New Boston, Texas, Chamber of Commerce tallied up results for Saturday night's annual election cycle straw poll after candidates were given a chance to speak at a political forum.
The straw poll, a tradition started in 1976, took place at New Boston High School's auditorium, with Fred Milton acting as moderator. This year's candidates were allotted three minutes to address voters.
Brown was the first of senate hopefuls to address the crowd.
"I am passionate about public education," Brown said. "We need to look at unfunded requirements we place on our districts. Investment in education is an investment in this state."
Brown said he is "adamantly opposed" to public money going into private schools rather than public schools and that he will protect citizens' water and land rights.
"I'm a patriot. I don't do this because I want a title," Brown said. "I will always put you first. That's my promise, so help me God."
Bryan Hughes, who was next at the podium said he would continue to help in the fight against the Affordable Care Act.
"That fight against Obamacare is not over," Hughes said. "Respectfully, I am the only candidate in this race to double border security."
Hughes said he is suing the Obama administration for "their war on coal" and vowed that Dallas was "not going to take our land or our water."
Third to address the crowd was David Simpson, who said he is a "constitutional conservative" and doesn't believe people should have to "ask permission from the government to keep and bear arms."
"We need a catch-and-keep policy," Simpson said of violent criminals. "Catch and release is for fish, not for violent criminals."
"I still believe in liberty and limited government," he said.
Challenger in the District 1 state representative race George Lavender addressed the crowd saying the race for representative "comes down to one question."
"Who is going to control Sulphur River Basin?" Lavender asked. "I have and will continue to stand with our local community. We need someone who will stand up for our water in our region, and I will do that."
Incumbent District 1 Rep. Gary VanDeaver said he would protect local water rights and would never support money being taken from public schools for placement in private schools.
"We need to free our teachers from the chains of bureaucracy," VanDeaver said. "I want to continue to do the job we've begun."
"Dallas needs to keep their hands off our water; Austin needs to keep their hands off our schools; and Midland needs to keep their hands off our state representatives," he added.
Shorty Barrett was the first of the two candidates running for 202nd District judge to speak.
"I've been practicing law here now for 10 years," Barrett said. "I'm licensed to practice law in Texas, and I'm licensed to practice law in Arkansas. I've got the experience that's needed to sit on the bench to conduct the court."
"I'm one of y'all. I assure you if you elect me, you'll be treated fairly," he added.
Barrett's opponent, John Tidwell, said he's been practicing law for the past 23 years.
"I make one promise. I will treat with dignity and respect everyone who stands before me," Tidwell said. "I'll be fair, and I'll work hard."
James Boyd Strain said it was an honor and a privilege to stand before the crowd and be a candidate for the office of Precinct 3 commissioner for Bowie County.
"I just want to say Bowie County is in the center of my heart, and my heart is in Bowie County," Strain said.
Strain said he stands for "sound budgeting" and believes that Bowie County "may not be the biggest county, but we can be the best county."
Raymond Hanna said if elected, he will listen to the people he represents in Precinct 3.
"I have 30 years of experience in construction and road maintenance," Hanna said. "I pledge to listen to the people."
Precinct 1 Commissioner Sammy Stone joked that he felt like a "lone stranger" at the event, because he was "the lone Democrat left in Bowie County."
Stone said he's a strong supporter of veterans and is a veteran himself.
Bowie County Sheriff challenger Jay Womack said he wants to keep students and teachers safe and get illicit drugs off the streets.
"They (drugs) are coming from houses in the county," Womack said. "I know how to combat that problem."
"We've got to protect our kids, (and) we've got to protect our teachers in these schools," he added.
Sheriff James Prince said he hopes to continue in his job as sheriff, a job he said he hasn't taken lightly.
"In 2001, I took office as your sheriff," Prince said. "You can call me 24/7, even when I'm on vacation."
Prince said he wants to get drugs off the streets of the county and said he wants to contract empty beds in the jail to house inmates for other areas.
"I believe we do need to fill those empty beds," he said of the Bowie County jail. "We need to make that revenue if we can."
Straw poll results for Bowie County and area races are:
Sheriff
Jay Womack-184
James Prince-147
Precinct 3 Commissioner
James Boyd Strain-192
Raymond Hanna-78
202nd District Judge
Shorty Barrett-199
John Tidwell-111
District 1 State Senator
James K. Red Brown-97
Bryan Hughes-97
David Simpson-67
Mike Lee-44
District 1 State Representative
Gary VanDeaver-170
George Lavender-139
District 4 U.S. Representative
John Ratcliffe-244
Lou Gigliotti-48
Ray Hall-17