As Judge Darlene Whitten steps down from the County Court at Law No. 1 bench, a quartet of candidates have filed to run for the vacant seat.

One has run for office before and the other three are newcomers to the political scene, but Republicans Kimberly McCary, Chance Oliver, George Mitcham and Christine “Chris” Ventura all say they have what it takes to be a county court judge.

No Democrats have filed to run for the seat.

Early voting begins Feb. 16. The primary is March 2.

Ventura, a Carrollton lawyer who ran in 2006 against Whitten, said she is hoping for a different outcome in this race.

“At the time, I ran as the candidate for change. The county has grown so much, and after visiting other counties, [I noticed] there were other programs they were using and we weren’t,” Ventura said. “Not that Judge Whitten didn’t do a good job, but when you’re on the bench for 16 to 20 years, you get pulled in different directions. I want to go back to basics.”

Ventura said she must remain realistic about a race with three opponents.

“I don’t have an edge at all,” she said. “It will be a tough race. I think the four of us are very different and would approach the bench differently.”

Mitcham said his experience as a police officer and as a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office gives him unique qualifications for the role of protecting people in Denton County.

“I think I can take that court and make the parents and juveniles more responsible for the rehabilitation of their children instead of the taxpayer,” he said. “Most parents of children in the juvenile system should want to participate in the rehabilitation of their children, but many don’t. I’m going to make sure parents of juveniles take an active role as anybody to make sure their children become successful.”

Mitcham said he is hopeful “the county’s citizens will place their trust in me because I have a clear record of public service.”

McCary, who has experience in juvenile court, said it is the only bench she would run for. She is board-certified in juvenile law and said no one in the state has been certified longer than her.

“I just think that I have the most experience and can bring the most in juvenile background to that bench. And I have a passion for young people, so it’s a good fit,” she said. “Nobody has a bigger heart for that bench than Judge Whitten, so I think it is going in [a good] direction.”

Win or lose, McCary said, she’ll “still have a chance to do something that I love.”

Oliver said he has worked in the prison system and has seen the effect on children, adding that he has a fresh perspective to bring to the bench.

“I can get through to kids the way other people may not be able to,” he said. “I think my chances are good. I believe this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life.”

Oliver said he is trying to not get caught up in the stress and fatigue of running a campaign.

“If this is meant to be, if this is my calling, it will work out,” he said. “I have comfort in knowing I am working hard and doing all I can do.”

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

KIMBERLY McCARY

Age: 42

Residence: Lewisville

Education: Undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas, 1990; graduate of St. Mary’s University law school, 1993

Employment history: clerk in law school; worked in the felony intake division of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office; worked for a small law firm where she prosecuted cases for the cities of Lewisville and Sanger; lawyer in private practice for 16-plus years, handling juvenile cases; more than 12 years as a municipal court judge, serving the town of Flower Mound and city of Denton.

Political experience: none

GEORGE MITCHAM

Age: 42

Residence: Justin

Education: Juris Doctorate degree

Employment history: 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army, 1986-93; Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, 1993; Carrollton Police Department, 1995-2002; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2004-05, Denton County District Attorney’s Office, 2005-present

Political experience: None

CHANCE OLIVER

Age: 39

Residence: Plano (Denton County)

Education: Undergraduate degree from Sam Houston State University, 1992; Juris Doctorate degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 1997; attended the Experiencia Language School in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and completed a bilingual studies program, 1997

Employment history: worked through college and law school, in part, as a prison guard for the Texas Department of Corrections, serving in the Ellis I, Ellis II and Darrington facilities, 1990-94; substitute teacher with the Spring Branch school district, serving as a teacher in special and general education classrooms, kindergarten to 12th grade; prosecutor for the Denton County District Attorney’s Office, 1998-2000;  since 2000, worked as a private practice attorney for Hayes, Coffey & Berry, P.C.; now a managing attorney with Baxter, Schwartz & Shapiro LLP

Political experience: worked several campaigns; served as an election clerk; assistant precinct chairman for Precinct 226 since 2007. 

CHRISTINE VENTURA

Age: 53

Residence: Carrollton

Education: Bachelor of Science degree, Southern Illinois University; Juris Doctorate degree, Texas Wesleyan School of Law

Employment history: Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district; Denton County District Attorney’s Office; solo practitioner

Political experience: precinct chairwoman, 2002-04