Early voting is now under way

Early voting in the March 4 primary elections began on Tuesday and continues through Feb. 29.

Any person registered to vote can cast a vote in either primary at any of the early voting locations.

Elections officials encourage voters to bring their voter registration cards with them to the polls.

On Election Day voters will have to cast ballots at the voting precinct location designated by their political party.

Smith County

The two biggest local races to watch are that of Smith County Commissioner Precinct 1 and precinct 2 constable seats.

And all Bullard-area contested elections will be decided in the Republican primary.

When Commissioner JoAnn Fleming made the announcement earlier this year that she wouldn't be running for re-election, it left the field open for other candidates to step in.

And it will be a three-way race between Republicans Jeff Warr, Derrell Cooper and Mike Boyter.

Jeff Warr

Warr, a former Tyler councilman, currently serves on the board of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority. He also owns an insurance agency. He was a council member from 1994 through 1998, serving as mayor pro-tem in 1998.

Warr announced his intent publicly in September at a press conference.

"I don't have a political agenda," Warr said, "other than to bring some good, quality leadership and experience to the county."

Warr said leadership is something he learned early on - -- when he was involved with Key Club in high school. The group - a youth part of Kiwanis Club - was a pivotal part of his training, he believes.

"I was involved in their leadership training, which is excellent," Warr said. "I learned how to build a consensus, make good decisions and know that I'm not going to be right every time.

"But I also learned that you don't have to be right."

He said it's more about - at the end of the day - working well with the rest of the court to do what's best for the county.

"Though I was fortunate enough to be elected to the city council, I have always thought of myself as a public servant, not a politician," Warr said. "If I am elected to serve county residents as commissioner, I will continue to conduct myself as a public servant."

In addition to the council, Warr has served as chairman of the Mayor's Anti-Crime Task Force, on the board of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and several of its planning committees, and on the boards of Historic Tyler, the TISD Foundation, the Alzheimer's Association and Tyler Jaycees.

Warr and his wife of 24 years, Sabrina, have one son. They are members of Green Acres Baptist Church, where they teach Sunday school in the children's department.

Mike Boyter

Mike Boyter has kept his campaign low key - much like his personality.

"I'm not a politician," Boyter said. "I just look at issues, weigh them and make decisions."

And while he said he's got a lot of respect for those running against him - Jeff Warr and Derrell Cooper, he's clear on one point: "I'm the best candidate for the job."

He enumerated the reasons point by point.

"I've got the best educational background - an MBA, as good as or better record of service to the community, a history of being objective and I've had to make tough decisions and live with the consequences - good or bad," Boyter said.

But public service has always been his passion.

"It's so important and vital for a healthy community to have choices at the poll," the 45-yearold businessman said. "And I think it's great that this is a contested race."

He said government should be guided by sound business principles.

"County government should be operated as a business, and with my education and experience, I want to help do that," he said. "And I want to help foster cohesiveness with the commissioners.

"Smith County has a reputation of divisiveness, and that doesn't need to be the case. It's OK to disagree, but it can be done and should be done in a professional manner."

Boyter earned his MBA from The University of Texas at Tyler. He served in the U.S. Army from 1983-85 and began working in the financial services industry in 1987. He opened Boyter Financial Planning in Tyler in 1995.

Boyter has served as a board member for Meals on Wheels, Tyler Community Concerts, Leadership Tyler and Camp Fire Boys and Girls.

He is a past president of Smith County Young Republicans and a precinct chairman for the Smith County Republican Party. He's also been a delegate to the state Republican convention.

But whatever the outcome of the race, Boyter is just happy to be in the race.

"I think I've already won just being on the ballot," he said.

Boyter is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church, and serves as a Sunday morning Bible study teacher. He's also president of the Hogg Middle School PTA.

His wife is a third-grade teacher.

Derrell Cooper

Cooper, who was born in Teaselville and now lives in Flint, said his roots in the Bullard area are strong. He first announced his intent for the seat in June - before Fleming had decided not to re-run.

"I was born there - one of 7 children," he said. "And I still have family in Bullard."

Cooper is also no stranger to county government, having served as Smith County Commissioner for Precinct 3 from 1992 to 2000.

He moved to Flint, in Precinct 1, over the summer leasing property from a Bullardarea resident.

"With such close connections to the area, I feel like I'coming home," Cooper said.

"I work well with people," Cooper said. "I'm a people person.

"My role is to serve the constituents and take care of county business. You don't always get your way and you don't always get things right, but you learn and grow.

Cooper said that would parlay into a benefit for Smith County residents.

"If you call me with a problem, you'll either get it solved or get an answer," he said. "One of my areas of expertise was intervening on behalf of my constituents. If someone had a problem, I could step in and help get something done."

Cooper served on the East Texas Council of Governments; helped to get animal control established in Smith County; helped in getting the new facility for the Juvenile Detention Center in Smith County and was instrumental in getting Bob Craig appointed to Veteran's Service Office who helped make it what it is today, he said.

Cooper was elected to Lindale School Board and to the Smith County Water District Board of Directors.

He spent 40 years in the rose growing industry in Smith County; was on the Board of Directors for Consolidated Rose Nursery and his granddaughter was the Rose Grower's Duchess for the 2001 Texas Rose Festival.

Cooper is a member of the Lindale Masonic Lodge No. 848 and of Sharon Shrine Temple.

Cooper and his wife are members of Green Acres Baptist Church.

Precinct 2 constable

Current Smith County Constable Frank Creath faces opposition in the Republican primary by former Bullard councilman Todd Thoene.

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.

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 and Republican State Rep. Leo Berman.

In Smith County, early voting is under way at:

! the Smith County Annex, 200 E. Ferguson St., Suite 500;

! Noonday Community Center, 1662 County Road 196, Noonday;

! Lindale Masonic Lodge, 200 Margaret St., Lindale;

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

! Heritage Building, 1900 W. Bellwood Road, Tyler.

The hours of early voting are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, Feb. 19 to 22; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23; 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday, Feb. 25-29.

Cherokee County

Bullard-area voters who live in Cherokee County are faced with a decision as to who will represent them in the Precinct 3 commissioner's seat.

On the Democratic ticket is incumbent Moody Glass - who faces two opponents in the primary.

Randy Bonner and former commissioner F.E. Hassell are challenging Glass' seat.

The winner will face Republican candidate Katherine Pinotti in the November general election.

Republican Linda Little and Democrat Debbie Shreve are vying to replace outgoing Cherokee County Tax Assessor Collector Linda Beard, who declined to run for re-election.

Shreve and Little both work in the county's tax assessor 's office - Shreve out of the office's Jacksonville branch and Little as assistant auditor.

Current District Judge Dwight Phifer is seeking another term, facing Republican Dan Childs - who served one term as Cherokee County Court-At- Law Judge before being ousted in the last primary by fellow Republican Craig Fletcher.

Republican Sheriff James Campbell and Democratic District Beckworth have no opponents.

Democratic County Attorney Craig Caldwell also faces no opposition this year.

Newly appointed Republican Chair Josie Schoolcraft and Democratic chair Caesar Roy filed for chairs of their respective parties garnering no opposition.

Early voting locations are:

! Cherokee County Courthouse Basement Break Room-135 S. Main, Rusk;

! Jacksonville Senior Citizen Building, 302 S. Bolton, Jacksonville;

! A. Frank Smith United Methodist Church-103 Cooper St., Alto.

Early voting times at all locations begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 and end at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29.

There will also be early voting on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 24 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.