A Houston man is circulating a petition to become an independent candidate for Texas County presiding commissioner.
Keith Ford’s candidacy would require the signature of 2 percent of the registered voters who cast ballots in the last election for the office in 2014, according to state statute. Incumbent Fred Stenger garnered 4,337 voters and ran unopposed. That would require just 87 signatures.
Stenger, a Republican, has not filed for re-election.
Ford and the county commission have butted heads in recent weeks over economic development. In a column released to newspapers in Texas County, commissioners responded to the criticism.