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Two Republican candidates are running for the Denton County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 seat in the March 3 primary election.
What you need to know
Republican candidates Vince Handler and Derek Gurley will be running for a position on the November general election ballot.
The current Justice of the Peace for Precinct 5 is Mike Oglesby, who is not running for the seat.
The Democratic primary race is uncontested, with Patrece Perry as the only candidate running.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Perry in November. The winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.
Preparing for the polls
Early voting for the March 3 primary election runs from Feb. 17-27. Voters can cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. Third-party candidates will appear on the ballot in November.
The March 3 primary includes 18 statewide races and other local races.
For more coverage on local, state and federal races on the March 3 ballot, visit communityimpact.com/election.
What else?
Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Candidates are listed in ballot order.
licensed attorney, 12 years JP courtroom experience, former federal law enforcement, 20-year military veteran
Why are you running for office?
Our community deserves a judge with a legal background. [I have] 12 years of JP court experience and a commitment to impartial decisionmaking. I'll be a judge who applies the law as written while making the court more accessible and easier to navigate for people who cannot afford legal representation.
What are the biggest challenges facing the city?
Justice of the Peace courts face growing case backlogs that delay case resolutions and strain resources, while also serving large numbers of self-represented litigants who struggle to navigate complex court procedures. These challenges frustrate citizens and make it harder for courts to consistently deliver timely and efficient outcomes.
How do you plan to address these issues?
Smart and proactive internal management of cases focused on moving toward resolution at the earliest possible time and eliminating unjustified delays. Intelligent redesign and simplification of court instructions and resources that make it much easier for litigants to proceed to each step of the case swiftly and confidently.
What would your top priorities be if you are elected?
Eliminate the backlog of cases [which will] greatly reduce the time for case resolution, saving time and resources. Transform court procedures to eliminate delays and errors. Provide first-class customer service through comprehensive staff training. Provide robust resources for self-represented individuals. Maximize technology usage to meet these priorities.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Why are you running for office?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What are the biggest challenges facing the city?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
How do you plan to address these issues?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What would your top priorities be if you are elected?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
