Eads seeks a third term as county judge while Pappas runs on a hospital district and a bigger homestead exemption

The Denton County judge's race pairs a Flower Mound Republican and a Lewisville Democrat with contrasting priorities for county government: Republican County Judge Andy Eads, who wants a third term, and Democrat Nick Pappas.

Both ran without opposition in their March primaries, and both appear on the county's list of contests for the Nov. 3 ballot. The county judge serves a four-year term. The Cross Timbers Gazette published statements from both candidates Friday.

Eads: keep taxes low, plan for growth

Eads, 55, lives in Flower Mound and served as a county commissioner before becoming county judge. In his statement to the Gazette, he pointed to what he called the county's lowest tax rate since 1986 and said he would keep the county within reach financially for households and employers.

He listed public safety and support for law enforcement and emergency services, easier access to county services, transportation projects aimed at congestion, and economic development that brings in quality employers as priorities, while protecting residents' quality of life.

Pappas: new services without new taxes

Pappas, 39, lives in Lewisville. His statement argues that a county of more than a million people lacks a county hospital, a jail diversion center and a 24-hour shelter, and depends on neighboring counties for those services. He says he would pay for his plans without new taxes, using money the county already has, investment income and state and federal dollars.

His platform includes:

• raising the county's homestead exemption from 1% to 20%, which he says matches surrounding counties
• countywide voting on Election Day, which he notes Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties have had for years
• a county hospital district, which would require a countywide vote
• the jail diversion center he says a 2022 county report ranked as its top priority
• round-the-clock homeless outreach and shelter, three meals a day for every child in the county, and housing for young people aging out of foster care

"We have the money. It's a budget decision," Pappas wrote.

Voting

Ballots can be cast early at any of 54 county sites from Monday, Oct. 19, to Friday, Oct. 30, according to the Gazette. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and voter information is posted at votedenton.gov.

Sources

Cross Timbers Gazette

votedenton.gov