Following an hour and a half behind closed doors Friday, December 15th, Grimes County Commissioners unanimously appointed Joe Fauth to serve the last year of former County Judge Ben Leman’s term.
While everyone waited outside, I spoke with the hopefuls. Fauth has been a fixture at court sessions for the last decade.
As a result, he said, he feels like he’s pretty much up-to-speed with what the County’s doing. He said they invited him to serve on both the Strategic Planning Committee and the Economic Development Committee, so he says he understands the direction they are taking the county and approve most aspects of it.
Fauth’s mostly unknown challenger, and fellow Republican, Mike Pederson, is a Navasota businessman who says his biggest asset is he’s Grimes County born and raised, and has lived here for 37 years.
He says he’s been involved in everything from land development, to utilities concept, design and construction, and administration. He claims to have a vast background and to be a very quick study.
While awaiting the decision, Fauth, who had given up leadership of the Grimes County GOP to run for County Judge, said he was at peace, and would be OK with whomever the County Commissioners eventually chose.
Although, he admitted, he’d be happier if they chose him.
After the unanimous decision to appoint Fauth, both candidates agreed on two things as they shook hands: that the court made the right decision this time, and that they would be meeting each other again on the ballot for County Judge next year.