Luce set to take on Crump in Pct. 4

For The Record

Saying “it’s time for a change,” Vidor resident Kenneth Luce has signaled his intent to oppose incumbent Jody Crump for Orange County Commissioner in next March’s Republican primary.

Luce, 54, is a former Orange County jailer and former Orange County deputy emergency management director.

Crump has filed for re-election to a third four-year term as Commissioner of Precinct 4, which encompasses most of Vidor and the northwestern end of Orange County.

While the first step for candidates for county office is considering filling out paperwork to designate a campaign treasurer, which Luce has, candidates don’t get a place on the ballot until they “file” for office with their political party during a one-month period running from Nov. 11 to Dec. 11, 2017.

The primary election will be held March 6, 2018. The general election for federal, state and county officials isn’t until Nov. 6, 2018.

Luce is the third candidate to indicate he will run against and incumbent in next year’s election.

Pinehurst Mayor Pete Runnels, a former two-term county judge, is seeking to unseat County Judge Stephen Brint Carlton. Retired school administrator Teresa Beauchamp, a former Orange city council member, seeks the Precinct 2 commissioner position held by Barry Burton.

Chad Jenkins, agriculture teacher at Orangefield High School, has named a campaign treasurer for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 election. Incumbent Derry Dunn has announced his intent to retire at the conclusion of this term.

Other elected county officials who have indicated their intent to run for re-election by filing papers to name campaign treasurers are Justices of the Peace Hershel Stagner (Pct. 1) and Joy Dubose-Simonton (Pct. 3).

Also, County Clerk Brandy Robertson has a campaign treasure on file.