Local News
There were no celebration parties for candidates in uncontested races
By Jim Hardin
Herald-Banner Staff
There were no celebration parties Monday night for Kay McDaniel, Kenda Culpepper and David Peek.
All three admitted, however, that they did breathe a sigh of relief when the filing deadline arrived and they learned that they would be unopposed in the March 2 primary election.
McDaniel is unopposed in her bid for another term as district clerk. Culpepper is unopposed in the effort to win her first full term as district attorney. And Peek is the only candidate to file for county treasurer.
Culpepper is the only candidate to come close to celebrating. She went out to eat with her husband and 2-year-old daughter.
“I was certainly relieved, but I was ready to campaign if I needed to,” Culpepper said. “Thinking about the potential of having to campaign caused some sleepless nights, but I was prepared to do what I needed to do.”
No, she doesn’t have a garage full of campaign signs that will not be needed. Her campaign signs had been designed, but not printed.
Running unopposed, Culpepper said, is “a great compliment.”
“It gives me the feeling that the people are pleased with my performance,” she said.
Culpepper was first elected in November 2008. She was the Rockwall County Republican Party’s nominee for the vacant district attorney position. The post became vacant when Ray Sumrow resigned after his conviction of theft by a public servant. She also was unopposed in 2008.
“I feel relieved,” McDaniel said. “I just put it in God’s hands and I go from there.”
Part of that relief, she said, is that she won’t have to spend a lot of money on a campaign.
McDaniel was appointed district clerk in 1996 after Marty Beaty died. She had an opponent when she ran for the office in 1998. She hasn’t had opposition on the ballot since then, McDaniel said.
Peek, publisher of the Rockwall Enterprise Success, was surprised that he is the only candidate to file for county treasurer. Bill Sinclair announced last month that he would not seek re-election to a second term.
“For there to be an open seat and for me to have no opposition was very, very surprising,” he said.
“I’m excited and I look forward to serving,” Peek added.
Peek added that he will be doing as much as he can to prepare for January 2011, when he is scheduled to take office.
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