SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Smith County voters have made their choice clear on who they want as the Republican candidate for the Smith County Pct. 3 commissioners court race.
Voters selected J. Scott Herod to represent the GOP against Democratic nominee Edith Wilson in November. Precinct 3 covers the entire northern half of Smith County, which includes cities Lindale, Winona, a portion of Overton and Tyler and Hideaway. It is the largest of the four Smith County commissioner precincts. Herod received 1,773 votes (90%) to Phillips' 198 (10%).
"Having relationships with people, and bringing different ideas together, and then ultimately making a decision that serves us all, and serves us all well," Herod said when asked what he wants to focus on if he wins the general election in November. "No matter our background, whether it be our religious background, or ethnicity, financial, no matter, we all want to come together and enjoy Smith County."
Herod has co-owned Cut Beef, a local business that sells naturally pasture-raised beef in East Texas, since 2014. He previously worked in outside sales for Guardsmark, Inc., an international security firm. He then moved on to Bank of America, where he went from banking center manager to consumer market executive to senior vice president.
He left Bank of America in 2012 to become a co-owner of APEC (Athlete Performance Enhancement Center) in Tyler. He later sold his stake in 2014 to open and operate Cut Beef.
"I want to continue to visit more of the facilities around Smith County, its amazing," Herod said. "We have so many great employees that are working right here in Smith County, I want to continue to learn what’s working well, and where there’s areas of improvement. [I want to] help bridge those together so that we can all enjoy the benefits of our county government."
Herod defeated incumbent Terry Phillips who has served since January 2009. Terry Phillips' campaign was overshadowed by mounting legal issues his family members have faced over the past year.
Herod will go head-to-head with Wilson in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.