Collin County Posts on the 2012 Ballot - Updated November 8, 2011

LOOK FOR A NEW UPDATE SOON. The initial filing period ends December 19. Filing will reopen in January and continue through February 1. The two indicted elected officials were convicted. A lot of open seats and races are shaping up.

A complete list of posts and likely candidates (as of early November) follows.

The Collin County Judge position and many others are not up for election until 2014. But, a number of other county posts are up in 2012. Candidates are currently filing for the April 3, 2012 Democratic or Republican Primary.

Positions currently with more potential for electoral races include words in ALL CAPS.

County Commission, Precinct 1
Incumbent Matt Shaheen is running for reelection.
Former Plano City Council Member (and former Republican County Chair) Rick Neudorff reports interest within the party for a Neudorff candidacy. However, Neudorff has recently moved to Princeton (in Precinct 3, see below).

County Commission, Precinct 3
OPEN SEAT
Incumbent Joe Jaynes has announced he will not seek reelection.
Jaynes may seek election to the state legislature, replacing Ken Paxton. (More below.)
Candidates seeking the Republican nomination include former Melissa Mayor David Dorman, McKinney civic leaders Ray Eckenrode and Chris Hill and, reportedly, two others from McKinney.
Victor Manuel, who sought the post as a Democrat in 2008, has moved out of the precinct, to Plano.

Sheriff
POSSIBLE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CONTEST?
Incumbent Terry Box will run for reelection.
He may face a challenge from recently-resigned Assistant District Attorney Jim Skinner (per a commenter in the Collin County Observer.)

All Constables
CHANGES IF DUTIES ARE CHANGED? Or if a course is set towards abolishing the offices?
One proposal would transfer all constable office duties other than JP court bailiff to the sheriff’s office. If the duties are diminished to any degree, would the commissioners court reduce constable salaries? With prospects of fewer duties, less salary or a complete abolition of the office (currently under discussion for neighboring Dallas County), will the incumbents seek reelection? At this instant, one incumbent, Chuck Presley, has announced he will seek reelection; and one, Paul Elkins, has announced he is retiring. Deputy Constable Shane Williams has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for Elkin's post.

Tax Assessor and Collector
Incumbent: Kenneth Maun

Judge, 199th District Court
OPEN SEAT. Incumbent Robert Dry has announced he will not seek reelection.
Robert Dry III (son of the incumbent) and Angela Tucker are reportedly seeking the post. Tucker was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2010 Republican Primary.

Judge, 380th District Court
INCUMBENT ON TRIAL
Since an October 2010 indictment, Judge Suzanne Wooten has been on administrative leave. She is currently in a trial forecast to conclude on November 18, days before the start of the filing period. The trial outcome could result in an open seat, a weakened incumbent or a strong incumbent.

Judge, 401st District Court
Incumbent: Mark Rusch
A commenter in the Collin County Observer reports that Judge Rusch will draw an opponent.

Judge, 416th District Court
Incumbent: Chris Oldner

County Court at Law no. 2
OPEN SEAT
Incumbent Jerry Lewis is retiring at the end of this month, triggering a special election (for a position that would not otberwise be up for election until 2014.) This special election will be concurrent with the one for the posts normally up in 2012.
Candidates include Sharon Ramage and Barnett Walker. Both were unsuccessful candidates in the 2010 Republican Primary.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 1
Incumbent: John Lewis

District Clerk
INCUMBENT UNDER INDICTMENT
This is a position not up until 2014. However, a conviction could result in a vacancy to be filled before then. Complication: The trial starts on November 28 of this year, which coincidentally is the first day of the filing period.

State Senator, District 8
OPEN SEAT. Incumbent Florence Shapiro has announced her retirement.
Democrat Jack Ternan, Republican Scott O'Grady and Republican State Rep. Ken Paxton have already announced their candidacies. Democrat Steve Bolden has announced an exploratory committee. Others recently interested in the seat include former Collin County Judge Ron Harris, who formed an exploratory committee when Sen. Shapiro expressed an interest in the US Senate about 2 years ago; David Hall, who filed in the 2010 Republican Primary; and Ed Kless, who was the Libertarian candidate in 2010.

This is not a county office, but it is mentioned here because of likely domino effects reaching down to county offices. One likely sequence includes (1) Paxton running for the state senate, (2) County Commissioner Joe Jaynes running to replace Paxton in the state house and (3) a multitude running to replace Jaynes on the county commissioners court.