Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4

Ben Condry

1. Why are you running for this position?

It is my opinion that it is very important that elections should provide choices to the voters. There are far too many local elections where candidates run unopposed and I simply wish to provide a choice to the voters. This will keep candidates from becoming too comfortable in holding their offices. Office holders should always be mindful of their constituents and not take them for granted.

2. What experience and qualifications do you bring to this position?

My experiences are those of many common people. I have worked by the hour in mundane jobs, and better jobs for a salary, as well as being more recently self-employed. I worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice where I learned the art of mitigating disputes between some of the toughest people you could ever meet. I was an Election Judge and have also managed my own rental properties where I negotiated resolutions to all issues without having to resort to the use of the court system. Numerous National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses were completed by me while in the Texas State Guard.

All of these experiences have given me a well-rounded view of the difficulties of the average person and will allow me to be understanding and fair to all. I have learned when to be firm and when not too and still stay within the rule of law.

3. What are the biggest challenges facing Bandera, and how do you plan to address them?

The challenges in Bandera are much the same as in many small towns, with some additional ones relating to the increase in tourism and expansionism. Our small community has definitely had an increase in general crime, drugs, and rowdiness, and occasionally some extremely serious criminal incidents have shaken the citizens. As Justice of the Peace, and as a younger person, I would be involved for longer hours at a time.

4. What is something you’d change during your time in office?

I would endeavor to be more courteous. Also, longer hours on duty would definitely be part of my effort to improve the office.

5. What is something you’d keep?

I would wish to keep the rotation schedule, which was innovative and shows helpful cooperation between the various Justices of the Peace within the County.

6. What sets you apart from your opponents?

What sets me apart from others is my self-motivation, energy, and drive that I would bring to the office.

Lynn Holt

1. Why are you running for this position?

I have been employed as a deputy sheriff, criminal investigator, chief of police, for many years. Service to the community is my calling. I have been serving for the past 17 years as Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 and want to continue serving with the support of the voters.

2. What experience and qualifications do you bring to this position?

I have been employed as a deputy sheriff, criminal investigator, chief of police, for many years. Service to the community is my calling. I have been serving for the past 17 years as Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 and want to continue serving with the support of the voters. I have been employed as a deputy sheriff, criminal investigator, chief of police, for many years. Service to the community is my calling. I have been serving for the past 17 years as Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 and want to continue serving with the support of the voters.

3. What experience and qualifications do you bring to this position?

For Bandera County to have a great Justice of the Peace Court system, I must constantly educate myself and read as much as I can about law up-dates. The State Legislature meets every two years for 180 days. New laws and procedures come out of those sessions every year. Attending Legislative up-date classes on a regular basis provides me with the necessary tools to keep up. Our Appeal system of courts hear challenges to existing laws. Those existing laws can be changed by an Appeal Court decision at any time. Constantly reading law up-dates keeps me informed of all the changes.

4. What is something you’d change during your time in office?

Keeping a very up to date website for the public to obtain information is very important. We started our website in about 2013 and worked it to keep it up to date. The public and get information on filing any civil case, defending a civil suit and information on how to deal with a traffic citation. Most people who come into our courts are not represented by an attorney and so it is very important to supply as much information as the law allows the Court to give.

5. What is something you’d keep?

Continue to educate myself in a changing system .Improving our website and keep it up to date.

6. What sets you apart from your opponents?

My education level, my long experience, continue to work by the rules of Judicial Conduct. One personal rule I always adhere to it “there is no right way to do a wrong thing.”