The Ellis County Press: Sheriff race draws 3 candidates

Sheriff race draws 3 candidates
================================================================================
Editor on 11/22/2007 00:00:00


STAFF REPORT
_The Ellis County Press_
MIDLOTHIAN - Three Republican candidates have started their campaigns early to
replace the retiring Sheriff Ray Stewart.
Johnny Brown, an Ellis County Sheriff's Office deputy from Midlothian, was the
first one out of the chute, filing his treasurer report two months ago.
Since then, another Midlothian resident, Steve McKinney, jumped in.
McKinney, a former Department of Public Safety trooper for 20 years, was
appointed by the commissioners court to be the precinct 4 constable, replacing
Republican Bubba Curry, who took a job in Tarrant County.
And in a surprise move, longtime Democrat James Ledbetter, who previously ran
under the Democratic banner for sheriff three times and said he would 'never'
run as a Republican, switched parties and jumped into the race.
Winner of the March 4 primary will face a candidate already on the ballot,
Libertarian Mike Treis of Waxahachie.
Filing for countywide and precinct-level races for Republican and Democratic
candidates begins Dec. 2 and ends Jan. 3.
Ellis County Democrats told The Ellis County Press they have not decided on a
potential sheriff candidate.