TYLER, Texas — Sgt. Willie Mims announced he will run for Commissioners Court Precinct 4.
On May 22, the Twelfth Court of Appeals in Smith County ruled Mims' victory in the March 3 primary invalid because his application for candidacy did not have signatures from 200 registered voters within Precinct 1.
Bobby Garmon, who lost Tuesday's runoff against Curtis Traylor, originally filed the lawsuit against Mims. Mims appealed to the Texas Supreme Court to validate his win in the original primary.
Mims sais in his statement Wednesday that his appeal is still moving forward. However, on May 28, the Texas Supreme Court denied his motion for emergency relief.
Mims released the following statement:
"I would like to express congratulations to Curtis Traylor-Harris on his win in the Precinct 1 Constable “runoff”. I would also like to say thank you to Bobby Garmon for bringing the community together.
"Residents across Precinct 1 have made their voices heard not once, but twice now. For the Precinct 1 community to know, my appeal to Garmon’s Appellate Court decision about the Precinct 1 Constable race is still alive and pending in the Texas Supreme Court.
"I love my community and have dedicated my life the last 15 years to protecting all of Precinct 1. My goal was and, is still, to be your next Precinct 1 Constable. Pending a decision and outcome from the Texas Supreme Court, I, Sgt. Willie Mims of the Precinct 1 Constable Office, am temporarily announcing my candidacy for the office of Precinct 4 Commissioner. Accountability and integrity is what is needed in Commissioners Court. I have been asked to run for the office of Precinct 4 Commissioner by hundreds of Precinct 1 residents in order to bring those values back to a critical part of county government."
