Biggest filing surprises came with who won’t be on the ballots next year

With the first weekend of the filing period now but a memory for those planning to seek public office in the 2024 election cycle, 15 candidates have stepped forward to throw their hats in the ring and see what happens at the polls next year.

They include one Republican Party County Chair candidate, seven precinct chairs, two for county sheriff, a county attorney candidate, a candidate each for the two precinct commissioner slots that will be up for election next year and two of the four constable positions that are open.

But perhaps even more interesting than who is running is who won’t be in the year ahead. Two longtime held positions that will soon be up for the taking include the District 30 Texas State Representative Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, announced Saturday, Nov. 11, that she will not seek another term of office in a position she’s now held for 24 years (since January 1999).

“With a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not be seeking reelection to the Texas House of Representatives,” she said in a release. “Serving the people of House District 30 has been the highest professional privilege of my life. I look forward to completing my current term on behalf of the wonderful community that I am blessed to call home.”

She was the longest serving Republican woman in the Texas House and served in more than a dozen top legislative committee positions during her tenure.

Just hours after she made her Veterans Day announcement, a candidate already stepped forward to fill her seat in Austin. Andy Louderback, executive director of the Texas Sheriff’s Alliance and former Jackson County sheriff, announced that he would be interested in stepping up as the next District 30 state representative.

Another unexpected candidate step down came by way Cheryl Thompson-Draper, who after three term as the county’s Republican Party chair announced that she, too, will not seek a fourth term of office.

Serving for three terms as chairman has filled me with joy and afforded me the introduction to many wonderful people I may never have met any other way,” she said. “My political appointments and elections in Houstin Austin and here in Lavaca County are special gifts in my life. Asd oner who believes in Texas laws, the Republican Party is fair-minded and has a belief in the goodness of my constituents. I will always be humbled and honored two have been chosen by Lavaca County citizens three times as your Republican leader.”

Cheryl says she intends to continue to serve the party as Senate District 18 committeewoman and as an executive board member of the GOP County Chairmen Association.

Both ladies indicated that they will finish out their current terms of office.

And much like Morrison’s post found a ready taker in a matter of hours, Thompson-Draper’s also found a someone wanting to fill her shoes as well in Lorena Kanak.

Other party position filers were: Precinct chairs Carol Rother, 101; Ann miller, 1023; Jerry tanner, 119; Donna Perez, 223; Christine Siegel, 3409; Anthony Harper, 311;and Robert Pustka, 329.

Public race filers were:

• Sheriff: Incumbent Mich Harmon and challenger Anthony Vacarro.

• County Attorney James Reeves, challenger.

• Precinct 1 Commissioner Ed Pustka, incumbent.

• Precinct 3 Commissioner Kenny Siegel, incumbent.

• Constables: Precinct 1 Mike Buchanek and Precinct 3 Larry Hlavac, both incumbents.

As Thompson- Draper pointed out, this was but the first weekend of filing for most of the countywide races. “There will be more to come, I’m sure,” she said.

Filing will continue until 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, at the Lavaca Couty GOP headquarters located on the east side of the courthouse square. She suggested not waiting until the last moment to file, but rather text her to make an appointment today at (713) 516-8880.