On the Republican ticket, the Precinct 2 seat on the county commissioners court will feature a trio of political hopefuls, including incumbent candidate Jerry Kilgore, who has held the seat for more than a decade now. In the Republican primary, Kilgore will face challengers Donnie Baker and Melanie Gambrell.

The race for the Precinct 2 seat on the Commissioners Court has also drawn a contest on the Democratic ticket, as Alon USA employee Richard Belew takes on business owner Jim Sinclair.

The Precinct 4 seat on the commissioners court drew fewer competitors this year, as Democratic incumbent Gary Simer will go unopposed in the party primaries in March. On the Republican ticket, however, business owners John Cline and Roy Beauchamp will battle it out to see who will challenger Simer in the November contest.

The seat of Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 2 will also be up for grabs in March, as incumbent Kathryn Wiseman will take on challenger David Baird in the Republican primary. On the Democratic ticket, business owner Ricky Hughes will go unopposed in March, and will face the winner of the Republican race in November.

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Quail Dobbs will be running unopposed on the Republican ticket, as will District Clerk Colleen Barton and County Treasurer Teresa Thomas. The trio failed to draw opponents from the Dem side of the fence.

Incumbent County Surveyor Michael McDrayer, who is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket, is also running unopposed, along with County Judge Mark Barr and County Clerk Donna Wright.

Also facing off in the Republican primary will be local attorneys Mike Thomas and Tim Yeats, who are running for the seat of 118th District Court Judge. Robert H. Moore III announced in November he would not seek re-election after serving more than 20 years as district judge.

Also up for election in local races will be the U.S. Representative 19th District seat, currently held by Randy Neugebauer (R-Lubbock), and the District 85 Texas Representative seat held by Joe Heflin (D-Crosbyton).

Both Neugebauer and Heflin announced in December they are running for re-election. Heflin, who is unopposed on the Democratic ticket, will have to face either Jim Landtroop or David Andrew — both of whom are running on the Republican ticket — in the November election. Heflin has also drawn a Libertarian challenger, as Robyn L. Burwell of Abilene has filed his candidacy, as well.

Neugebauer drew only a single challenger. Lubbock's Andy Wilson will run unopposed on the Democratic ticket, as will Lubbock's Richard "Chip" Peterson on the Libertarian ticket, sending the contest to the November election.

According to Howard County Elections Administrator Saundra Bloom, the deadline for area residents to register to vote is Feb. 1, with early voting set to begin Feb. 16.

“It sounds like we have plenty of time between the end of filing and the election, but it comes a lot sooner than you realize,” said Bloom. “We have to get the ballots ready and proofed, then programmed into the voting booths, and all of that has to be done before the beginning of early voting in the middle of February. Needless to say, January will be pretty busy for us.”

Early voting will run from Feb. 16 until Feb. 26 at the elections office, located on the third floor of the Howard County Courthouse.

For more information on the election or voter registration, contact the Howard County Elections Office at 264-2273.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it