Precinct 1 Commissioner Phyllis Cole wound up in a
runoff with Plano technology professional Matt Shaheen.
Ms. Cole, who has served since 1990, received 47 percent
of the vote. Mr. Shaheen, a first-time candidate, garnered
38 percent. Another candidate, Douglas Reeves, finished a
distant third.
Ms. Cole said she would continue to stress her
experience in the campaign leading up to the April 8
election.
"It takes a long time to learn all the different
aspects we handle: Child Protective Services, the mental
health issues, the jail issues," she said.
Ms. Cole rejects Mr. Shaheen's contention that county
spending is out of control and the tax rate is too high.
"I think we're fiscally very conservative,"
she said. "I'm real proud of what we've done."
Mr. Shaheen said he would look to cut spending,
particularly administration costs. He said he wouldn't
accept a pay increase during his four-year term.
Mr. Shaheen also favors term limits for commissioners.
"I don't think it's necessary for a commissioner
to serve more than two terms, three at the most," he
said. "I think you need fresh ideas."
Mr. Shaheen said Ms. Cole is overstating the value of
longevity in office.
"People tend to take themselves a little too
seriously and think their job is too complex for others to
do," he said. "I have 19 years' business
experience. I can clearly step in."
Jaynes
to face Democrat Manuel; incumbent Sandoval loses judicial
race
Collin County Republicans booted out
a longtime incumbent in Tuesday's primary election, and it
wasn't Joe Jaynes.
Mr. Jaynes handily defeated Corbett Howard in a
high-profile, no-holds-barred race to retain the Precinct
3 commissioner's seat he's held since 1996.
For state District Judge Charles Sandoval, it was a
different story. He was defeated by McKinney lawyer
Suzanne Wooten.
Mr. Jaynes, who received 57 percent of the vote, says
he wants to reach out to Mr. Howard's supporters and unify
the Republican Party. Mr. Jaynes will face Victor Manuel,
who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the
November general election.
"I think the Republican Party is divided,"
Mr. Jaynes said. "I want to do all I can to heal that
division. If we remain this way, it just benefits the
Democrats."
Mr. Howard called Mr. Jaynes on election night to
concede defeat, signaling an end to their bitterly
contested battle.
"We ran a strong campaign that we are proud
of," said Mr. Howard, Celina's mayor for six years.
"The voters have spoken in this race, and I respect
their voice."
380th District Court
Mr. Jaynes survived a hard-charging challenger, but
Judge Sandoval did not. Ms. Wooten trounced him, receiving
57 percent of the vote.
Judge Sandoval had not faced an opponent since winning
the 380th District Court bench in 1996.
During the campaign, Ms. Wooten pointed to a 2007 bar
poll that gave Judge Sandoval poor marks. He scored the
lowest among the eight district judges on all 15 questions
posed by the Collin County Bar Association to its members.
Ms. Wooten, who has never run for office, said she
thought she had the backing of many lawyers.
"I am absolutely thrilled," she said. "I
really appreciate all the public support."
Ms. Wooten attributed her victory, in part, to the
contacts she has made in 12 years of practicing law.
"I've had some great, great clients who all know
people who know people who know people," she said.
"I think it was grass-roots."
