Three seats on the Denton County Commissioners Court are contested on the Nov. 3 ballot: county judge, elected countywide, and the commissioner posts for Precincts 2 and 4. Precinct 4 takes in the southwest part of the county, including the west, central and south sections of the city of Denton. Early voting continues through Oct. 30.
The priorities below are drawn from each candidate's campaign website and from a candidate forum the League of Women Voters of Denton held Oct. 10, as reported by the Denton Record-Chronicle.
County judge
Andy Eads, Republican (incumbent). Eads has been county judge since 2018 and chairs the Denton County Transportation Authority board. He previously led the Regional Transportation Council. His campaign lists keeping the tax rate low among his top goals, noting a 2023 vote that cut the county rate to its lowest level since 1986, along with road safety and transportation work, funding for law enforcement, and recruiting employers to the county.
Nick Pappas, Democrat. Pappas is a retired Marine Corps veteran who dropped out of the 2026 governor's race and entered the county judge contest. At the forum he called for a county health campus offering physical and mental health care and said he opposes data centers and county cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His website also proposes free daily meals for children paid with existing federal grants, removing Flock license plate cameras from county property, posting the budget and county contracts online, and putting housing on vacant county-owned land.
Commissioner, Precinct 2
Precinct 2 is mostly in the southeast part of the county, taking in Corinth, Carrollton, Shady Shores, Cross Roads and a sliver of Denton.
Kevin Falconer, Republican (incumbent). Falconer joined the court in 2023 after serving as Carrollton mayor from 2017 to 2022, and he has worked as an architect. His campaign site emphasizes lower taxes and lean spending, support for the sheriff's office and road projects to ease traffic.
Candace Valenzuela, Democrat. Valenzuela was named HUD's regional administrator in 2022, an appointment by President Joe Biden, and earlier served on the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD board. At the forum she said she supports rules for data centers covering environmental effects and jobs. Her platform lists affordable housing and health care, long-range road planning and open budgeting.
Commissioner, Precinct 4 (open seat)
Commissioner Dianne Edmondson is not seeking reelection.
