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December 18, 2019
New justice of the peace appointed for Precinct 2
By Jessica Goode
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera County commissioners last Thursday appointed a new justice of the peace for the Lakehills and Pipe Creek areas. Effective Dec. 31, former Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Bobbi Basinger will end her 25-year tenure and Gina Grothues will fill the vacant seat.
Basinger submitted her resignation earlier this year reportedly for health reasons, and JPs Mike Towers and Lynn Holt have temporarily filled in for her responsibilities. Commissioners deliberated the pros and cons of both scenarios - leaving the position empty or filling it on an interim basis until the November 2020 General Election. They ultimately voted to appoint Grothues now in lieu of burdening the other judges long-term.
“We can’t compensate an elected official any more than has already been approved, so they can’t get additional pay,” Evans said.
Grothues - a first responder, volunteer firefighter and owner of Lake Medina RV Resort - is the only candidate who filed for the March primary, and will be the only candidate on November’s ballot, unless someone enters the race as a write-in candidate.
“You’ve jumped off the bluff,” Evans said. “Your life is never going to be the same.”
Grothues will begin her term as the interim Pct. 2 JP on Jan. 1.
Basinger submitted her resignation earlier this year reportedly for health reasons, and JPs Mike Towers and Lynn Holt have temporarily filled in for her responsibilities. Commissioners deliberated the pros and cons of both scenarios - leaving the position empty or filling it on an interim basis until the November 2020 General Election. They ultimately voted to appoint Grothues now in lieu of burdening the other judges long-term.
“We can’t compensate an elected official any more than has already been approved, so they can’t get additional pay,” Evans said.
Grothues - a first responder, volunteer firefighter and owner of Lake Medina RV Resort - is the only candidate who filed for the March primary, and will be the only candidate on November’s ballot, unless someone enters the race as a write-in candidate.
“You’ve jumped off the bluff,” Evans said. “Your life is never going to be the same.”
Grothues will begin her term as the interim Pct. 2 JP on Jan. 1.