District 10 race finalized

WAXAHACHIE - Republican Jim Pitts will have a Libertarian opponent in November for the first time in his political career, which dates back to 1992 when he was first elected.

Phil Smart, who has been on the ballot twice in 2004 (county commissioner) and 2006 (state senate), will try to wrestle the job away from Pitts, who has served Ellis and Hill counties since the 2000 Census re-drew state House district lines.

Libertarian Party of Ellis County chairman Robert Guest, a defense attorney from Ennis, confirmed the slate of 2008 candidates for the November election: Smart; Linda Gallegos (tax collector); Cathy Kennedy (treasurer).

Those races will feature a Republican and a Libertarian. No Democrat filed for countywide office.