Candidates square off at forum
Michelle Mangum-Merendino addresses the audience during the Liberty County Candidates Forum while her opponent for Liberty County District Attorney listens on, with State Rep. Ernest Bailes and his opponent Janis Holt. The Vindicator | Ariel Turner
Mark “Maddog” Davison will see another term as he runs unopposed for Liberty County Constable Pct. 2. He took time to address the audience and thank everyone. The Vindicator | Ariel Turner
Liberty County Court-at-Law Place 2 Judge Wes Hinch made remarks to forum attendees; although he is running unopposed for a second term, he wanted to thank everyone for their continued support. The Vindicator | Ariel Turner
Candidate for Liberty County Tax Accessor-Collector Linda Chapman speaks to voters at the Dayton Community Center as her opponent Richard Brown makes notes. The Vindicator | Ariel Turner
DAYTON — It was a night of political rhetoric and promises as candidates fielded questions and made their cases for why they should be elected to represent voters across Liberty County.
The event hosted by The Vindicator featured candidates in key races on the 2024 Republican Party Primary ballot at the Dayton Community Center on Tuesday night.
The biggest theatrics of the night came in the Liberty County District Attorney race, as incumbent Jennifer Bergman and challenger Michelle Mangum-Merendino made their case for why they should serve in that role and managed to exchange a few barbs.
Bergman touted her record since taking office, which she claimed had set records, and offered some insight into that record, citing statistics like the number of cases filed in that time.
“Since I have been in office, we have filed 3,568 felony cases, which was in my first three years in office, if you compare that to the three years proceeding that there were 1,491 cases,” Bergman said. “ It’s overwhelming our criminal justice system; it’s overwhelming our office and it’s overwhelming our district courts.”
Merendino responded to some of the numbers Bergman cited and touted her experience as an accountant before starting her legal career.
“While Ms. Bergman and I very much disagree on her record, I think you compare apples to apples, and if you look at Mr. Pickett and the first three years of his administration, she doesn’t hold the record, he does,” Merendino said.
Merendino hammered her point, leading to a lively conversation between the two throughout the evening.
The entire exchange can be viewed on The Vindicator’s Facebook page, along with the exchange between Texas State House District 18 candidates, which featured incumbent Ernest Bailes, Janis Holt and Stephen Missick.
That exchange also had lively moments as each candidate laid out their vision for that office and how they would represent voters in Austin.
The candidates spoke on issues such as Colony Ridge, school choice, and controversy surrounding Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who was recently censured by the Texas Republican Party and had previously been censured by the Liberty County Republican Party.
Candidates for Liberty County Tax Accessor Collector Richard Brown and Linda Chapman, Liberty County Commissioner Pct. 1 Bruce Karbowski and Toby Wilburn, and Liberty County Constable Pct. 1 Tammy Bishop and Chance Maddox also addressed voters during the event, and representatives for the 9th Court of Appeals made remarks as well.
Liberty County Court-at-Law Place 2 Judge Wes Hinch and Liberty County Constable Pct. 3 Mark “ Maddog” Davison, both running unopposed, were in attendance and took a moment to thank voters for their support.
You can delve deeper into the candidates in this week’s edition with the Liberty County Primary Election Guide.
Early voting begins on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and election day is Tuesday, March 5.
Special thanks to the Liberty County Republican Women’s Club for serving refreshments during the event.