‘Mayor of the Stockyards’ Steve Murrin endorses Democrat Deborah Peoples for county judge
Prominent Fort Worth Republican and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame member Steve Murrin is endorsing Democrat Deborah Peoples for Tarrant County Judge.
Murrin said Peoples is the right candidate because of her focus on good county government. He hasn’t met with Republican candidate Tim O’Hare, but said he didn’t need to given everything he’s already heard.
“He’s extreme right. One of the crazies,” Murrin said.
Murrin said Peoples’ focus on good separated her from O’Hare. He said he wouldn’t be making a big announcement, but would do everything he could to make sure she gets elected.
O’Hare didn’t respond to a request for comment Monday from the Star-Telegram. He took to social media Tuesday in an apparent response to Murrin’s comments.
“Apparently, Republicans who believe these things are now ‘crazy’: 1) America is a great country 2) Our taxes are too high 3) We should support law enforcement 4) 4 year olds shouldn’t be taught about sexuality 5) You can define the word woman. If true, then I guess I’m crazy!” he tweeted.
Representatives for the Peoples’ campaign haven’t responded to a request for comment Tuesday.
Murrin is the first prominent Republican in Tarrant County to openly support Peoples. Outgoing Republican county judge Glen Whitley didn’t address O’Hare by name, but called his campaign “a disingenuous attack” on Twitter shortly after the March primary.
Whitley endorsed former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, who secured 34.25% of the vote compared to 56.95% for O’Hare.
Neither Whitley nor Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker have explicitly endorsed Peoples, but both have commented recently on the increasing partisanship in the Tarrant County Republican Party.
Parker said she could not look at herself in the mirror if she chose to run in a Republican Party primary, while speaking at a March 23 event hosted by the Texas Tribune.
In a state of the county address last week, Whitley said both major political parties are being run by extremists.
This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 4:40 PM.
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