Thursday, October 30, 1997
Second JP announces retirement
By BETH HALLMARK / Abilene Reporter-News
At least two Taylor County justice of the peace courts will
have new faces behind the bench after next year's elections.
Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Billy Matthews said Wednesday
he will not seek another term in office, one day after Precinct
2 Justice of the Peace Jack Keenan made the same announcement.
Matthews, 67, has presided over the Precinct 4 justice of the
peace court in Lawn since 1983, when he was appointed to the office.
In 1984, the Democrat was elected to fill the last two years of
the unexpired term. He won election to his first full term in
1986.
"I've been here nearly 16 years," Matthews said.
"It's really been a great experience, but I've decided I've
had enough. It's time to turn it over to someone younger."
That someone could be Frank Cleveland, who will leave his job
as head of the West Central Texas Interlocal Crime Task Force
in December.
Cleveland, 48, said Wednesday he plans to run for the post
Matthews will vacate.
"My family and I have talked about this a lot," Cleveland
said. "I feel like this would be the time for me to run."
Cleveland cited his 23 years' experience in law enforcement
as qualifications for the job, including 10 years at the helm
of the drug task force. The Taylor County native started as a
patrol officer with the Abilene police department before working
as a narcotics agent.
Cleveland and his family have lived near Lawn for the past
four years. He serves as the precinct's Republican Party chairman
and, expectedly, will run as a Republican.
Four of Taylor County's five justice of the peace seats are
up for a vote in Nov. 1998. Candidates will begin filing to run
on Dec. 3.
Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Leroy Groves, a Democrat, is
expected to run for re-election.
Sam Matta, Precinct 1, Place 2 justice of the peace, said rumors
that he may bypass a re-election bid to run for county commissioner
are unfounded.
"Right now I can honestly say it's a rumor," Matta
said. "I haven't made any announcements either way. My intention
now is to stay where I am. I love my job."
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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