Kenedy County voting for district attorney, sheriff & Pct. 1 commissioner

Frank Alvarez Registered voters in Kenedy County have taken advantage of early voting in one regional and two local races. Voters will need to select a district attorney, a sheriff, and a county commissioner for Precinct 1 in the March Democratic and Republican primaries.

In the district attorney's race, which also includes Kleberg County, incumbent John Hubert (R-Kingsville) will face private practice attorney Frank Alvarez (DKingsville) in the November general elections.

Incumbent sheriff Ray Salinas will face former longtime deputy Juan "Johnny" Cuellar. Salinas is running for his second term of office in the Democratic primary. There are no Republican candidates for the race.

Incumbent Precinct 1 commissioner Louis E. "Bud" Turcotte will face Kenedy Ranch Foundation manager Clay Wolter, and La Parra grounds manager Joe Recio. There are no Republican candidates for the race.

Hubert was appointed to the job in September of last year, after the district was realigned by the state legislature. District Judge J. Manuel Banales and Nueces County district attorney both supported the establishment of a Kenedy/Kleberg County district attorney's office in Kingsville.

John Hubert He graduated from St. Mary's Law School in San Antonio, after earning bachelors and masters degrees in education and urban planning from Texas A&M in College Station. He was an assistant district attorney with Nueces County.

During Desert Storm in the early 1990s, Maj. Hubert served with the U.S. Army, where he received two Bronze Stars, and two Army Commendation Medals. He returned to Iraq recently as an advisor.

Alvarez graduated from South Texas College of Law in Houston, after receiving a bachelors degree in political science from UT-San Antonio, according to an article in the Kingsville Record.

He has over 11 years experience as a criminal lawyer, has been a court appointed attorney, and was a past president for his local bar association.

Alvarez was asked for additional information, but did not respond by press time.

Both Alvarez and Hubert are running unopposed in their respective primaries.