Jay Dean to Seek State House Seat

LONGVIEW — The most recent former mayor of Longview has revealed plans to formally announce a bid for the Texas House of Representatives. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Jay Dean said he will seek election to District 7 Rep. David Simpson’s House seat. That’s in the wake of dual announcements by state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, that he would not seek re-election in 2016 — and Simpson’s statement he intends to campaign for Eltife’s Senate seat. “I intend to make my announcement shortly that I will be a candidate for House District Seat 7,” Dean said Sunday afternoon. “I have been vetting the process over this time with close associates and business associates. And I feel good. I have been encouraged for the last three to four months at a minimum by citizens to consider running for the seat.”