Local candidates file for March election

Filing for seats open in the March primary election ended Monday in Young County. Young County Sheriff and Young County Precinct 3 Commissioner had more than one candidate file for the positions.

National, state and local seats are up for election during the primaries. The first day to file for an office up for election was Saturday, Nov. 11. The deadline to file for primary candidates was 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11.

Local offices up for election during the primaries are 90th Judicial District Judge, 90th Judicial District Attorney, Young County Sheriff, Young County Attorney, Young County Clerk, Young County Treasurer, Young County Tax Assessor-Collector, Young County Commissioner Precinct 1 and 3 and Young County Constable Precinct 1 and 3.

Incumbent Travis Babcock and new candidate Dan Birbeck, who currently serves as the Olney Police Department Chief, filed for the position of Young County Sheriff.

In September, Young County Precinct 3 Commissioner Stacey Rogers announced he would not be running for a fifth term in 2024. The three new candidates who filed for the position are Alan Craig, Scott (Scooter) Philipp and Dickie “Coach” Scott.

Tommy Martin, Young County Constable Precinct 1, did not file for reelection. Bryan Little was the sole candidate who filed for the constable position.

Ann Ford, who was sworn into the office of Young County Clerk in January to fill the unexpired term of Kay Hardin who retired, did not file for reelection. Tina Gilliam was the sole candidate to file for the county clerk position.

Incumbents who were the sole filing for their seats were Dee Peavy (90th Judicial District Attorney), Phillip Gregory (90th Judicial District Judge), Christopher Baran (Young County Attorney), Christy Centers (Young County Tax Assessor-Collector), Kyle Milam (Young County Treasurer), Stacy Creswell (Young County Commissioner Precinct 1) and Cliff Blackstock (Young County Constable Precinct 3).

Other party candidates on the ballot will be for President of the United States, United States Senator, U.S. Representatives, Railroad Commissioner, Supreme Court members, Court of Criminal Appeals members, State Board of Education members, State Senators, State Representatives, Chief Justices of the Courts of Appeals and Court of Appeals Justices.

The primary election will be March 5, 2024, with early voting Feb. 20, 2024 through March 1, 2024. The last day to register to vote will be Feb. 5, 2024 and the last day to apply for a ballot by mail will be Feb. 23, 2024.

If a runoff election is required for any candidates, the date for that election will be May 28, 2024. Early voting in the runoff will be held May 20-24.

Per state law, those who vote with one political party in the primary election must vote in the same political party for the runoff election.

Following the runoff election, the winners in each party’s primary elections will be that party’s nominee in the upcoming general election Nov. 5, 2024. Early voting in the November election will be from Oct. 21, 2024 through Nov. 1, 2024. The last day to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 7, 2024.