Cove man in running for district court clerk

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

A Copperas Cove man is among four candidates running for the office of Coryell County District Court Clerk in the March 6 primary.

Joey Acfalle and his wife have made their home in Copperas Cove since 2010. A 21-year veteran of the United States Armed Forces, Acfalle served in both the Marines and in the Army, along with a brief stint in the Army National Guard, then was medically retired at the rank of Staff Sergeant in 2014.

During his military career and beyond, Acfalle has worked as a paralegal, for cases large and small, and earned his paralegal certification from Loyola Marymount University in 1999 and studied business through the University of Phoenix. Prior to his retirement he also worked as a Fires Element NCO in field artillery. He is a 1987 graduate of Guam Community College with an emphasis in Electronics. He is also a registered notary public and has served as a volunteer advocate for veterans, particularly since his retirement. He presently also serves as a board member of the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation, along with belonging to the Exchange Club of Copperas Cove as well as the Gatesville Exchange Club.

Acfalle said he understands the flow of a court system from his prior paralegal work, and in the past has worked as a paralegal on cases in the civilian world such as the estate case of Larry Hillblom, one of the founders of DHL Worldwide Express.

“I was hired by the law firm that co-represented his estate, to where it’s nitty-gritty small work, ‘Hey, my son passed away and he has kids,’ to a case as large as that one.”

Acfalle points to his past experience in legal offices, that while in the military and stationed at El Toro in the early 1990s, he helped facilitate the merging of two military legal offices, when both El Toro and another office were closed and merged to the base at Miramar.

At the administrator of that office, he was in charge of the law library, and managed the status of court reporters and legal assistants.

“I want to help Coryell County by using the skills, knowledge and abilities I have, and what I have been taught throughout my life, besides the passion I have for legal work,” said Acfalle of his reasons for running run for office.

In addition to his paralegal, Acfalle stays closely connected with fellow Guamanian ex-patriots who live in the greater Fort Hood area. He has belonged to the National Organization of Chamorro Veterans of America Texas Chapter since 2012, having also served as the group’s chairman for the association and by-laws, along with parliamentarian and web administrator. He also belongs to the American Legion and Pan-American in Central Texas.

His fellow candidates include Becky Moore, Jeremy Pruitt, and Kelly Caldwell Bragewitz. Early voting for the primary election starts February 20.