Ten candidates running for county positions in March primary election

By Lauren Shortnacy
lshortnacy@campcountynow.com

Primary elections will be held on March 4. Early voting for the primary runoff election will be May 19 through 23 and the primary runoff election will be May 27. With elections around the corner, it is important for Camp County to not only know who is running but why they are running and their plans for the County if elected.
For County Judge, Incumbent Thomas Cravey will be running again. Judge Cravey has been County Judge for five and one-half years. Judge Cravey said that county government is the government closest to the people.
Judge Cravey said that county government is the government closest to the people. Where it is local residents come for their everyday needs whether it is for law enforcement, the court system, road issues, vehicle registration, voting, mental health issues or numerous others.
“I enjoy what I do because I have a role in providing those services to our citizens,” Judge Cravey said. “It is always an honor to provide services to people in need or direct them to other available resources.”
Judge Cravey has a business management background in both the corporate and private sector. He has served Camp County 23 years in law enforcement prior to becoming County Judge.
“My extensive knowledge of the criminal offenses and courts has been advantageous in my judicial role,” Judge Cravey said.
In 2013 Judge Cravey was inducted as a Fellow in the Texas Judicial Academy, a partnership between the Texas Tech University School of Law and the Texas Association of Counties, for attaining significant judicial education above that required by state law.
“I am the best qualified candidate for County Judge as stated by the training and experience. I have a proven history of balancing needs of the county to available resources so as to provide an acceptable level of service to our residents at a reasonable cost,” Judge Cravey said.
Judge Cravey went on to say that although Camp County’s tax base decreased approximately $40 million last year, the levels of services have been maintained while keeping the county tax rate at an average for the 23 counties in Northeast Texas.
“During my time as County Judge, over one million dollars of grant funds have been brought into the county providing technology and security upgrades without local tax dollars,” Judge Cravey said. “I will maintain the integrity of the office of County Judge and County Court expected by the citizens of Camp County without regard to any political, economic, social or racial biases.”
For District Clerk, Incumbent Teresa Bockmon will be running once again. Mrs. Bockmon has been in office since Jan. 1, 2011 and said district clerk is the perfect job for her because it suits her background and interests.
“District clerk is the perfect job for me because it suits my background and interests, enables me to support myself and also allows me to fulfill my desire to serve and assist the citizens of Camp County,” Mrs. Bockmon said.
Mrs. Bockmon’s mother served as county clerk of Morris County for 16 years and Mrs. Bockmon said she has learned from her the importance of keeping detailed and accurate records because everyone will need government or court records of some kind at some time in their life.
“I became interested in the legal system and the way it works in the early 1980s and worked in the legal field for 24 years,” Mrs. Bockmon said. “I enjoy detailed work, working with the judges, attorneys and various state and local agencies and assisting the general public with their needs.”
Mrs. Bockmon worked as a legal assistant for Mike Setty, a Pittsburg attorney, for 24 years gaining knowledge and experience in many areas of the law, law office procedures, legal document preparation, understanding legal documents and working with other attorneys and judges. She also completed 10 college classes in legal assistant studies from 1984 through 1986 and in 1988 passed a two day extensive examination on all areas of the law and earned the designation of Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) through the National Association of Legal Assistants.
Mrs. Bockmon has worked in and with the public since she was 27 years old.
“I am the only candidate with the knowledge and experience necessary to properly run this office,” Mrs. Bockmon said. “It is important to know that I am not only a department head and manager, I am also one of three people who work daily in this office doing whatever needs to be done for all the individuals and agencies we serve.”
Mrs. Bockmon said her experience working as a legal assistant is put to use every single day as district clerk and that she has already done a good job for Camp County citizens.
Mrs. Bockmon is a native Northeast Texan. She was raised in Daingerfield and graduated from Daingerfield High School in 1975 as class salutatorian. She has been a resident of Pittsburg since 1989. Mrs. Bockmon is the current president of the Pittsburg Camp County Library Board, a former president of the Camp County Child Welfare Board and a former president of the PHS Band Boosters.
 

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