Trinity County Democratic ticket in question

from the article:

"There were concerns for me, whether the process was done properly," said Alford Wednesday from his office near Groveton. "Was it publicized? Should it have been? I didn't know about it the night of the meeting, I had no clue. I think it is only fair that the people involved should be notified."

He added that the party election was held in an odd location and cast with what he described as "secret" votes.

"It was held right on the county line. Why couldn't it be held at a central location, like the county courthouse?" Alford said. "Why wasn't this posted anywhere that it was going to take place?"

Chapman said that the party's elections were held legally and that the public does not attend such meetings.
==========
why the silence on this one?

as a qualified person interested in the position, I was struck dumbfounded by the resignation/retirement of travis forrest. I know everyone involved in the election and none of them have the managerial or road and bridge experience I have. Yet I was caught completely unprepaired for the two week deadline. Reguardless I am not a democrat...... Can I still get in?

By STEVEN ALFORD
The Lufkin Daily News

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Tensions have been stirring recently in Trinity County over the Democratic party's nomination of two newly filled county positions.

James Alford was appointed as commissioner for Pct. 4 to fill a vacant spot that arose in May, made interim replacement the same day former commissioner Travis Forest abruptly retired. Alford is the incumbent, but was left off the Democratic ticket and is instead a write-in candidate.

Courtesy photo
(ENLARGE)
James Alford, commissioner for Pct. 4 in Trinity County, has been at the center of recent debates about the Democratic party?s nominations for November and why he was left off the ballot.

Mark Evans the county judge, was left to scramble to find a replacement for the remaining two year term. According to Freddie Chapman, chairman for the Democratic party in Trinity County, that caused all of the problems.

"This was not handled right, if it had been handled properly and the public was notified of (Alford's) appointment, then we met, maybe things would have been different," Chapman said.

Recently appointed Trinity County Sheriff Brent Lee came into his position June 19, filling a spot vacated when former sheriff Steven Jones resigned to become Trinity Police Chief. Lee is on the ballot for November.

"Why cannot Mr. Alford's name be on the ballot? Why must he suffer the anonymity of a write-in candidate?" asked a Trinity County resident in a letter submitted to The Lufkin Daily News.

Alford is the first black commissioner in Trinity County, raising questions about whether or not race could have been a factor in the decision. Alford said he doesn't think it was a matter of race though, rather a problem with the party elections.

"There were concerns for me, whether the process was done properly," said Alford Wednesday from his office near Groveton. "Was it publicized? Should it have been? I didn't know about it the night of the meeting, I had no clue. I think it is only fair that the people involved should be notified."

He added that the party election was held in an odd location and cast with what he described as "secret" votes.

"It was held right on the county line. Why couldn't it be held at a central location, like the county courthouse?" Alford said. "Why wasn't this posted anywhere that it was going to take place?"

Chapman said that the party's elections were held legally and that the public does not attend such meetings.

Alford was one of five candidates up for the nomination and after a secret ballot vote, where no one can see what the other is voting, Jimmy Brown got the majority of the vote, with "no question", Chapman said.

"We followed every step of the law, and I don't care what anybody says," Chapman said.

The chairman said he does not believe that race was a factor and that he and Alford have been in contact about the situation.

"Mr. Alford is not happy himself about some of the racial overtones," he said. "This is about people who don't know the law, who are saying things they don't understand and it goes back to the very beginning, if you know what I mean."

Evans, who has been a long time supporter of Alford's, was not immediately available for comment about the elections.

Alford however is grateful for his appointment from Evans, and said he hopes to get elected this fall to finish out his time in the office he enjoys being a part of.

"I'm not upset, or a sore loser that I didn't get on the ballot, I'm just more concerned about the process of it all," Alford said. "I just want to make sure that it was right."

Editor's note: Staff Writer Steven Alford is not related to Commissioner James Alford.

Maybe, as voters, everyone in that precinct should just write his name on their ballot and elect him back into that office anyhow.