Ector County voters in Precinct 2 will decide to either keep the current justice of the peace, Missi Walden, during the Republican primary or replace her with one of two challengers, Cynthia Moreno or Ron Hughes.
There is no Democrat in the race so the GOP primary is a winner take all.
Walden is in her first term after beating six other candidates during the 2018 Republican primary. She emerged from the primary into a runoff easily defeating Odessan Matthew Stringer with nearly 75 percent of the vote. Candidates must get more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.
HUGHES
Hughes is a third generation lawman who retired as a lieutenant following a 34 year career with the Odessa Police Department. Hughes says during that career he worked in or oversaw every unit at the OPD and that service has prepared him to serve as justice of the peace.
“I’m fair, honest and impartial,” he said. “My law enforcement experience makes me qualified. I am running on my merits and reputation and my experience. I bring a lot to the table with 34 years experience and I am well rounded.”
He said he understands the law and the responsibility of making decisions that affect people’s lives.
Hughes said JP offices were established to allow citizens speedy justice for civil cases and to ensure a fair, honest and impartial resolution between the parties involved. “I understand these cases are important to the citizens and especially important to me. I have the experience to make proper decisions for all parties involved. “
Hughes says much of that experience comes from overseeing every unit at some time in his career with OPD. “I bring a lot to the table with 34 years experience and I am well rounded and I understand the law.”
He said citizens can use an attorney in JP court but that you don’t have to have an attorney if you can’t afford one. “But you can have your case heard and take a dispute to have it heard and a good judge will be fair, honest and impartial. I am all of those things.”
Hughes has been married to wife Vicki for more than 36 years and has two children and three grandchildren with a fourth on the way. His son is also in law enforcement.
He said he is better qualified than his opponents but plans a positive campaign on his merits and knowledge of the law.
WALDEN
The incumbent touts her bringing more attention to technology to the office. She said her first term has been successful and the office was able to accept eFile for DPS tickets quickly when she took over. She said all debt claims are also now being filed digitally and that has improved the efficiency of the office.
She said COVID threw a curve ball but she is proud of how her staff and office worked through it. She said as of December 2021 her office was back in person but that all debt claims are still done through Zoom and also evictions.
She said public service is a privilege. “I am honored to have had that privilege for the last 17 years,” she said of her 14 years as court coordinator in the district courts & 3 1/2 years as JP.
“I also want to continue to modernize the Court by continuing the paperless processes that have already been implemented going forward with new processes that will make a difference in the efficiency of the Justice Courts and the administration of justice.”
She has 27 years of legal experience with 14 of those years working in the district courts. She has more than 150 hours of education in the area of Court Administration. Since becoming Justice of the Peace, she has 120 hours of education specific to justices of the peace.
MORENO
Moreno, 54, is a lifelong Odessan who has been a legal assistant for 32 years in Odessa. She said she is running because of her love for the legal system. “I love the legal field and community … every aspect of it.”
She said she loves her current job and believes she is qualified to deal with the JP office adding that Walden’s office currently doesn’t answer the phone and that she could make it a better office. “It needs to be worked the way it is supposed to.”
She said she has taken courses at Midland and Odessa Colleges and is familiar with all aspects of the law.
She criticized the backlog in the court, which is something Walden has maintained she inherited and has mostly cleaned up during the last three years.
Moreno says moving cases through more quickly will improve the flow of revenue and said she decided to run because of her love of the law and also because some in the community asked her to. She said she did not vote in the previous election and added she would do a better job. “She does a horrible job. I just think I could make the office run better.”
She also said she could make the office self-sustaining through fines and fees, which Walden said is not possible as most funds that come from fines go back to the agency that wrote the ticket and also about half goes to the state.
She said JP offices have no control over some situations — such as COVID, when fewer tickets were being written and thus less money was coming in.
Early voting begins Monday and ends on Feb. 25. Early voting at the Ector County Courthouse Annex, Room 104, 1010 E. Eighth St., has been scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Feb. 18, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 19, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 20 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 22-25.
Early voting schedule at the branch locations will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Feb. 18, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 19, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 20 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 22-25 at Kellus Turner Community Building, 2230 Sycamore Drive, The Globe Theater at Odessa College, 2308 Shakespeare Road, Salinas Community Building, 600 W. Clements St., and MCM Eleganté Hotel, Hawaii Ballroom, 5200 E University Blvd.
For sample ballots or more information, call the election office at 432-498-4030 in Odessa or 432-688-4890 in Midland, or visit tinyurl.com/3v7zpce2 (Ector County), tinyurl.com/2p84b782 (Midland County), or sos.state.tx.us (Secretary of State).
