Incumbent Wood County Commissioner Mike Simmons has drawn two challengers for the Precinct Three position, one from each party.

David Eishen has filed for the March 5 Republican primary, and the primary winner will then face Democrat Madeline Gibson in the November general election.

Eishen, 70, resides in Quitman and has been a Wood County resident for 13 years.

He is a retired educator after 30 years with Dallas College (now Dallas County Community College) where he was a professor, program coordinator, negotiator for faculty welfare and benefits, faculty association president and founding director of Energy Efficient Green Building Institute, a collaboration between Dallas College and the Department of Energy, training raters to test and qualify energy efficient homes.

He also served as director of education with the Magnets Division of the Superconducting Super Collider under the supervision of the Department of Energy.

Eishen was a licensed mechanical contractor and owner of mechanical contracting companies, which led to a position as a mechanical contractor examiner with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. He owned a business to prepare applicants for mechanical contractor exams.

Since retiring 15 years ago, he and his wife, Melodee, have taught a variety of preparedness classes in Wood County and East Texas.

They have 10 children and 12 grandchildren. He describes himself as a devout Christian.

Simmons, 66, of Hawkins, is seeking his third term as commissioner, first winning an empty seat in 2016. He was unopposed in 2020.

Simmons has been a county resident for 15 years. He retired from the Texas Dept. of Public Safety where he served as assistant commander for the Criminal Intelligence Service.

He is a graduate of Tyler Junior College and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

His wife of 42 years, Carolynn, passed away in 2023. They have two sons, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.