The listing of those who filed by Monday’s deadline to seek office was released today to a local website.
The list, released to the site by current Ector County Republican Party Chair Tisha Crow was not given to the Odessa American despite repeated requests for it.
The Democratic Party Chair, Jo Anna Keese, said no one filed for offices on her side other than some for-party precinct chairs.
Crow will face a challenge from longtime Odessan Donna Kelm in the March primary. Kelm has said she wants to bring civility back to the local party and that she will make sure Odessans are informed on matters like who are the precinct chairs in Ector County and said she would keep the party’s official website updated so Odessans don’t have to search for information that is public.
Running unopposed:
- District Judge Justin Low of the 161st.
- District Judge Sara Kate Billingsley of the 446th.
- Sheriff Mike Griffis.
- District Attorney Dusty Gallivan.
- County Attorney candidate Julie Prentice.
- County Tax assessor-collector Lindy Wright.
- County Constable Precinct 2 Mike Patton.
- County Constable Precinct 3 Carl Rodgers.
- County Constable Precinct 4 Jonathan Campbell.
Opposed offices in the GOP primary:
- County Commissioner Precinct 1: Incumbent Mike Gardner and challengers Larry Glenn Robinson, David Shaw and Linda Young Anglley.
- County Commissioner Precinct 3: Incumbent Don Stringer and challenger Samantha Russell.
- Justice of the Peace Precinct 1: Incumbent Carlos Chavez and challengers Steven Brennan and Jennifer Mahan-Woodall.
Precinct chairs (with a majority of the incumbents never facing an opponent and often appointed) will face some challengers this year.
Odessan Ronnie Lewis, a longtime Odessa businessman and founder of Dos Amigos, said a number of new faces are tired of the meaness and the power grab that has happened since 2020.
“I was out talking to voters and they were unhappy and there is a tsunami coming in March,” Lewis said Wednesday morning.
Lewis has filed to run for precinct chair in 203. He said even releasing the list of who has filed has traditionally happened quickly and always on the same day after the close of the filing deadline.”
Lewis said Kris Crow, husband of current party chair Tisha Crow, texted him Tuesday evening that the list would be released to the “Republican” newspaper, apparently referring to Odessa Headlines, which is run by Jeff Russell. Russell is an appointed precinct chair and treasurer.
Russell is running against Billy Buckshot Dubose. Russell has sought office several times including the County Commissioner seat held by Don Stringer. Russell’s daughter-in-law is challenging Stringer for the seat.
Lewis said he felt shenanigans were going on after the filing deadline and even offered a $25,000 reward for anyone who would come forward who had been recruited to file after the deadline by the ECRP executive board.
He said he wants to grow the party.
Ector County Republican Party Chairman
- Tisha Diana Crow
- Donna Kelm
Republican Precinct Chairs
Precinct 101
- Sylvia Rodriguez-Sanchez
- Linda Hall
Precinct 102
- William Kappauf
Precinct 103
- Jesse Christesson
Precinct 104
- Wina Garrett
Precinct 108
- Kendra Skalenda
- Gary Don McCain
Precinct 109
- Jessica Fulton
Precinct 110
- Timothy Harry
- Dallas Kennedy
Precinct 111
- Freda Daniels
- Jason Pond
Precinct 201
- Kellie Ard
- Jill Miller
Precinct 202
- Brandon K Pugh
- Traci Gregston
Precinct 203
- Carmen Wilhite
- Ronnie Lewis
Precinct 204
- Richard Pierce
- Javier Joven
Precinct 205
- Dale Barnes
- Charles Pierce
Precinct 206
- Denise Swanner
- Brenda Worthen
Precinct 207
- Ned Luscombe
- Jet Brown
Precinct 208
- Tiffany Meade
- Christina (Chris) Bryson
Precinct 209
- Claudette D Webb
- Gary S Johnson
Precinct 302
- Judy Williams
Precinct 303
- Nate Navarrete
Precinct 304
- Gracela Ponce
Precinct 305
- Gabriela Aranda
Precinct 308
- Nicholas Ybarra
Precinct 309
- Mark Matta
Precinct 310
- Jaime Mendoza
- Randy Elam
Precinct 311
- Luis Burrola Jr
Precinct 312
- Jeff Russell
- Billy Dubose, Jr.
Precinct 314
- Jimmy Lee
Precinct 402
- Arlo Chavira
Precinct 403
- Noeme A Villalobos
Precinct 407
- Katherine Pena
Precinct 409
- Henry E Pettigrew
- Luis Galvan
Precinct 412
- Judy Barker
