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Hardin County officials move to Republican Party

By DAVID LISENBY
The Silsbee Bee

        One week makes a big difference in politics. Last week Hardin county had a democrat as county judge, county sheriff and as county attorney. This week all three positions are filled by republicans - and it didn't take a countywide election for this to happen.

        On Wednesday, Nov. 3, seven elected officials in Hardin County joined together at the courthouse in Kountze to formally announce their unprecedented decision that they were all switching from the democratic party to to republican party. Each official had been elected to office as a democrat but will seek their respective office as republicans in their next election cycle.

        County Judge Billy Caraway Hardin County Sheriff Ed Cain, County Attorney Rebecca Walton, Justice of the Peace Butch Cummings, Commissioner Bobby Franklin, Constable Kent Walker and Constable Wayne McDaniel all stood before a room full of friends, family and peers to say publicly that they are republicans.

        Hardin County Republican Chairman Kent Batman was on hand to welcome the group to the republican party. Batman said that the individuals have all been known for their conservative values in the past and that the party welcomes them.

        "Rebecca Walton," said Batman, "she is great. How could we be more proud. Wayne McDaniel; you can't find a better guy. He is obviously conservative. Judge Caraway; his record speaks for itself. I would put him up against any county judge anywhere around here. He's the best. The fact that he is now in our party is really exciting.

        "We've always known that the Sheriff is a republican. I think he even knew it. Bobby Franklin and Butch Cummings are doing a great job; nobody is complaining about the job they've done. They are switching parties because they can't stand what's going on in Washington, just like most people from east Texas.

        "We are very fortunate. The community needs to admire the courage of these people; they've proven that they have courage even before this. Standing up for principals is really more important than the other things. They will tell you that they are standing up for principals."

        "I've been approached by a number of people who were democrats who talked to me and said that I needed to consider switching," said Caraway. "When I went out there and started talking to people, it was a real approach. They were saying that it's time to switch. We've got to go a different direction."

        Sheriff Cain addressed the audience and discussed his views on switching over to the republican party. He said that he is really neither democrat or republican; that he usually votes for the person, not the party. His said that he has been approached during his last two terms and that people felt that it was the time for him to change.

        "I had to think about where I was," he said. "As the sheriff of Hardin County, I can stand here on firm feet and tell you that Ed Cain doesn't change a bit. Ed Cain is the same person yesterday that he is today and will be tomorrow. I will continue to try very hard to do a good job for the citizens of Hardin County.

        "Some people get recognition but that's not the job that I do; that's the job that the people in my office do. I get the recognition for it. Ed Cain doesn't do the job; there are a whole bunch of people here that do. I try to provide the very best leadership that I can for them. They're great people and they do a great job and make me look good. So you're voting for them."
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Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. Pol. Adv. Paid for by Campaign to Re-Elect Billy Caraway for Hardin County Judge.