Hunt named new county commissioner

Michael David Hunt of Terrell has been named the new Kaufman County commissioner for Precinct One.

He will take office Jan. 1 in place of Greg Starek, who declined to take the oath of office.

Starek won the Republican primary in March over incumbent Jimmy Joe Vrzalik and had no Democratic opposition in the November general election. Vrzalik’s term ends Dec. 31.

But Starek announced his intention to abandon the office Dec. 7.

County Judge Bruce Wood announced Hunt’s appointment Dec. 15. Hunt will fill the position until the next general election in 2018.

Hunt is a past member of the Terrell School Board and the Kaufman County Appraisal Board and has served the Ables Springs Cemetery Board and the Terrell Athletic and Recreation Association.

He is a Scout volunteer and former volunteer fireman in Terrell.

He has served as a fire fighter, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief for the Duncanville Fire Dept. where he put in 37 years of service. He is a graduate of Terrell High School and Trinity Valley Community College.

He and his wife of 38 years, Mary Alison, have three adult children and operate Hunt Cattle west of Kaufman.

Wood said that Hunt has an excellent background that qualifies him for the position and believes Hunt will serve the residents of Precinct One in a professional and responsive way.

State law required Wood to appoint someone who resides in the precinct. The law does not include an option for commissioners or the judge to call a special election to fill the post.

Wood received several applications.

He said that the decision had not been a simple task, personally or professionally, as he had known many of the applicants for years and considers them as personal friends.

He thanked those who had shown an interest in the position as well as those who made recommendations.