How to run for office

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So, you think you could run things better? Or perhaps you just want to have your voice heard? Whatever your reason, there has never been a better time to get involved in politics than now.

There are several county, state and federal seats up for election next year that are either in or include Gonzales County. Saturday, Nov. 9 marks the first day a candidate can file for those offices and you will have until Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. to throw your name in the running. Candidates must also file an application with their party of choosing and either pay a filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee.

County attorney, sheriff, tax assessor-collector, county commissioners precincts 1 and 3 and all three constable positions are the countywide seats up in 2020. Each of those positions have the same requirements: the candidate must be a United States citizen, a resident of Texas for at least 12 months, a district resident for at least six months, registered to vote in area of office sought and at least 18 years old. County attorney candidates must also be a practicing lawyer or judge.

There is also filing fees involved with running as a partisan candidate that must be paid to party chairs or petitioned away. Every office except constable requires a $750 filing fee to run as a partisan candidate.  Constables partisan filing fees are $375.

Candidates may also submit a nominating petition in lieu of a filing fee. Partisan candidates must obtain two percent of the total vote received in the county by all gubernatorial candidates in the 2018 general election. In the case of Gonzales County that figure is 112 signatures.

Unaffiliated candidates must file a declaration of intent to run as an independent candidate between Nov. 9 and Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. and collect five percent of the total vote received in the county by all gubernatorial candidates in the 2018 general election or—in Gonzales County—281 signatures from signers that must be registered voters who have not participated in the general primary election or the runoff primary election of a party that has nominated, at either election, a candidate for the office you seek. The application, along with the petition, must be filed to the county judge or Texas Secretary of State by June 25, 2020.

Outside of, but still directly involving Gonzales County, both District Judges in the 25th Judicial District are up for reelection. As are the Texas House of Representatives District 17 seat, Texas Senate District 18 seat, U.S. House of Representatives District 27 and 34 seats and two seats on the Thirteenth District Court of Appeals.

Each of those positions has its own requirements and fees involved. For more information on the other seats up and requirements visit at the Texas Secretary of State’s candidate guide website at https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2020/index.shtml.

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