3 candidates to face off in Caldwell County Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 general election

By Miles Smith
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Caldwell County Pct. 1 candidate Suzy Falgout said Tuesday that she had decided to set her sights on the November general election after her bid to challenge incumbent Matt Kiely in the primary was rejected in the Texas Court of Appeals.
Falgout’s application was rejected after the filing deadline when Kiely challenged a clerical error on the form, citing that “2018” had been filled in the field for party rather than “Republican.”
With Kiely assured of the Republican nomination as the only remaining candidate in the primary, Falgout would face him and Democrat Aurora “Rhoda” Chavira in the general election in November.
“I’m truly humbled by the amount of support I’ve received from the community,” Falgout said. “I didn’t seek it out. That’s why I’m going to continue my campaign. It reminded me of the reason I decided to run in the first place.”
Republican Caldwell county clerk candidate Debbie Sanders will also miss the March primary election, but still plans to challenge Democrat Teresa Rodriguez in the general election in November.
Sanders was the only Republican in Caldwell County who submitted a petition to run in the primary in the county clerk race. Her application was rejected for the same clerical error on Sanders’ application after Rodriguez issued a challenge.
“Debbie and I are both hoping to be the first write-in candidates in state history to win their elections,” Falgout said.
Candidates who filed petitions in two other races were ruled ineligible to run prior to the filing deadline.
Caldwell County Republican Party Chair Kathy Haigler said Kip Portis changed his mind and stopped payment on his check to disqualify himself from the race for Caldwell County Pct. 1 commissioner, and J.K. “Jake” Innerarity of Rosanky’s attempt to register to vote in time to file his petition wasn’t cleared soon enough to satisfy the filing deadline.