Republican Party Chairwoman Nancy Boston said voters should anticipate a runoff.
“We have four good candidates for that race,” she said. “More than likely, there will be a runoff.”
The filing period for spots on the 2008 ballot ended Wednesday.
Democrats had only three candidates file for office in the county, Sam Murphey for District 55, Gill Hollie for county commissioner Precinct 3 and Phillip Anellie for county commissioner Precinct 1.
All will be uncontested in the primary.
“I feel energized with these guys,” Arthur Resa, Democratic Party chairman, said from the new party headquarters at 315 N. Main St. in Temple.
The District 55 race to replace retiring state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, is easily the most compelling primary race. Former Temple City Council member Martha Tyroch, former schoolteacher, and small business owner Michael V. Pearce, and local businessmen Ralph Sheffield and John Alaniz will face off in the Republican primary.
The other two contested Republican primary races are for constable positions. Republicans will choose between incumbent Louis R. Cortez and Lloyd Charping for the constable Precinct 1 position and incumbent Roger D. Laird and Gordy McQuire for constable Precinct 2.
The Republican who emerges from the District 55 primary will face Murphey, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, in the general election.
Incumbents Richard Cortese, county commissioner Precinct 1, and Eddy Lange, Precinct 3, are the only Republicans outside of the District 55 race who will be opposed in the general election on Nov. 4.
Most of the incumbents in the county are assured will retain their positions.
Those who are unopposed in both the primary and general election include: Rick Morris, 146th district judge; Fancy Jezek, 426th district judge; Joe Carroll, 27th district judge; Henry Garza, district attorney; Rick Miller, county attorney; Dan Smith, county sheriff; Sharon Long, tax assessor-collector; David Barfield, justice of the peace, Precinct 3; Garland K. Potvin, justice of the peace, Precinct 4; Edd Melton III, constable Precinct 4; Nancy Boston, Bell County Republican Party chairman.
Incumbent Bill Hartwell, constable Precinct 3, did not file for re-election. Republican Thomas Prado will be unopposed for that position on the ballot.
