Top row, from left, Smith County Commissioner Precinct 1 Republican Incumbent Pam Frederick, Precinct 1 Republican candidate Christina Drewry, Precinct 3 Republican Incumbent Terry Phillips, and second row, Precinct 3 Republican candidates Rusty Smith and J. Scott Herod, and Democrat candidate Edith Wilson. Dave Hansen, who is also on the Democratic ballot for Precinct 3 commissioner, declined to provide a headshot.

Seven candidates are vying for Smith County Commissioners Court precinct seats in the primary elections coming up Tuesday. Two Republican candidates are running to represent Precinct 1 and five — three Republicans, two Democrats — each hope to represent Precinct 3.

The Smith County Commissioners Court manages county finances and operations, including creating the annual budget. It is composed of a county judge and four commissioners representing each precinct in the county. The court oversees roads and bridges, appoints department heads and committees, and fills vacancies in elective and appointive positions.

In the joint primary elections, residents can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary but not both. The primary allows voters to make a choice of which candidates they want to see on the November ballot against other party’s candidates. The winners of Tuesday’s election will appear on the November ballot. In the Precinct 1 race, there is no Democratic challenger.

In interviews with the Tyler Morning Telegraph, each commissioner candidate presented their vision for the court.

Republican Ballot

Precinct 1

Precinct 1 covers the cities of Noonday to Bullard from Lake Palestine to Farm-to-Market Road 756.

Pam Frederick

Incumbent Pam Frederick was sworn in on Nov. 9, 2022. Frederick has 20 years of governmental experience and served as the City of Bullard’s mayor from 2011 to 2022. She is a retired teacher with 29 years of experience.

“I’m doing the job that I told voters I would do, and I want to continue to do,” Frederick said. “Voters can see what we intended to do as a county to make life good and better for them and see that I’ve stepped in and did what I told them I would do.”

Frederick’s priorities include mental health, supporting law enforcement and road and bridge improvements, according to her campaign website. Frederick has worked with the sheriff’s office, implemented measures to retain detention officers in the jail, and spearheaded a Mental Health Diversion Officer position to improve the management of offenders with mental health issues.

“I’d like to continue to work on this mental health crisis. We’re moving mountains, but we’re not through,” Fredrick said. “I want to get to a point where we are a leader in the mental health world.”

Frederick is addressing concerns raised by community members regarding the state of their county roads and said she will be responsive to any issues reported to her.

“I want to continue to be the liaison for the road and bridge department,” Frederick said. “When I serve in a position like this, it is to improve the way that things are going in a community or to continue to move forward in a community.”

When she was elected, Frederick said she immediately went to work, meeting with department heads and learning how their jobs related to her work as a commissioner.

She served on the Bullard City Council from 2003 to 2011, the Christus Mother Frances Hospital Community Leadership Board, the Smith County Area Go Texan Scholarship Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee – American Freedom Museum, and Duck Unlimited.

Among her endorsements, Frederick is endorsed by the Tyler Patrolman’s Association Lodge 182, and the East Texas Regional Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 51, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, Bullard Mayor Shirley Coe, State Sen. Bryan Hughes and others.

Christina Drewry

Opponent Christina Drewry said it was time to examine the role of elected officials once she realized something shifted in politics during the 2020 presidential election.

Drewry has regularly attended various government meetings for more than two years, including the Smith County Commissioners Court. She said the residents of Smith County have the right to know about the reasons and methods behind how elected officials utilize the tax dollars.

She grew up in Fairfield and graduated from Whitehouse High School. She studied accounting before marrying her husband. She left college to travel the country before landing in Wise County in 2012.

Because she does not work a formal job, she said she is called to serve wherever and whenever she is asked by people who believe she has the talent and skill to do so. According to her campaign website, Drewry has a valuable and critical perspective in shaping policies and decisions that affect families and communities.

She used her talents to create volunteer programs, reorganize administrations, and raise project funds. Her passion for serving others and problem-solving can create positive change in county government for taxpayers and employees.

“For me, this job isn’t just an eight to five, Monday through Friday kind of job. I want to be there for my constituents,” Drewry said. “I do my homework. I’m not one of those people that just barely gets involved. I’m a deep diver.”

She said property taxes are out of control, emphasizing listening to residents and county employees to decrease spending. She supports open and transparent government, where elected officials are held accountable to their constituents.

Drewry has advocated for crucial legislation addressing the Republican Party’s Legislative Priorities at the State Capitol and has served as a Smith County Republican Party Precinct Chair and as 2022 State Delegate for the Republican Party of Texas State Convention.

Drewry is a District Director for the Texas Nationalist Movement and a member of Smith County Republican Women. Among her endorsements, she is endorsed by Grassroots America We the People Political Action Committee, Sen. Bob Hall, Texans for Toll-free Highways, Texas Eagle Forum PAC, and others.

Precinct 3

Precinct 3 is the largest of the four commissioners’ precincts in Smith County. It covers the entire northern half of the county and includes several small communities such as Lindale, Winona, part of Overton, Tyler, and Hideaway.

Terry Phillips

Incumbent Terry Phillips took office in January 2009. Phillips said he is vying for reelection because his knowledge, previous experience and conservative beliefs bring balance to the court.

“I love serving people,” Phillips said. “Many people just want to be listened to and heard.”

Phillips was born in Longview and moved to Tyler in 1974. He enrolled at John Tyler High School as a senior and graduated the same year. He attended Tyler Junior College, earning an associate degree in petroleum technology. He went on to study supervision and government at UT Tyler. He worked in the oil and gas industry until the mid-1980s when he began acquiring real estate and managing properties today.

Phillips has hundreds of hours of continuing education, business and real estate experience. He has a record of voting in favor of taxpayers and said that is how he will continue to vote.

“I know the burden on the taxpayer, and I spend the county money just like I do my own, and I am very tight with my money,” Phillips said. “I operate the same way with the county.”

Phillips said he ran for office initially after the county commissioners gave themselves a raise. He felt that was an inappropriate decision and ran as a constitutional conservative.

“During that first term, I gave $48,000 of my salary back to the county,” Phillips said.

Phillips added, “I’m the only commissioner that’s voted against all the tax increases in the past. I’m a voice for the taxpayer, and that’s what I want to continue to be.”

Some of Phillips’ opponents expressed concern about Phillips’ family. His son Lance, 40, has been arrested multiple times for disrupting the commissioners’ court. Phillips said he doesn’t control the actions of his adult children.

“I don’t think that should influence how I do my job at a county,” Phillips said. “I’m not them. They’re not me. I work for the citizens of the county.”

Phillips has attended Rose Heights Church of God for 25 years. He is also a member of the Smith County Peace Officers Association and National Rifle Association and is an associate member of the Smith County Republican Women.

Rusty Smith

Former Winona mayor and city council member Rusty Smith said now that his children are adults, it was time to continue serving constituents and pursue a higher elected office.

“I don’t think politics or at least any particular seat in politics was ever meant to be a career,” Smith said. “If you want to serve longer in politics, I think you should pursue different avenues and different seats.”

Smith has over a dozen years of experience in government, information technology and business, and also as a volunteer firefighter. He was elected mayor of the City of Winona in 2006 after three terms, or six years, as Alderman.

Many projects were completed during his time as mayor, including upgrades to Winona’s water system, including a 100,000-gallon water tower, the replacement of almost half of the city water lines and the installation of a generator for water wells to provide water to the city during extended power outages, according to his campaign announcement.

Under his leadership, the police department grew from one officer to four, including a school resource officer the City of Winona contracted to Winona ISD. A new building was procured to serve as city hall, the police department and the municipal court.

Smith said people often have good intentions for a role but don’t accomplish their goals due to frustration and not understanding their role within the confines of the law. He has the experience to understand the process and work within the bounds of the laws.

Precinct 3 has an equal population to the smallest precinct but covers the largest by square miles. He said it can take more than an hour to travel across the farthest corner of the precinct.

“There’s a lot more ground covered, and they have a lot more roads and infrastructure to cover that,” Smith said. “The tax base is not any more necessarily than the smallest precinct with the fewest number of roads.”

If elected, he will prioritize road maintenance in Precinct 3 where, he said, many roads are being fixed under budget, but the county could improve. He looks forward to building relationships and understanding constituents’ and department heads’ needs to ensure their success.

J. Scott Herod

Throughout his life, J. Scott Herod has driven the roads in Precinct 3, a largely rural area of Smith County. After considering running for county commissioner and the interests of community members, he studied the role.

“I began studying and decided that was something that should time allow and should my skill set continue to develop. It was a position that I’d be interested in,” Herod said.

He said his background in large corporate finance and business skills make him uniquely qualified for the role of Precinct 3 commissioner.

After graduating high school, Herod continued his education and earned a BBA in management from Texas A&M University in 2000. A Smith County native, he eventually settled in Chapel Hill.

Herod participated in organizations with leadership hierarchies from high school to his professional career in sales and finance.

He started as a manager at Bank of America. He became a senior vice president, supervising operations of rural banking centers in Texas, Arizona and other states.

Part of his role involved working with large nonprofit organizations to collaborate with city and county government and the leadership of large companies on projects such as building construction.

He left Bank of America in 2012 to co-own APEC, Athlete Performance Enhancement Center, in Tyler. He sold his stake in the fitness center in 2014 and opened Cut Beef, where he runs his small business and ranch.

“I see the county commissioners as an infrastructure leader, someone responsible for helping everyone in the county to enjoy the basic benefits of life here,” Herod said. “The county commissioner has a position that’s looking to give us all equal benefits for our tax dollars.”

As a county commissioner, it is essential to communicate with diverse people neutrally, take complicated messages, and simplify them so people can understand.

“I’ll be the first guy to say when my skill sets are no longer with Smith County’s needs, I’ll step out of the way,” Herod said. “They won’t have to elect me out of the way.”

Herod has been endorsed by organizations such as Grassroots America — We The People, Tyler Patrolman’s Association Lodge 182, The East Texas Regional Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 51, Smith County Pct. 2 Commissioner John Moore, retired commissioner Cary Nix, and others.

Democratic Ballot

Precinct 3

Edith Wilson

Edith Wilson has spent her entire career in the public sector and is a lifelong resident of Precinct 3. When she retired, she wanted to find the best way to continue serving her community.

“I’ve been in the rural area all my life, and I see the possibilities,” Wilson said.

She emphasized the growth potential in rural areas, advocating for representation and development in these regions. She said as most rural communities in Precinct 3 grow, its county commissioner must prioritize its infrastructure and roads.

“Some people say they want to do this but don’t take action,” Wilson said. “I looked around, and it was my desire to not just talk about something, but to do something about it or at least try to do something.”

Wilson is willing to advocate for her community with action, not just words.

She graduated from Chapel Hill ISD in 1978. She continued her education at Lamar University in Beaumont, earning a Masters of Education and Educational Technology Leadership. She earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from UT Tyler and an applied science associate degree from TJC. She is also a certified respiratory therapist.

She worked 14 years as a respiratory technician at UT Health Center and 16 years as a technology teacher, teaching engineering classes at Tyler Independent School District.

“As a school teacher, I would look at the different students, and I could see so much potential in them, and to try to bring that out,” Wilson said.

Wilson is compassionate and passionate about improving residents’ quality of life and helping bring out the best in others to achieve goals or improve the environment.

She said the rural communities’ infrastructure outside city limits is often overlooked, but growth seen in Tyler and surrounding cities will eventually expand into these areas.

“I am not a politician. I’m just a concerned citizen of the community,” Wilson said. “I want to be there for the community, Precinct 3, and I want to be able to voice their opinions and their concerns.”

The decisions that county commissioners make affect many people in communities and families. Wilson’s goals are to listen and aid in assessing the current and future needs of the rural areas.

She has been a St. Violet Baptist Church member from her youth until now. She is also a Chapel Hill Community Service Organization Strategic Planning Team member.

Dave Hansen

Smith County transplant Dave Hansen has lived in Precinct 3 for about five years.

He’s been involved with Democrat Party clubs wherever he lives, including serving as a precinct chair and committee member in Idaho, in local activism and negotiating union contracts. He was also involved in the campaign for Smith County Democratic Party Chair Hector Garza.

Hansen said he became aware of an underlying racism and the emphasis on church in East Texas. People, especially, have no concept of separating church and state.

He noted that James Madison, known as the “Father of the Constitution,” proposed the government should not be cognizant of religion. However, elected representatives are quoting theology as part of their decisions, he said.

“It does not belong there,” Hansen said.

Hansen explored various careers in East Texas before retiring.

He was a motor coach driver transporting tourists and gained an appreciation for many world views. He operated an independent office supplies store and as a medical insurance agent. He also worked in public health in a state immunization program for childhood vaccines.

Hansen said he can look at things objectively and is willing to step into roles and do due diligence. At the end of the day, he is a servant.

“First of all, you’re a server, and to be an effective server, in my opinion, you need to listen to more than one line of thinking,” Hansen said. “That’s how you learn, and I consider education a lifelong pursuit.”

There are many Precinct 3 roads that need to be rebuilt, not just resurfaced, Hansen said. Planning for the long term is better than coming in under budget. Cheap is not an investment, in his opinion.

He added that information technology (IT) needs to be improved, and the county website needs a modern design to increase effectiveness and user-friendly transparency. Information should be readily available and accessible for constituents to find online, he said.

“I had a couple of people encourage me to run,” Hansen said. “There are Democrats in this area, and hopefully, there may be larger numbers than we think.”

He grew up in Southern California. He also lived in Florida, Arizona and Idaho for 26 years before moving to Texas. He graduated from Arcadia High School in Arcadia, California, earned an associate in arts degree from Pasadena City College, earned an associate degree in arts, and later studied fire science at San Diego State University.

Editor’s Note: Hansen declined to provide a headshot.

Voters can cast their ballot during early voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, which is the last day of early voting. The last day to receive a ballot by mail is Election Day, March 5. Early voting and Election Day polling places, along with full sample ballots, can be found at the Smith County Elections website at smith-county.com/government/departments/elections. Stories profiling candidates in other local races can be read at tylerpaper.com/elections.