Eggs & Issues - Candidate Forum presented by Oncor Electric Delivery

Eggs & Issues monthly membership meeting.
"Candidate Forum"
Presenting Sponsor Oncor Electric Delivery

Candidates confirmed to participate

State Representative

Travis Clardy, Incumbent
It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of House District 11. Together, we’ve worked hard to create a vibrant future for Nacogdoches and our District 11 neighbors, Newton, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, and Shelby counties.
Judy and I have called Nacogdoches home for nearly four decades, and we've enjoyed seeing it grow into what it is today. As your representative, I have always focused on performance over promises. I have a proven record of getting things done in the Texas Legislature. Among these accomplishments, I authored legislation that brought SFA into the UT System, benefitting the Nacogdoches community and Lumberjacks for years to come. I’ve also worked tirelessly to help secure millions in funding for the I-69 flyover, the new SFA STEM building, Rusk State Hospital, and grants to strengthen our career and technical education programs in public schools across the region.
Finally, I authored legislation to help revive the Fredonia Hotel and revitalize downtown Nacogdoches. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue serving and working with you to uphold our conservative East Texas values and build a brighter future for the Garden Capital of Texas. Together, we will continue to achieve great things for our community.
Website: www. TravisforTexas.com

Joanne Shofner
A conservative Republican candidate running for State Representative. She is prepared to secure the Texas borders, defend and protect the rights of children and parents. As a 7th-generation Texan, she shares District 11’s values of life, liberty, and freedom.
Joanne is a small business owner, teacher and public servant, born and raised in a family of entrepreneurs and public servants in the Houston area. She is a member of the Wilson family of KDW Construction serving in Nacogdoches and around the state. Witnessing it firsthand, her family instilled in her hardworking Texas values as they built a business rooted in commercial real estate, construction, banking and finance.
Nacogdoches County Republican Women has grown to be a reputable club in Texas through Joanne’s proven leadership as President with the help of the board.
As a trained Christian Life Coach and mental health consultant, Joanne empowers women through recovery from traumatic experiences. She was a leader in the hospitality field with Hyatt Hotels. She has written and taught Bible studies and led women’s retreats for 20 years.
The multi-generational message in her family has always been God, family, and public service. Joanne and her husband, David, enjoy spending time with their combined families of seven children, their spouses and seven grandchildren.
Website: https://joannefortexans.com/

Precinct 1 County Commissioner

Matthew Barrett

A lifelong resident of Nacogdoches County Precinct 1, with a heart for public service. He stands for faith, family and work, and is committed to upholding these values in service to Nacogdoches County.

As the general manager for Swift Water Supply, he has valuable experience in overseeing important projects that directly impact the community’s well-being, particularly in the in the realm of water management and infrastructure. Matthew also serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Rural Water Association, further demonstrating his commitment to improving the quality of life for residents in rural areas.

As a long-time member, and current Vice President of the Garrison ISD School Board, Matthew actively contributes to shaping the future of education in the area.

He is a member of Cold Springs Baptist Church. Matthew has one son, Bryce. In his free time, Matt enjoys volunteer coaching multiple youth sports, and keeps Bulldog enthusiasts updated from the sidelines as a radio personality for Bulldog Sports Radio Network.

Extensive experience, strong community ties, and unwavering dedication make Matthew Barrett an exceptional candidate for public office. He is uniquely positioned to advocate for the needs of Nacogdoches County Precinct 1.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550082387924

Brett Ayres
From the time he was about 5 years old, Sgt. Brett Ayres had in the back of his mind that he wanted to become a police officer. Ayres became the face of the Nacogdoches Police Department as community relations and public information officer. But his journey to this point in his career began at daycare. A lifelong resident of Nacogdoches County. He grew up in Cushing and has spent the entirety of his 15-year law enforcement career at NPD. Before becoming community relations officer, Ayres was a sergeant in the patrol division.
His path into police work wasn’t always certain. He entered the East Texas Police Academy in Kilgore as a self-sponsored cadet. The majority of cadets are sponsored by law enforcement agencies who pay tuition in return for a contractual obligation.
“I was working odd jobs on the weekends and trying to make enough money for my wife and I to support ourselves while trying to become an officer,” Ayres said.
The work paid off. Ayres was valedictorian of his class. As an NPD Public Information Officer having nearly 16-year career with the Nacogdoches Police Department, he took over the position as long-time spokesman Greg Sowell when he retired in October.
Link: (1) Facebook

Keith Finchum
A Conservative Republican and life-long resident of Nacogdoches County. He is a 1983 graduate of Nacogdoches High School.
Keith is married to his wife of fifteen years, Autumn, and together they have four children and six grandchildren. Keith and Autumn are active members of Timber Creek Church, and they enjoy spending time with family at their ‘Forever Home’ in Precinct 1.
Keith has served in a law enforcement capacity for twenty-nine years, with most of that time spent as a supervisor. Twenty-five of those years were with the Nacogdoches Police Department (NPD). Keith retired from NPD in 2017 and spent the following three years supervising employees at a local millwork company.
In 2021, his love of public service drew Keith back into law enforcement. Keith currently serves at the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO,) where in 2022 he received the Sheriff’s Administrator of the Year Award. As the current Lieutenant of the Patrol Division at the RCSO, Keith works with others to plan and implement a multimillion-dollar annual budget.
Keith’s work in local government, his previous work experiences in the private sector, and his awareness of the needs of the citizens and local businesses in Precinct 1, make Keith the most well-rounded candidate for Nacogdoches County Commissioner.
Keith’s many friends and supporters know him as a person who will make timely, sound decisions and who will do what is right in every situation.
Link: (1) Facebook

420th District Judge

Malcolm Bales

Former U.S. Attorney and Baylor law professor Malcolm Bales is hoping that his wealth of experience resonates with voters in the March 5 primary.
“I was with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for 27 years and prior to that I was an FBI agent for six and a half years,” he said. Bales’s tenure with the FBI began in 1982 and because of his background as an attorney, he took part in Operation Greylord, one of the most important public corruption cases in the bureau’s history.
Bales retired from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2016 before going to work as an adjunct professor for Baylor’s law school in 2018. “I was looking for something to do that I felt was more service oriented. I have a daughter who graduated from Baylor law school and I was very impressed,” he said.
Over the summer, friends encouraged Bales to run for office when Klein retired. I can hopefully bring my experience and judgment to that very important work. I’m really fired up,” Bales said.
Law, he said, is “endlessly fascinating” as public service. I think what criminal defense lawyers are doing is some of the most important work today, but it wasn’t for me,” he said.
Link: (1) Facebook

Noel D. Cooper
“My wife and I moved to Nacogdoches in 2007, and I’ve been practicing in Ed Klein’s court since then,” Cooper said.
Noel Cooper says that his experience in criminal and family law will allow him to make immediate improvements by establishing a drug court.
Cooper says that he has built up a career’s worth of experience in criminal and family law, which the judicial position handles. The experience that he received from practicing law can’t be replicated by a textbook, Cooper said. “There’s an incredible amount of nuance that you can’t just pick up. It takes years of doing it for the more esoteric cases to pop up,” he said.
“The largest counties in Texas are mandated to have the drug courts,” Cooper said. “They’re essentially programs that help people convicted of nonviolent drug-related offenses combat their addiction.” Cooper’s experience would allow him to quickly begin the process of establishing a drug court, he said.
“If the person that gets elected is prepared to handle the cases in that court on day one, we’ll be able to focus on this other stuff,” Cooper said. “And it is extra. I’m basically volunteering to do a whole lot of extra work.”
Website: www.noelfornac.com

Event Sponsors

Eggs & Issues - Candidate Forum prese...

Date and Time

Thursday Jan 25, 2024
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM CST

7:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 25

Location

The Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center
200 N. Fredonia St.

Fees/Admission

$25.00 Chamber Members
$30.00 Non-Members
RSVP by 1/23 - Any registration after this date Will "All" be $30.00-Member or NonMember

Contact Information

Call 936-560-5533
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