The Tyler Courier-Times from Tyler, Texas • 5

re jr 9 5A Politics SUNDAY MARCH 26 2006 Tler Courier-TImes-Telegraph Gregg County Dem Voting Sites Announced Republicans Elect State Delegates Discuss Goals The Gregg County Democratic Party has consolidated the 23 voting precincts in Gregg County into six polling locations for the April 1 1 Democratic primary runoff election The polls will be open from 7 am to 7 pm on Tuesday April 11 Early voting will be conducted by the Gregg County Election Administrator at the Gregg County Courthouse from 8 am to 8 pm April 3 through 7 Early voting will be conducted between 8 am and 5 pm at the Greggton Community Building the Kilgore Community Building and the Elderville Community Building on those days The six Election Day polling locations for the Gregg County Democratic party runoff are as follows: Precincts 1 2 3 4 5 6 and 7 consolidated at Gregg the other partys primary The important dates for the runoff include: First day of early voting: April 3 Last day to apply for a ballot by mail: April 4 Last day of early voting: April 7 Municipal Elections Filing Information Candidate filing for the May 1 3 municipal elections continues through March 13 Other important dates for this uniform election day include: Last day to register to vote: April 13 First day of early voting: May 1 Last day to apply for a ballot by mail: May 5 Last day of early voting: May 9 Early (Returns is compiled by staff writer Roy Maynard who can be reached at (903) 596-6291 or at roy-maynardearthlmKnet The deadline for submissions is 5 pm Thursday and the A Frank Smith United Methodist Church in Alto Young Republicans Schedule Fundraiser The Tyler Young Republicans have scheduled their Spring Forward fundraiser from 7 pm to midnight April 28 The event will feature dancing a live DJ food and other refreshments It will be at the American Legion Post 1 2 on American Legion Road Tickets are $10 per person those purchasing a club membership can request a special discount For more information call (903)561-2332 Primary Runoff Elections Slated A number of East Texas primary races will be decided in runoff elections April 11 Registered voters may vote in a party primary runoff election if they voted in that partys primary or if they didn't vote at all But voters may not vote in one partys primary runoff if they voted in Early Returns Marshall Ave Longview Precincts 12 and 13 are consolidated at White Oak Community Building 200 White Oak Road White Oak Precincts 14 15 and 16 are consolidated at Kilgore Community Center 622 Kay St Kilgore Precincts 17 and 18 are consolidated at Elderville Community Building 10450 FM 349 Longview Precincts 19 20 21 and 22 are consolidated at Foster Montessori Magnet School 510 Martin Luther King Blvd Longview Cherokee Early Voting Locations The Cherokee County clerk has announced early voting locations for the April 11 primary runoff election The locations include the county clerks office at the county courthouse in Rusk the Senior Citizens Building in Jacksonville a County Courthouse 101 Methvin St Longview Precincts 8 8A 9 10 and 1 1 are consolidated at Greggton Community Building 3211 That and other resolutions will be carried to the state Republican convention which is scheduled for June 2-3 in San Antonio Delegates to the state convention elected Saturday include: John Watts Jr Tim Milovich Kathy Milovich Ellen Guthrie Scott Guthrie Ron Green Gail Green Wes Turley Mary Blair Watts Gaylord Hughey Jr Hope Short John Short Jr Anwar Khalifa James Leath Jane Winn George Winn Dale Moran John Symes Anita Symes Debbie Turley Floyd Getz Mark Knowles James Hagar Hank Hering Jr Amber Danner David Ligon Roberta Ligon Mac Symes Robin Hood Brians Becky Dempsey Mary Lou Daughtrey GaryD Jackson Elizabeth Warner Margaret Symes Ronnie Page Paula Page Nathaniel Moran Jerome Howard Ashton Oravetz III Jeff Hill Kyle Waggoner Marellyn Hadden Roby Haddon Sara Maynard Kay Redmon Jimmie Brewster Edward Neely John Anderson Jim Hooter Karen Hughes Laura Taff Louie Gohmert Kathy Gohmert Johnette Thomas David Scarbrough Elaine Scarbrough Tejan Cunningham Ella Cunningham Gary Barber Randall Rogers Lois Rogers Francis Anderson Michael Griffiths David Haney Joyce Fechenbach Gil Daughtrey Claude Wise James Hardy Braden Reese Pamela Burton Lyle Skeels Willis Bums Emily Leath Samual Fechenbach Jr Bob Jemigan Dennis Cable Neva Kampfer Anna Bastounes Janie Blundell Ken Blundell Anthony Cain Dianne Caron John Daughtrey Marcia Daughtrey John deNoyelles Thomas DeWitt Sharon Emmert JoAnn Fleming Cory Gerdes Sharon Guthrie Connie Hayes Royce Hayes Mollie Herrington Bobby Langford Martha Langford Tamara Loggins Joshua Machiavello Terri Machiavello Karen McKeown Stephen McKeown Patrick Willis Anatta Zoller John Zoller Eddie Maddox Carol Maddox Amy Blackmon Jeannette Brewster Sean Healy and Terry Hewletts By ROY MAYNARD Staff Writer Smith County Republicans gathering for their Senatorial District Conventions on Saturday were warned against becoming complacent and overconfident "Our party controls the (Texas) House Senate and every statewide elected office state Sen Kevin Eltife R-Tyler told the delegates Now that's a good thing But its also a big responsibility Now we have to go to Austin and solve problems He reiterated his view that lawmakers have failed to solve the public school funding dilemma We owe it to the taxpayers and to the property owners to solve public school finance once and for all Eltife said We have to roll up our sleeves We dont need the courts dictating toas how to solve it Staying in power will require both action at the top and activity at the grassroots level incoming Smith County Republican Party Chairwoman Marcia Daughtrey added 'Im disappointed at the voter turnout in the primary she said It was 14 percent That means one in seven eligible voters bothered Were just not getting the people out One goal of the county GOP in coming months will be to engage Republican voters she said a Getting down to party business delegates approved a number of resolutions to be sent on to the states GOP for consideration as official party platform positions One resolution passed in the Senate District 1 caucus concerned closed primaries Party business should be determined by those who have declared themselves to be members of the party and no one else" the resolution reads The purpose of a closed primary is to prevent undue influence and mischief from those outside the party A closed primary system would require QTexas voters to declare their party affiliations (or their independence) when registering to vote Any change of status must be done no sooner than 30 days prior to the primary election to protect the right of every party to conduct its own affairs Democrats Highlight Changing Political Climate At Convention those names should be available next week The state convention is slated for June 8-10 in Fort Worth Smith County justice of the peace for Precinct 4 said Republicans shouldnt be overconfident going into the November general election My opponent may think he has everything sewn up but its not so Samples said of incumbent Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger who filed to keep his seat as a Republican A lot of people are unhappy with his party switch Smith County Democratic Chairwoman Karen Roberts introduced the partys new Sustaining i Membership program and' its first participant David Henderson Sustaining Members donations will help to keep a Democratic Party office open year-round ensuring both our presence in the community and our ability to reach out to newcomers party literature says0 The names of Smith County delegates to the state convention were not immediately available according to primary administrator Karen Wilkerson who said Congress) we can stop some of this That will' mean working hard for candidates up and down the ballot he said He added that it will mean0 'attracting voters back into the Democratic fold A lot of our friends strayed over to the Republican Party Trube said He estimated that as many as 1300 Democrats took part in the Republican primary election for Smith County judge tipping the balance to Joel Baker who defeated Gene Shull But now the Republicans want to change the rules on us Trube said referring to a GOP push for closed primaries in which voters would declare their party when registering But Republicans will find their days in power numbered he said We are going to turn thi3 around he said This country is moving and you will see it in November John Samples candidate for By ROY MAYNARD Staff Writer WSmith County Democrats say theres a growing anger and disenchantment with the party in power that could lead to some unexpected Democratic victories in November At Saturdays Democratic Senatorial District Convention former Smith County Democratic Party Chairman John Trube told delegates that the signs of political change are apparent He cited the primary defeat of state Rep Kent Grusendorf a powerful Republican from Arlington "Even Republicans are starting to wonder whats going on said Trube And youll see it in November He said change must the grassroots level Its up to us even in East Texas to put a stop to this he said This is the most incompetent corrupt and arrogant (presidential) administration Ive seen in my lifetime If we can get control of just one house (of i 5tr 3 i A VY- SI tCk-x 1 1 v'scc jjtff hjhx S' 'j''- -4 'v v-yY 5 J'- 1 1 Wfe V- 'v M- Li-- -c 1 lv Dillards is looking for boys and girls ages 4-12 who would like to model in our 2006 Spring Fashion Show V- I March 26-31 Saturday April 1 Saturday April 8 Applications will be available at Dillards Broadway Square Mall Childrens Department Bring in a completed application with a non-returnable candid photo to Dillards Broadway Square Mall A panel of judges will meet with candidates and select 40 to be in the Spring Fashion Show Those selected must be available for a fitting on the same day between 2-6 pm Spring Fashion Show 2 pm Selected contestants will model our 2006 Spring Fashions at the mall entrance to Dillards Broadway Square Mall Applications Available Interview 11 am-l pm APPLY TODAY! 9 "Receive In Reward Certificates When You Open An Account 20 Earn Dillards Reward Points Every Time You Shop 2UPGIS Subjotl to credit approval Certihutcs lor opening a Dillards credit can) account will amve uviih the lira hilling slalcmcnl and expire 60 days from issuance Sec credit application for Rewards program Icrms I i.