PARKER COUNTY — After months of campaigning, the wait is nearly over for candidates in three Parker County races, who will take part in a runoff election next Tuesday.

Early voting for the runoff elections begins Monday and runs through Friday, July 27 at six locations throughout the county. Voting hours at the six sites runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters will be asked to decide the outcome for Precinct 2 constable, Precinct 4 constable and Precinct 3 commissioner. The latter two races have no incumbent while incumbent Lowell Moss faces Joe Harris Jr. to keep his position for the Precinct 2 constable race.



Precinct 3 Commissioner

Larry Don Walden faces Gary Carter. Walden has been a resident of the county his entire life and of the precinct for 33 years. Walden is a retired agriculture teacher and school administrator, a farmer, rancher and business owner who spent five terms on the Millsap ISD school board.

He is running for commissioner because of more than 20 years experience preparing and managing multi-million dollar budgets and working with multi-member boards. “I believe the commissioner’s job should be ne of community service, not someone’s only source of income,” Walden stated. “I own, operate and maintain my own heavy equipment and big trucks. If elected, I will work every day of my term “For” the taxpayers.

Walden says the most important issue in the race becomes which candidate has the most experience and is most capable of performing the duties of commissioner.

“I won’t have to learn how to do the job at taxpayer expense,” Walden said.

Walden says a lot of people are interested in the race, which should mean a good turnout for the runoff. “It’s an important race in the county for one of the most important jobs in the county,” Walden said. “I’d like to urge the residents to get out and vote.”

Walden has been married for 33 years and has one daughter.

Carter has been a resident for 50 years and has been with the Arlington Police Department as a sergeant for 17 years and spent 17 years with Exxon Oil. He is a member of a number of organizations including the Parker County Republican Party, Rotary Club and the Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators.

Carter says it’s time for the court to have someone that is a trained listener as well as a negotiator. “We need a full-time commissioner,” Carter said. “I am an every day working man like most of you. I want to be the voice that speaks for you. ... this is a job that my training has well equipped me to do.”

The most important issue in the race, Carter says, is the management of te $35 million county budget. “This is impossible to manage, without a full time, on the job, in the office commissioner,” Carter said. “My position is that if the county is going to pay me a full time salary then the county will get a full time, anytime commissioner.”

Carter said having a runoff election in the middle of summer makes it even more important for voters to make the extra effort to get out and vote.

Carter is married with two children and four grandchildren.



Precinct 2 Constable

Incumbent Moss has lived in the area for 12 years and has been constable in the precinct for seven years. He is involved in the community being a board member for Freedom House, a battered women and children’s shelter.

Wishing to remain a positive influence in the community and continuing to draw from previous police experience is why Moss is running. Moss wishes to remain responsible for the security in the Justice of the Peace court, serve papers promptly and proessionally and have a professional working relationship with the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2.

“To serve the court to the best of my ability and make the voters that elected me proud is my top priority,” Moss said.

Moss is married and has one son.

Harris is a Parker County Sheriff’s Deputy who has lived in the area for 20 years. Harris said receiving full time pay for full time work is the reason he’s running for the position.

“It is my belief that the citizens of Parker County and Precinct 2 deserve elected officials who give full time service for full time pay,” Harris said. “As your constable I will always be totally committed to serving this office and the citizens with honor, dignity and respect.”

If elected, Harris wishes to have a good working relationship with all county offices and elected officials and assist law enforcement and emergency services when emergencies arise or incidents occur that require additional law enforcement presence.

Carter is married and has a newborn daughter.



Precinct 4 Constable

Mike Montgomery will face Scott Jones in the runoff. Montgomery, a former constable in Cooke County has 23 years experience in law enforcement. Montgomery is a reserve police office and a corporal with the Aledo Police Department and is also a business owner. He is a deacon at Western Hills Baptist Church and volunteers monthly at the Broadway Baptist Church.

Montgomery said he believes he has the “most complete and professional skillsets of the candidates with his service in the law enforcement and emergency management.”

“I will bring fresh ideas and dynamic leadership to the Constable’s office, serving with the same passion and integrity which has been an ongoing hallmark of my career n law enforcement and is the very core of my personal life. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

If elected, Montgomery says he will evaluate and analyze potential grant opportunities related to training, equipment and personnel issues to increase effectiveness while keeping restraints on the budget.

Montgomery is married with three daughters.

Scott Jones has lived in the area for nearly 15 years and has over 30 years experience in law enforcement, including 22 years as an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. He also has more than 16 years of military police experience as a decorated Senior chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

He presently volunteers with the Aledo ISD Police Department and takes part in a number of civic organizations including the East Parker County Chamber of Commerce.

Jones said wanting and believing he can make a difference is one of the reasons he decided to run for the position.

“I want to use my law enforcement experience at the federal, state and local levels and combine it with my personal commitment to out reach and education to help build a safer and closely knit community,” Jones said.

Jones said the race comes down to character and experience and is a huge decision. Maintaining and building on the standard of service of retiring Constable Bob Brown is Jones’ top priority.

“I will work with the Justice of the Peace Court and assure a smooth transition and continued high performance in the traditional role of civil process service, warrant service and bailiff duties,” Jones said.

Jones is also married and has three daughters.