Filing to run in party primary races has ended and Orange County will have five contested races, all in the Republican party.
The only Democrat to file was Jack Smith to run as the party chair.
The lack of Democratic candidates means the Republican winners of the March 3 primary will be unopposed in November unless a write-in candidate runs.
In the county judge’s race, John Gothia is running as the incumbent. He was appointed to the spot after a resignation earlier this year. He now has to run for the two years left for the full term. He is being challenged by Ernest Bayard of Vidor.
Sheriff Keith Merritt is going to retire at the end of 2020 and is not running. Veteran law officer Rob Strause filed and will face Precinct 4 Constable Jimmy Lane Mooney for the spot.
Precinct 3 County Commissioner Kirk Roccaforte is facing challenger Carl LeBlanc. Roccaforte was appointed to the position earlier this year to replace Gothia. This will be his first time to run. The election is for a full, four-year term.
163rd State District Judge Dennis Powell is retiring at the end of 2020. Filing for the position are Michael Catt and Rex Peveto.
Precinct 3 Constable Mark Philpott is also not seeking re-election. Sam Carpenter, Jr., and Brad Frye are running for the spot.
People running unopposed in the Republican primary are:
Judge County Court-at-Law No. 2: Troy Johnson (incumbent)
County Attorney: John Kimbrough (incumbent)
Tax Assessor-Collector: Karen Fisher (incumbent)
County Commissioner Precinct 1: Johnny Trahan (incumbent)
Constable Precinct 1: Lannie Claybar (incumbent)
Constable Precinct 2: Jeremiah Gunter
Constable Precinct 4: Matt Ortego
Judge 128th State District Court: Courtney Burch-Arkeen (incumbent)
County Chair: David Covey (incumbent)
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