Early voting kicks off Tuesday for primary

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

Starting Tuesday, voters will have the chance to  head to the polls in advance of the March 6 primary election, with early voting starting Tuesday. 
Voting hours will be as follows:
Tuesday, February 20; 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday, February 21-23; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, February 26; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
Tuesday, February 27; 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. 
Wednesday-Friday, February 28-March 2; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
Early voting polling locations include the Coryell County Justice Center. 210 S. 1st St., Copperas Cove; and the Gatesville Main Street Annex, 801 E. Leon St. 
A lineup of county, state, and national candidates are all vying for spots for their respective parties’ tickets, with the March 6 primary being the decisive votes for unopposed candidates. 
Locally, a number of races have multiple candidates for positions, and if one candidate doesn’t win the 50-percent-plus-one majority, the top two candidates will be headed for a May 22 runoff election. 
For the office of Coryell County judge, six candidates are vying for the position currently held by John Firth, include Alan Mathis, Janice Gray, Allen Wayne Avery, Roger Miller, Bob Harrell, and John Derrick.
Daren Moore, three-term county commissioner for precinct 2, is being challenged by Scott Weddle.
County commissioner for precinct 4 incumbent, Ray Ashby, is being challenged by Keith Taylor of Jonesboro.
With current District Clerk Janice Gray running for county judge, that leaves her position up for grabs in a four-way race between Becky Moore, Jeremy Pruitt, Joey Acfalle, and Kelly Caldwell Bragewitz. 
The three candidates for County treasurer include Cindy Hitt, Misti Maxwell Morra, and Randi McFarlin.
Justice of the Peace precinct 3 candidates include Doran Belknap Jr., Gary Stiles, and Jim Caldwell.
County unopposed candidates are a lineup of incumbents to include County court-at-law judge John Lee; Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, John B. Guinn; Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, F.W. (Bill) Price;  Justice of the Peace precinct 4, Coy Latham; and County Clerk, Barbara Simpson.