Kenedy County Commissioner Lewis E. ‘Buddy’ Turcotte III is ready for November’s general election where he will try to occupy the county judge’s seat which is being vacated by J.A. Garcia Jr.

Turcotte won the Democratic Primary – held earlier this month – by receiving 127 votes; well ahead of opponents Enemorio “Nito” Serna (49 votes) and Chuck Burns (40).

Opposing Turcotte in November is Mitch Thomas who received10 votes while going unopposed in the simultaneous Republican Primary.

The commissioner pointed to the multitude of years of service he and his family have provided.

“I come from a long family tradition of service to this county which totals close to 300 years,” Turcotte said. “I am 60 years old and have served as justice of the peace for 24 years and commissioner for Precinct One for about three.”

Turcotte had amicable words for the outgoing Garcia and added he wants to see current ongoing projects reach completion.

“Garcia has been a fine county judge who is now stepping down,” Turcotte said. “We have some projects going on right now and I felt that running for county judge would be the thing for me to do with many local people encouraging me.”

In his years of local service, Turcotte has had a hand in numerous improvements to Kenedy County.

“We took over the water supply for Sarita, have taken care of the repaving of all the streets and also have acquired a Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant which we are in dire need of,” Turcotte said. “We have also completely refurbished the courthouse and done necessary drainage work for parks in town which were subject to inundation. I have also served on a Homeland Security Committee and the tax appraisal board.”

While empathizing with many who have become disenfranchised with politics in general, Turcotte is asking Sarita voters to reinvest their faith in the democratic system, which directly affects them.

“I could not agree with you more, myself included, but this is a very important decision that the voters have to make,” Turcotte said. “Kenedy County used to have one of the highest voter turnouts in the state – in my opinion – so it is very important for everyone to vote. If you don’t vote, then you lose your voice.”

Turcotte added he has all the time in the world to devote to the county judge position should he be elected.

“I live and am retired here in Sarita, so I have plenty of time to do the job of county judge,” Turcotte said. “I was born and raised with the local people, most of their families – like mine – have been here a long time, so I have the tradition of service to this county and I would like to go out that way.”

Thomas, at the same time, provided his own credentials.

“I am a graduate of Texas A&M-College Station where I received my bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1991,” Thomas said.

“I have also been involved in numerous associations and organizations. I have been president of the American International Charolais Association, and I have handled several big budgets and feel I am very qualified for the job.”

Kenedy County, Thomas said, is still in need of plenty of upkeep.

“I think we need to complete the county park project that has been started over in Sarita,” Thomas said.

“We need to continue improving some of our infrastructure — for example, our sewer and water systems, which still need attention,” he said.

“I would also like to start a fire and EMS department in Kenedy County so that we are not so dependent on Kleberg and Willacy; that is very important to all of the land and homeowners of Sarita,” he said.

Receiving only a handful of votes during the primary, Thomas is confident more voters will back him in November.

“You either had to vote in the Democratic or the Republican primary,” Thomas said.

“I think that several voters who voted for the other candidates during the primary will come out and support me just because they want change that will move the county forward and not leave it as stagnant as it has been. They think I offer that change from some of the county’s decisions, which have not had all of the best interests of its residents in mind,” he said.