Ellis County Commissioners name McKenna temporary JP for Precinct 4

ELLIS COUNTY – There were four candidates to replace the open seat vacated by Louis Ponder last month for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace.

County Commissioner Ponder, pct.3, accepted the appointment of County Commissioner in Ellis County on March 5 to replace Paul Perry in the Place 3 seat.

Commissioners named Mike McKenna to the unexpired JP term in a 3-1 vote, with Ponder voting against McKenna.

Other candidates for the seat were Mike Jones, James Butch Bryant, and Robert Shelton.

A number of precinct chairs as well as Ellis County Republican Party Chairperson, Randy Bellamy spoke before the vote with the majority, including, Bellamy, voicing to the court their support of Bryant to the unexpired term.

One of the precinct chairs who spoke during public comment said, “The majority of the precinct chairs, and in addition to that we have the Chairman of the Republican Party Randy Bellamy,” are in favor of Bryant being named.

Bellamy spoke during public comment and explained to the commissioners while the unexpired term would be filled by choice of court, Republican Party rules are the chairs will make the nomination for the November ballot.

“People say why didn’t we have a special election, which is something you have to take up with the state legislator because the law says this is how the process is going to be,” Bellamy said.

He then added, “Butch is going to be on the ballot in June for November. We believe Butch is the right person for this job.”

Ellis County Judge Todd Little said he and the commissioners had spent all morning with the candidates the week prior to the vote.

“It was a very good process,” Little said.

The commissioner’s made comments too. Pct. 1 Randy Stinson said, “Our party is a great party, but it needs to learn on a state and national level that when we disagree, we need to unite for one common goal and that is to keep our country and state what it is.”

Pct. 2 Lane Grayson said, “I will make my decision based on what I believe is best for the citizens of Precinct 4.”

Pct. 4 Butler added, “Stinson could not have said it any better” and said he thinks he votes for what is best for Ellis County.

Finally, Ponder, whose seat is being filled voted against McKenna and said about the decision prior to the vote, “All we have to do here today is decide amongst us who we are going to select.

“Are we going to select who the precinct chairs want or are we going to select someone in the interim and then let the person that gets elected in November come in and fill that spot.”

Commissioners and Little recessed into executive session to discuss before returning to vote to name the JP seat to McKenna.