Two in rematch for district judge

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 12/19/19

It will be round two in the race for the 402nd District Judge’s race, a repeat of the 2016 contest.

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Two in rematch for district judge

Posted

It will be round two in the race for the 402nd District Judge’s race, a repeat of the 2016 contest.

J. Brad McCampbell is challenging incumbent Jeff Fletcher for the job of 402nd District Judge for Wood County in the March 3 Republican primary. In the 2016 election, Fletcher defeated McCampbell by a vote of 5,052 (56.06 percent) to 3,821 (43.06 percent).

Fletcher is a native of deep East Texas, born and raised in the Beaumont area with family roots in far east Wood County. He attended Baylor University on a football scholarship under legendary Coach Grant Teaff from 1979 to 1982. He played in the Peach Bowl, Cotton Bowl and on the 1980 Southwestern Conference championship team.

After a short stint attempting to make an NFL roster and operating a family business, Fletcher earned his law degree from Texas Wesleyan School of Law in 1993 and began practicing law in May 1994.

After serving as a briefing attorney for Judge Ben Z. Grant in the 6th District Court of Appeals, he went in private practice in Texarkana and then to Quitman until being elected district judge and being sworn in Jan. 1, 2017.

Fletcher is a newlywed, married to his wife, Brenda, in November. In what spare time he has, he spends time with his children and grandchildren. Fletcher also likes fishing, hunting and team roping.  

McCampbell was born and raised in Corpus Christi where he lived until age 11, when his school teacher parents moved to Beeville. After graduation from Beeville Jones High School, McCampbell attended Southwestern University in Georgetown on academic and golf scholarships. 

It was there he met his wife, Dawn Bennett, from Sulphur Springs in 1981. They were married after his first year of law school. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1984 and became licensed in November of that year.

His first position was with the law office of Ivan Alexander, Jr. in Emory. In 1988 he became partners with Alexander in Emory where he still hangs his shingle 31 years later. In 1999, the law offices were merged with Harold Curtis, Jr. in Greenville under the name of Curtis, Alexander, McCampbell and Morris, P.C. with offices in Greenville and Emory. McCampbell has served citizens in Wood, Rains and surrounding counties. 

The McCambells moved to Yantis (Lake Fork) in 2004 where they still live today. They have a daughter and one grandson.