Candidates for Fort Worth area justice of the peace, Precinct 7 on November 8 ballot
Matt Hayes
Political party: Republican
Age: 65
Campaign website: VoteHayes.org
Occupation: Business Owner - keeping drugs and guns out of our schools
Education: Master of Business Administration
Have you run for elected office before?
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7, Tarrant County
Please list highlights of your civic involvement.
Board member of two veterans foundations, treasurer of one, pastoral care team at church, free financial and marriage counseling, many other activities.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Steven Lockwood, Tom Klein, Realtors PAC
What is the most important distinction between you and your opponent?
I spent eight years on the bench before 2019.
I know the law and apply it fairly and consistently. I was asked by the state agency that trains judges to volunteer to teach judges across the state. I have taught ethics classes to attorney groups and statewide associations.
I treat everyone in the court with courtesy and respect regardless of who they are, where they came from or what they look like. Republican and Democrat judges in Tarrant County call me to sit when they are out because they know I’ll take care of their court and the litigants.
I ran the busiest truancy court in Texas because the local schools trusted me to get students back in school and graduated so they could build a successful life. The court now has dropped from 1,000 cases a year to 59 so far in 2022. Truancies haven’t gone away, the schools are just filing in other courts.
I will stay awake during your trial, it’s that important to me!
What are the three biggest issues in this race?
Truancy - the schools must trust the judge to help students graduate.
Efficiency - restart the “paperless” court process I began in 2018.
Trust - consistent application of the law and fair treatment of all.
Involvement - attending many community events throughout the year so the public can know their judge
Kenneth D. Sanders
Political party: Democrat
Age: 49
Campaign website: VoteKenSanders.com
Occupation: Justice of the Peace Judge
Education: Bachelor of Science in Business
Have you run for elected office before?
Yes, I have run before. 2012 U.S. Congress, 2014 County Commissioner, 2018 Justice of the Peace
Please list highlights of your civic involvement.
I am a Career Day speaker. I am a volunteer reader at local schools. I organized a food giveaway for citizens at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also make every effort to participate in numerous community activities. Partnering with different community-based programs to provide alternative pathways to students and families dealing with truancy.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
I have been blessed with numerous campaign contributions from the working citizens within the county.
What is the most important distinction between you and your opponent?
There are actually several distinctions between my opponent and myself. I care about the community as a whole. I make sure that everyone who comes before this court leaves with a packet of community resources to aid in their transition in eviction cases. One of the most significant distinctions is that I do not associate or align myself with organizations/groups that attempt to divide our country based on diversity differences. The other is the fact that I made sure everyone has access to the court.
What are the three biggest issues in this race?
Slowing the rate of truancy and helping to direct students and families toward alternatives.
Access to the Court - During my tenure as Justice of the Peace, I have made every effort to make the court accessible to the working constituents. I expanded court hours by offering Night Court. My office increased use of email communications to ease litigants’ ability to communicate with the court. Also, we implemented an online filing system for self-represented litigants.
Equity and Fairness to the Court - Legal procedures can be extremely intimidating to people. I strive to make routine court procedures simple, easy and fair to all parties.
Connection to the Community - My view of being a Justice of the Peace requires me to strive daily in being a true public servant. I make every effort to meet people where they are and spend time just listening to their concerns.
