Are Dallas County Republicans up to their politricks again?
On Monday, December 13, 2021 Adam Swartz filed for Dallas Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Place 1, a seat held currently by Al Cercone. At the end of the night there were no primary opponents and the Texas Secretary of State listed no Republican opponents.
As of today, a Republican is in the race forcing the question did the GOP file late?
GOP Politricks Not New
In 2018 Republicans filed suit to keep Democrats of the ballot in the Justice of Peace races – elections that each GOP judge won by roughly 1400 votes out of 200,000 cast.
Additionally, Precinct 2 Justice of Peace Bill Metzger removed a campaign sign for Jim Phaup, then the mayor of Sunnyvale who was a Republican primary candidate for Texas House District 113.
A camera placed near the sign by Phaup’s campaign after a previous sign was removed recorded a man in a hoodie cutting the zip ties holding the sign to two metal stakes, then stomping on the stakes.
Metzger was admonished by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct in 2020 after losing re-election. The commission stated that his testimony “was not credible,” and that Metzger’s actions cast “public discredit on the judiciary.”
In August there were multiple reports, the GOP might file independent candidates in races to disrupt races.
In the Precinct 3 Place 2 race, Chris Suprun is running against Steve Seider. Both Suprun and Swartz have written or moderated for Other Side Dallas or the Facebook group.