GEORGE WEST – Filing for the March 6 primaries began Monday and will run through Dec. 15, and so far the biggest news may be that McMullen County Sheriff Bruce Thomas will not be seeking a fourth term.

Thomas said that he has an oil gauging and consulting business he’d like to devote more time to.

“It’s time to get somebody new to step into it and see what they can do,” he said.

He has not heard of anybody expressing an interest in the job, he said.

Live Oak County officials whose term are expiring include County Commissioners Richard Lee (Pct. 1) and Jim Bassett (Pct. 3), Sheriff Larry Busby, County Attorney Gene Chapline, Tax Assessor-Collector Virginia Horton, District Clerk Melanie Matkin and all county constable.

Busby will be seeking re-election to a ninth term. He is currently the third longest serving sheriff in Texas, along with the Jim Wells County sheriff.

Bassett announced his retirement earlier this month and Matkin, who was appointed to fill Lois Shannon’s unexpired term, has said she will seek the post. Shannon retired.

In McMullen County, Commissioners Tim Teal and Paul Koonce are up for re-election, as is Tax Assessor-Collector Mary Angel Bostwick.

The filing period was pushed back because of legal challenges to the Legislature’s redistricting plan.