After one week of filing, the Orange County Republican Party has 15 candidates who have filed, including two for sheriff and two for Precinct 1 county commissioner. Filing for the March 1 primary ends on December 14.
Incumbent sheriff Keith Merritt filed as a Republican for the first time and has drawn David Smith, a leader of a local militia group, as an opponent.
Precinct 1 Commissioner David Dubose has announced he is not running for another term. Johnny Trahan, the regional service manager for Entergy, has filed to run for the position. The other candidate is Shirley Zimmerman, who has been the administrative assistant and the Orange County Economic Development Corporation.
Debbie Meaux is the only person to file for Orange County Tax Assessor-Collector. Incumbent Lynda Gunstream is not running.
Others filing are incumbents seeking re-election. They are:
Courtney Burch-Arkeen, judge for 128th District State Court
Dennis Powell, judge for 163rd District State Court
Troy Johnson, judge for Orange County Court-at-Law No. 2
John Kimbrough, county attorney
John Banken, county commissioner Precinct 3
Brandy Robertson, county clerk
David Cagle, constable Precinct 2
Mark Philpott, constable Precinct 3
Weldon Peveto, constable Precinct 4
Sheila Faske, county Republican Party chair
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