Three candidates are competing to become the new Precinct 4 county commissioner.

The most recognizable name on the ballot is Ben Perry, a Woodway insurance agent who defeated sitting Precinct 4 Commissioner Ray Meadows in a heated Republican primary and runoff this spring.

The other two contenders, Democrat Will Stevens and Libertarian David Meine, have campaigned hard to increase their presence with voters.

Perry said his primary victory helped bring his campaign visibility that it may not have garnered otherwise and helped him gain support from the Republican Party faithful in the precinct.

“What we have found is that the Republican Party lined up behind us this time 100 percent, so it’s been easier on our resources, as far as networking and reaching out to the community,” Perry said. “What we’re trying to do is make sure we get our base out to the polls for this general election.”

The support has largely translated into cash donations. Perry raised $19,079.50 in the last fundraising quarter, bringing his total campaign contributions to nearly $55,000.

Many of Perry’s contributors are business owners and local contractors. Perry also has spent a considerable amount of time wooing business leaders during meetings with local Rotary and Lions clubs.

“I think with the economy being a key issue right now on the national or state level, I think local business leaders are more willing to come listen to what you have to say,” Perry said. “But we are also seeing farmers — we’ve been in Crawford, China Spring and McGregor areas — so I feel like we’re being well-received all around.”

Stevens, a McLennan County DARE officer, said Perry’s fundraising prowess has made his campaigning efforts much tougher. Stevens has raised $4,200 during the entire campaign, mostly in small donations of less than $50.

Perry also won the endorsement of the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Association of McLennan County, a group of sheriff’s deputies. Stevens said he still is receiving support from fellow deputies, Democrat and Republican alike, in spite of the group’s endorsement of Perry.

“We don’t have the money to run up against Ben Perry, that’s obvious,” Stevens said. “Ben’s got a lot of big money backing him. But my opinion is that it shouldn’t be whoever raises the most money wins. It should be who you think is the best candidate.”

Stevens said most of his efforts have been in door-to-door campaigning in rural areas like McGregor, Speegleville and Crawford, where he resides. He advocates improving county roads and creating a cap on increasing property taxes.

“I’ve got more of the common man on my side,” said Stevens, who comes from a family of cattle raisers. “That’s what I am, I’m a common working man, and that’s the voice I want to bring to the court.”

Stevens also has a booth at the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo to reach out to potential voters. But while his mother greets visitors daily, you won’t catch him manning the booth.

Stevens heads the sheriff’s office security detail at the fair, leading a team of up to 30 sheriff’s deputies and constables keeping order for the family-themed event. He said the duty keeps him working 15 hours for each of the 10 days of the fair, leaving him little time for campaigning.

“I didn’t want to give the impression that I was campaigning on duty,” Stevens said. “I made the commitment 13 years ago to come out and run security for the fair, and I wasn’t going to tell them, ‘No, I’m not coming this year because I’m campaigning,’ because I didn’t think that was right to do.”

Meine, a retired Texas State Technical College instructor, said he hasn’t done any campaigning or fundraising at all for the election. His wife had a stroke a few months ago and is still in recovery, and he put the campaign on the back burner.

Meine, a former Republican Party faithful, said he hopes he will still get some votes from the Libertarian Party base and maybe gain the support of disillusioned voters from the two major parties.

“I think it’s time for a third-party movement to get more competitive, and I think the Libertarian Party is in the best position to win over people from both sides,” Meine said.

Early voting begins Monday.

rdennis@wacotrib.com

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