Filing ended Monday for Denton County’s March 2 primary election.

The Republican Party continued to stock the primary ballot with 43 candidates while the Democrats, who had none until Monday, fielded four candidates for the seats of justice of the peace in Precincts 1 and 6, probate court and U.S. Congress.

The ratio of GOP to Democratic candidates resembles previous years, with 26 Republicans to the Democrats’ eight in 2008, and 50 to seven in 2006.

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, addressed fellow Republicans gathered at their headquarters Monday night after the filing period officially ended.

“We’re facing a crucial year. We’re aware of the great deal of unrest, and there is a new political energy that was not palpable before. And that’s a good thing,” he said.

Politicians have been arguing over many things not of concern to the American public and need to get back to basics, Burgess said. His comments garnered nods of approval.

Dianne Edmondson, county Republican chairwoman, continued to tout the party’s slate of candidates and said she anticipated a spirited primary election.

When it comes to the Democrats’ chances, despite the Republican political track record in Denton County, Edmondson said she does not take anything for granted.

“There are a lot of new voters,” she said.

In races with multiple candidates such as the probate court, County Court at Law No. 1 and the 158th District Court will be difficult for candidates to differentiate themselves from their opponents, Edmondson said. She noted that Steve Burgess, son of former Corinth Mayor Vic Burgess, recently changed his candidacy from probate court to the 158th Judicial District seat.

Candidates all noted that running for office is a full-time job, tough no matter what position a person is running for but worth the work.

Edmondson welcomed the challenge presented by any opposition from the Democrats for the general election.

“When you have two, the public has a chance to see the differences in the parties, to bring out what we stand for,” she said.

Phyllis Wolper, chairwoman of the Denton County Democratic Party, said the number of candidates doesn’t tell the whole story.

“We’re very pleased with the high caliber of these candidates and their experience relevant to the offices they are seeking,” Wolper said.

Despite Republicans’ dominance in the county, the turnout of Democrats and independents who voted Democratic in the last election has Democratic candidates optimistic about their chances when the general election rolls around.

 “I’m not going to stand here and say it will be cinch. It’s all about getting out and getting people off the sidelines,” said Bill Barnett, candidate for Precinct 1 justice of the peace.

Barnett recalled the 1960s and the heyday of the Democratic Party in the county, saying a lot of those people from that era are still around.

“If we can get them as enthused as they were in their younger years,” he said, “we can be successful.”

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is lewis@dentonrc.com .

Listed are the complete Republican and Democratic candidate filings for the March 2 primary ballots. (I) denotes incumbent.

REPUBLICAN

District attorney

Paul Johnson (I), 51

Brent Bowen, lawyer, 34

Statutory Probate Court

Gilland Chenault, 31, lawyer

Robert Ramirez, 38, lawyer

Bonnie Robison, 54, lawyer

County Court at Law No. 1

Kimberly McCary, 42, lawyer

George A. Mitcham, 41, assistant district attorney

Christine Ventura, 52, lawyer

Chance Oliver, 39, lawyer

County Court at Law No. 2

Margaret E. Barnes (I), 51

158th District Court

Jake Collier (I), 69

Steve Burgess, 46, lawyer

David J. Moraine, 42, lawyer

367th District Court

Lee Gabriel (I), 55

211th District Court

L. Dee Shipman, (I), 54

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1

Joe Holland (I), 58

Jim Bryan, 46, police officer

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

James R. DePiazza (I), 44

Carlos Gallardo, 53, human resources manager

Justice of the Peace Precinct 3

Becky Kerbow (I), 47

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4

J.W. Hand (I), 73

Dave Jahn, 41, felony prosecutor

Scott Smith, 55, self-employed

Justice of the Peace Precinct 5

Mike Bateman (I), 49

Justice of the Peace Precinct 6

Patty Larson (I), 62

District clerk

Sherri Adelstein (I), 48

County Commissioner Precinct 2

Ron Marchant (I), 57

County Commissioner Precinct 4

Andy Eads (I), 38

County judge

Mary Horn (I), 65

State Representative District 63

Tan Parker (I), 39, businessman

State Representative District 64

Myra Crownover (I), 62, investor

Kurt Hyde, 65, database administration

State Representative District 65

Bert Solomons (I), 59, real estate attorney

Mike Murphy, 60, consultant

County Criminal Court No. 1

Jim Crouch (I), 50,

County Criminal Court No. 2

Virgil Vahlenkamp (I), 51

County Criminal Court No. 3

David D. Garcia (I), 51

County Criminal Court No. 4

Joe Bridges (I), 60

County Criminal Court No. 5

Richard “Ski” Podgorski (I), 64

County Republican chairman

Dianne Edmondson (I), 68

County clerk

Cynthia Mitchell (I), 38

County treasurer

Cindy Yeatts Brown (I), 42

U.S. Representative District 26

Michael Burgess (I), 59

DEMOCRATIC

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1

William K. Barnett, 64, accountant

Justice of the Peace Precinct 6

Paul Gomez, 39, lawyer

Statutory Probate Court

Stephen Stephens, 64, lawyer

U.S. Representative District 26

Neil Durrance, 53, lawyer