The Democratic candidate for Orange County Judge said he will be working to November to win the position as the top administrator for the county. Donald Glenn Brown stated Friday the announcement on Thursday by Michael Cole the secretary for the Orange County Democratic Party concerning Brown’s name being removed from the November ballot was not authorized.
Orange County Democratic Party Secretary Michael Cole said the check Brown presented to him when the candidate filed on December 11, 2017 was returned for Non-Sufficient Funds when the party attempted to deposit it. As a result, Cole ruled the application of Brown to be on the ballot in the Democratic primary was not valid under the Texas Election Code.
The Election Code statute 172.021 states: If a payment of a filing fee is returned for insufficient funds after the end of the filing period, the application is not considered to be timely filed, and the authority receiving the application shall inform the applicant that the application was not valid.
Brown counters that a recent court ruling on Monday, January 22, makes Cole’s and the county Democratic Party’s actions invalid. He revealed the Fifth Appellate Court of Texas ruled on three cases that once the mail in ballots had been issued any such challenges for valid registration or filing would be moot.
Donald Glenn Brown was to be the only candidate for the Democratic Party in Orange County seeking the position of County Judge. His name will appear on the Democratic Party primary ballot; but Cole’s announcement said Brown will not appear on the November general election ballot.
Brown indicated he would seek legal action if necessary against the Orange County Democratic Party, but in the meantime he plans to continue to run for county judge. He would oppose the winner of the Republican primary between incumbent Brint Carlton and challenger Dean Crooks in November.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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