Whitten, Carter will keep precinct jobs
NEW BOSTON, Texas—Bowie County Precinct 2 Commissioner Tom Whitten and Precinct 4 Commissioner Mike Carter will keep their jobs for four more years.
Complete but unofficial results released shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday from Texas’ GOP Primary Election showed Whitten with 2,188 votes, or nearly 80 percent, compared to chal-
lenger Kenneth Zachry’s 555 votes, or about 20 percent.
Carter collected 1,750 votes, or more then 67 percent, and challenger Robert Lorance got 837 votes, or slightly more than 32 percent. No Democratic candidates have filed to run for the spots.
“I would like to thank the citizens of Precinct 2 for their continued support,” Whitten said. “I’m very humbled by the results and I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve made for the county,”
Written, 51, a lifelong resident of Bowie County, said he sought re-election to continue to keep taxes low and make proactive infrastructure investments as well as create a strong tax base. He also believes attracting and retaining quality jobs is one of the three major issues facing the county.
His precinct encompasses about 83 miles of county roads and has three employees.
Whitten took office in 2012 after the late John Addington resigned from the Precinct 2 post.
He is a member of the Texarkana Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board and Technical Committee, ARK-TEX Regional Review Committee and Regional Criminal Justice Advisory Board.
Zachry could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday.
As for Carter, he also thank voters for their support
“I look forward to the next four years and I look forward to working hard for all of our citizens,” Carter said.
Carter previously said that he plans to continue road repairs as well as continue to work with the other commissioners to ensure that the the county’s budget is closely monitored and remains solvent.
Carter also previously said that he, along with the rest of the commissioners, plans to try to continue to lower the county’s property tax rate through good management practices.
He added that the first priority is to ensure the county’s finance are stable as well as continue the growth of the tax base so revenues can remain ahead of expenses.
Lorance could not immediately be reached for comment.