The Kleberg County Commissioners Court won’t take any action to appoint a replacement for retired precinct 1 Constable Arnold Arguijo.

The constable’s position became vacant on March 1. The decision was made to have local citizens interested in the constable spot to run for office for the unexpired term in the Nov. 2 General Election.

Kleberg County Judge Pete De La Garza said he had been notified by several people interested in the position.

“It would not be worthwhile to appoint anyone at this time because the term period might, only last through November should an election be held to fill the constable’s position,” he said.

County Clerk Leo Alarcon said that the proper due process for those interested would be by personally being nominated by the Kleberg County Democratic or Republican Party’s executive committee. Alarcon said there are other methods besides the party nomination to run for the position.

“They can run as an independent and their name will appear on the ballot, or they can declare themselves a write-in candidate and a simple line next to an oval will be placed for people to write their name on the General Election ballot,” Alarcon said.

Alarcon would like for (See Constable, Page 8A)

anyone interested to stop by his office for assistance and directives for seeking public office. “Those eligible to seek the position could contact the party chair of their choice as soon as they can. Officials for each political party start a new term beginning on May 3rd and letters of interest or applications can be taken after that,” Alarcon said. The deadline for a political party to place a nominee on the ballot is Tuesday, August 24.

Alarcon said to be eligible for public elective office in Texas persons must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old, have not been determined mentally incompetent or convicted of a felony and reside continuously in precinct 1 for six months immediately preceding the nomination by a party.

Candidates running as independents have a deadline of May 13th and must have resided in precinct 1 for six months prior to that date. Independent candidates must also submit to the County Judge an” Independent Candidate’s Application for a Place on the General Election Ballot” form and they have through May 13th to collect at least fifty signatures of qualified registered voters from precinct 1.

A filing fee of $375 or a petition in lieu of a filing fee with at least fifty signatures applies for write-in candidates and a “Declaration of Write-In Candidacy for General Election for State & County Officers” form must be submitted to the County Judge. The deadline for a write-in candidate to declare their intentions is also Tuesday, August 24 and must have lived in the precinct for six months prior to November 2.

Constables must be licensed peace officers, and the education requirements for the office can be obtained from the Texas Association of Counties website.

The following is the link to the website: http://www. county.org/counties/edu_