A coalition of local Republican Party groups in the Permian Basin has announced a joint forum featuring gubernatorial and attorney general candidates running in the Republican Party Primary Election. The forum will be held Tuesday, February 1, at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center between Midland and Odessa, from 6-8 PM. Ticket prices will range […]
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Conflict Accusations Erupt in Tumultuous Odessa Council Meeting
Accusations and questions flew across the dais of the Odessa City Council Chamber Tuesday night, as Council-members Steve Thompson and Mari Willis brought forth an agenda item to remove Odessa Economic Development (ODC) Board member Jeff Russell from his post. Thompson, who spearheaded the effort, faced accusations of political motivation and double standards as he […]
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Ector County Judge Candidates Square off Over Handling of Federal Funds
The Odessa Lion’s club held a lunch forum Thursday, featuring the first public campaign debate between incumbent Ector County Judge Debi Hays, and challenger Dustin Fawcett. Both candidates were allowed to start by giving speeches that highlighted their professional backgrounds, with Fawcett giving his plans and vision for the office if he is elected, and […]
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Weakening Illegal Voting Laws Becomes Heated Issue in State Representative Race
The Republican Primary race to be the next State Representative in House District 81 (HD-81) is heating up, with challenger Casey Gray going after incumbent State Representative Brooks Landgraf’s (R-Odessa) controversial vote to reduce the penalty for five core election fraud statutes from major felonies to misdemeanors – and now, Landgraf is firing back. At […]
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Odessa College Imposing Federal Mandates on Employees
Odessa College is imposing both a vaccine mandate and mask mandate on unvaccinated employees – citing the federal vaccine mandate being imposed through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The federal mandates, which have come at the direction of President Joe Biden, have all faced severe scrutiny in federal courts. However, after the OSHA […]
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State Rep. Candidate’s Gun-Toting Family Christmas Photo Garners Social Media Attention
One candidate running for office in West Texas has a family Christmas photo getting explosive shares on social media, drawing over 100,000 views on LinkedIn and thousands of reactions on Twitter. Candidate Casey Gray (R-Odessa), who is running in the March 1, 2022, Republican Primary for the HD-81 seat in the Texas House of Representatives, […]
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ECISD Bond Committee Discusses How to Proceed
The ECISD Bond Planning Committee met again Thursday evening last week at New Tech Odessa’s campus to discuss the findings of another community survey and whether to move forward with a bond proposal early next month. Some bond committee leaders have given perplexed reactions to a recent push poll survey the district commissioned, showing that […]
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Freddy Redmon Joins Race for Ector County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace
Local business owner Freddy Redmon announced his candidacy in the 2022 March Republican Primary Election for the office of Ector County Justice of the Peace in Precinct 3. Redmon, who is described as a native West Texan, grew up in Monahans, graduated from law enforcement academy in 1999, and has worked in law enforcement communications […]
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Odessa Businessman Billy Tripp Announces Campaign for Ector County Commissioner
Odessa businessman Billy Tripp has announced his candidacy in the March 1, 2022, Republican Primary, filing earlier this month to run for Ector County Commissioner in Precinct 2. According to a campaign press release, Tripp is a lifelong Odessa resident and cites a professional background in building construction, oil and gas, ranching, and farming. Tripp […]
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Final Candidates for GOP/Democrat Primary Elections Set for Ector County
Filing to run for the March 1, 2022, Primary Election closed on Monday, and the final list of candidates has been set – with both parties seeing numerous contests for their respective party nomination to public office. The Republican Primary saw the most filings, with 28 candidates filing to run, whereas 7 candidates filed in […]