. He received his training from the East Texas Police Academy.

He's also a licensed Baptist minister. He and wife, Sabrina have two children, Adam and Stormie.

Creath has served as constable for the past 11 years. Prior to serving as constable, he worked as a reserve officer from 1971-94 for the Tyler Police Department.

He also served as deputy constable for two years.

He's been married to his wife for 45 years.

The couple has one daughter, a son and five grandchildren.

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

Early voting locations are:

! Smith County Courthouse Annex, 200 East Ferguson, Suite 500,Tyler.

! United Methodist Church, 405 W. Main Street, Whitehouse

! Heritage Building, 1900 W. Bellwood, Tyler

! Lindale Masonic Lodge, 200 Margaret, Lindale
Dates, Voting
The primary is set for March 4. Early voting gets
under way Feb. 19.
Early voting locations are:
Smith County Courthouse Annex, 200 E.
Ferguson, Suite 500, Tyler
United Methodist Church, 405 W. Main St.,
Whitehouse
Heritage Building, 1900 W. Bellwood, Tyler
Lindale Masonic Lodge, 200 Margaret, Lindale