Expect coming local political season to be lively

It’s going to be an interesting year next year for elections. Not just on the national level either.

Locally, the political season promises to be busy and entertaining.

In Bowie County, it will be interesting to see whether Democrats even field a team for the open posts there. All the countywide public officeholders who were Democrats have switched parties, apparently chasing a trend of electing Republicans in formerly yellow dog territory.

Even the erstwhile county judge has gone to the GOP side in advance of running for his old courthouse job.

There is lots of talk about Texas going blue in 2014 and beyond, and Democrats statewide are optimistic. But optimism doesn’t win elections. Realists understand even if Texas overall goes blue, or purple, red still is likely to dominate in East Texas.

Democrats may think they don’t need to run a slate in Bowie County. They may think if former Dems can recapture, or hold on to their offices as Republicans, they could switch back after November 2014. That seems an unlikely scenario.

Then again, voters can be fickle. It would upset the apple cart quite a bit if Bowie County went blue or purple, and a slate of Democrats, or even just a couple, took some of the offices up for grabs in the general election. It will be fun to watch. Over on Arkansas side, the entertainment falls to local politicos. We could find ourselves with two municipal elections next year.

The effort to recall four city directors who voted to rehire controversial City Manager Harold Boldt may not see its work come to fruition before the end of the year.

It takes time to gather signatures, get them certified, call and give notice of a special election. The year is swiftly waning.

So, assuming the recall petition efforts are successful, it would make sense not to expect an election until at least early in the year.

Then, fall of 2014 will bring the regularly scheduled city election.

With the turmoil we have seen at the courthouse in New Boston and at City Hall in Texarkana, Ark., local elections promise to be spirited, if not raucous.

Some people might end up looking for something else to do with their time.

Given the pain in the posterior elections are for journalists, I’m thinking the election cycle might drive reporters and editors into another line of work.