Note: The candidates are listed in ballot order. There is no Democratic candidate in November’s general election.
Mike Kostelich
What are your three priorities and if elected, what will you do about them?
Enhancing accessibility and availability. Candidates aim to make the court more reachable for the general public, especially those who work traditional hours. Proposed actions: Implementing remote citation payment systems to eliminate the need for in-person visits. Some candidates propose holding “Saturday morning” court sessions or docket calls multiple times a week to accommodate different schedules.
Improving docket efficiency and case management. With rapid population growth in many Texas counties, managing increasing civil, criminal and traffic caseloads is a major concern. Proposed actions: Ensuring cases move through the system efficiently by prioritizing well-organized dockets and clear communication between court staff and county partners. The goal is to prevent backlogs that can delay justice for local residents.
Maintaining public trust and transparency. As the most local tier of the judicial system, JPs often emphasize their role as public servants who must remain impartial and community-focused. Proposed actions: Increasing community involvement through local events, open lines of communication and transparency in court proceedings. Candidates often pledge to treat every individual with respect and fairness, regardless of their background.
What do you wish the public knew about justices of the peace?
JPs offer convenient, local legal services, often with relaxed rules of procedure making it easier for individuals to represent themselves without a lawyer. In many jurisdictions, a significant portion of their work is administrative, suc administering oaths and affirmations, witnessing signatures on legal documents and certifying true copies of documents. They handle crucial, everyday local matters. This can include small claims, landlord/tenant disputes, traffic violations, minor criminal misdemeanors punishable by fine only and performing marriage ceremonies. They are not required to be lawyers, but must be impartial and avoid conflicts of interest. JPs help demystify the legal process for people.
How will new eviction procedures from the Texas Supreme Court impact local tenants and landlords?
Faster “rocket docket” reducing time tenants must respond to or resolve an eviction. Trials must be held within 10-21 days of filing. Tenants with no history of late payments now have a 72-hour grace period to pay rent and avoid eviction. Tenants now have restrictions on appeals and things that can delay the process.
Landlords will have a more streamlined process and can now deliver eviction notices via email or other electronic methods if previously agreed upon in the lease.
Local cities and counties are now prohibited from creating their own eviction rules or moratoria, ensuring a consistent process across all 254 Texas counties.
Outside the office you are seeking, what are the ways you have participated in the community, for example: boards, volunteer positions, or other offices you previously held?
Beyond my professional life, I’m dedicated to serving the South Plains through active community leadership and volunteerism. I’m deeply involved with Fields of Faith and Night to Shine, fostering spiritual growth and celebrating individuals with special needs. My commitment to service extends to supporting vulnerable populations through the Salvation Army and advocating for our heroes via Vetstar. Additionally, I proudly support our local first responders and veterans through Boots and Badges of the South Plains and the Red Shoe Gala. These roles reflect my unwavering commitment to strengthening our community’s fabric.
Heather Garcia
What are your three priorities, and if elected, what will you do about them?
Righteous leadership. Leadership in the justice system must be grounded in integrity, accountability and moral clarity. Being a conservative Christian helps me to bring just that to this seat. Righteous leadership means doing what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular. It is decisions guided by God’s standards and the written law, not political or personal agendas. If elected, I will uphold the Constitution and the rule of law without bias, favoritism, or political pressure. Every person who appears before the court will be treated with dignity and fairness and every decision will be guided by truth, responsibility and respect for the law.
Action-oriented service. Public office is not about position — it is about service. I believe in leadership that works, listens, and responds. I will focus on results, not talk and will prioritize Lubbock’s citizens over personal gain. If elected, I will bring an active, solutions-focused approach to the office by ensuring cases move efficiently, communication is clear and the court operates with professionalism and purpose. Where the law allows, I will support practical outcomes that promote accountability, responsibility, and stronger families — serving the community, not bureaucracy.
Restoring efficiency while upholding justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. Our courts must be both fair and efficient. I will be a responsible steward of taxpayer resources by supporting sound court management, reducing unnecessary delays and maintaining high standards of organization and preparedness. Efficiency should never come at the expense of justice, but justice should not be burdened by waste or disorder. My goal is a court that uses the already-paid-for e-file system and explores options for a Zoom court, along with a once-per-month Saturday morning option. A court that functions smoothly, transparently and in full alignment with the law.
What do you wish the public knew about justices of the peace?
I wish the public understood that the Justice of the Peace office is truly the people’s court. It was designed to be accessible, practical and grounded in common sense — not reserved for legal elites. There is no requirement for a Justice of the Peace to have a law degree or legal background. Every elected JP, regardless of profession, must complete the same state-mandated training to competently and lawfully perform the duties of the office. Experience, integrity and diligence matter. Judges Hanson and Dills are excellent examples — neither held a law degree, yet both served with excellence, competence and distinction.
How will new eviction procedures from the Texas Supreme Court impact local tenants and landlords?
New eviction procedures under Texas SB38 streamline and standardize eviction cases, making the process more efficient, uniform and predictable for both tenants and landlords. Clear timelines for notices, hearings and judgments reduce unnecessary delays and help cases move promptly through the court. By keeping eviction proceedings focused on the issue of possession, the process is simplified and allows squatter and unlawful occupancy situations to be addressed more quickly and effectively. These governing mandates create consistency across courts, ensuring outcomes are based on the law rather than location, while providing clarity and certainty for everyone involved.
Outside the office you are seeking, what are the ways you have participated in the community, for example: boards, volunteer positions, or other offices you previously held?
Outside the office I am seeking, I have served my community through faith-based leadership, civic involvement and local governance. I have served as a worship leader and provided Christian counseling, with a strong focus on marriage counseling and family restoration. I served on the Muleshoe Economic Development Board from 2020–2022. I currently serve as County Precinct Chair for Voting Precinct 124 and as chaplain for the Lubbock Area Republican Women. I was a voting delegate to the 2024 Texas State Republican Convention and have been boots-on-the-ground supporting local candidates through volunteer and grassroots efforts.
Jeff Fisher
What are your three priorities and if elected, what will you do about them?
My three priorities include consistent legal decisions, open communication within the justice system and intense focus on truancy.
While making consistent decisions based on the law seems fundamental, Justice Courts have historically been characterized by inconsistent decisions and haphazard procedure. Because JP proceedings are not on the record, the temptation exists to make decisions from the gut rather than from the law, leading to increasing numbers of appeals to County Court at Law. Inconsistent decisions and procedures outside the law are neither good stewardship nor justice and creates unnecessary “docket clog” in the higher courts. I understand the law and will use my education and experience to reduce costly appeals.
For decades, the Justice Courts have been siloed – not integrated into the Lubbock County justice system as evidenced by operations software separate from other courts until recently. The Courthouse is a system, with each department a significant component. Non-existent communication between JPs, DA’s Office, and other courts has led to the unnecessary dismissal of thousands of cases as dispositions in higher courts fail to include related charges in JP court. have worked in the system and will take the initiative to establish working communication to eliminate wasteful mass dismissals.
I believe that truancy is an area that needs focused attention. Truancy is a red flag for potential criminal issues and often signals a breakdown in family systems which ultimately impacts all of Lubbock County. Redirecting behavior early leads to a safer Lubbock County. I will provide two options in truancy cases. For those families willing to participate, I will provide a diversion program that gives parents training to be successful families including parenting skills and finances. Program completion will mitigate court action. However, families choosing not to participate could face the maximum consequences allowed by law.
What do you wish the public knew about justices of the peace?
I wish the public understood the historical significance of the position. Justice of the Peace is the earliest local judicial position created by the Republic of Texas. Because Texas as a frontier was vastly different from the East Coast in its limited number of District Courts, the founders of the Republic, taking cues from Moses in the Bible, created a system that we continue today, choosing leaders by election from communities to keep the peace in fair and rational ways among neighbors. These leaders were and still should be neighbors first and judges second, making this truly the “people’s court.”
How will new eviction procedures from the Texas Supreme Court impact local tenants and landlords?
The Court’s new procedures regarding evictions are best understood in conjunction with legislative changes made by Senate Bill 38 which altered eviction law itself on January 1. New rules under Supreme Court Rule 510 standardize procedure, or the way eviction cases move through the Justice Court including requirements on petitions, citations and service. SB38 changes how quickly courts must hear cases and governs rules on defenses, counterclaims and rent during appeal. For tenants, standardized rules should clarify the process but also shorten deadlines for response. For landlords, changes give more predictable outcomes, faster timelines and ease in delivering notices.
Outside the office you are seeking, what are the ways you have participated in the community, for example: boards, volunteer positions, or other offices you previously held?
Through service, I have been in relationship with most segments of our community. Presently, I serve on the Covenant Hospital Foundation Board, am an active member of the Lubbock Executive Association and past member of Greater Lubbock Rotary Club.
Previously, I chaired the Lubbock Children’s Health Clinic Board and served on the Community Health Center Board and the Texas Tech Library Board. I was founding pastor of Grace Lubbock Church and served in numerous church leadership roles across Lubbock County. Outside of business, I worked almost a combined decade in the County Judge’s Office and County Treasurer’s Office.
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