County Judge Candidates Try to Stand Out in Pachyderm Forum

SAN ANGELO – Republican candidates for Tom Green County Judge worked hard Wednesday to define the role of County Judge and wrestle voters away from each other at the San Angelo Pachyderm  Club luncheon.  

The monthly luncheon is held at Miss Hattie's restaurant downtown for Republican activists and party loyalists and normally features one speaker and a program for club and party business. 

The packed room Wednesday heard from the four GOP candidates for Tom Green County Judge: former San Angelo city councilman and business owner Lane Carter, San Angelo LIVE! founder and combat veteran Air Force pilot Joe Hyde, attorney Tommy Usery and business owner Todd Kolls.  

The Wednesday forum was the first for Kolls who missed the first forum Jan. 13 because of Covid. 

Tom Green County Republican Party chairman Bruce Burkett asked each of the four candidates the same series of questions ranging from economic development to judicial experience to emergency management.  

There were no real stand out moments for any of the candidates. 

Kolls focused on his experience in economic development.  He served on the City of San Angelo Economic Development Corporation board serving both as Vice President and President.  Kolls told the crowd, "Economic Development is my thing, OK."     

Usery touted his degree in law and his decades of practicing law.  He said the County Judge spends 40 percent of his time on judicial tasks without providing any evidence to support that claim.  

In 2015, only 40 of the 254 Texas County Judges were licensed to practice law.  

None of the 254 County Judges in Texas are required to hold a degree in law, a fact which the other three candidates stressed during their answers.  Usery, Carter and Hyde have college degrees, Kolls does not.  

Carter explained that his time as a city councilman earned him experience in emergency management. Carter cited the Bradford Tornado and his leadership in recovery efforts.  

County Judges are the chief Emergency Management officer of each County in Texas by law.  

Hyde detailed his experience as an Air Force Officer and Pilot to deal with emergency management issues and lead people.   

The four candidates for Tom Green County Judge will meet again on Feb. 7 at the San Angelo Republican Women candidate forum.  That forum will be held at the VFW hall, 125 S. Browning from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7.  The event is free and open to the public but seating is limited.  

The Republican Primary election in Texas is Tuesday, March 1, 2022.  Early voting begins Feb. 14 and runs for two weeks.  

In addition to the contested race for County Judge to replace Steve Floyd who is not running for re-election, there is a contested race for Tom Green County Commissioner, Pct. 4 which includes six candidates, Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3 which has three candidates, Justice of the Peace Pct.1 which has two candidates, Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 which has two candidates, County Court-at-law #2 Judge with two candidates, and County Clerk which has two candidates.  

The Republican primary ballot also includes several statewide offices including Governor and Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Land Commissioner, State Senators, and State Representatives.  

The six candidates for Tom Green County Commissioner Pct. 4 are: Incumbent Bill Ford and challengers CoCo Simpson, Lori Wilson, Derrick Garnett, Dustin Barton and Shawn Nanny.  

They will meet in a forum sponsored by San Angelo LIVE! and the Concho Valley Republican Women on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Sugg Room on the third floor of the Stephens Central Library downtown.  The forum is free and open to the public but seating is limited.  San Angelo LIVE! will livestream that forum on the website, Facebook and Youtube.