Cooke Co. GOP incumbents announce reelection runs for March '24 primary

Oct. 22—Cooke County's top law enforcement officers want to keep their jobs for another four years.

District Attorney John Warren, County Attorney Ed Zielinski and Sheriff Ray Sappington all announced plans to stand in next March's Republican primary.

John Warren

Warren is going for a third term as DA.

"It has been an honor to serve as your District Attorney since 2017 and I hope to continue to serve Cooke County in the next term beginning 2025," Warren stated in a press release to the Register.

The Dallas native first joined the Cooke County office as an assistant district attorney in 2015. He said he and his staff have prosecuted over 4,800 felony cases, including over 600 probation violation cases and 50 successful jury trials.

His office also instituted a pretrial diversion program for low level offenses involving first-time and young offenders that upon successful completion of the program their case is dismissed.

Warren has publicly lobbied the Cooke County Commissioners Court in recent years to improve resources for his office due steadily climbing workloads for himself, his ADAs and staff. He also questioned a move by the Texas Legislature earlier this year to exert more control over local DAs.

However, Warren touted his productive overall relationship with county officials.

"In the past two terms, we have accomplished a lot as an office. I am proud of what we have done for our community and the people of our community. As your District Attorney, I will continue to seek justice for the people of Cooke County," he concluded.

Zielinski up for reelection

Zielinski also told the Register Thursday that he is running for reelection as Cooke County Attorney.

"My wife Debi and I have made our home near Callisburg. I have raised my children here and I am watching my grandchildren grow up here. My Catholic faith compels me to serve others; whether coaching little league sports, co-founding the ABBA program, or working with civic clubs and the Knights of Columbus. I am duty bound to serve the community we are all a part of," Zielinski stated in a press release.

"I am grateful for the opportunity the voters of Cooke County have given me to serve them as their County Attorney and I am proud of the hard work that the office staff has put forth for the people of this county."

The county attorney prosecutes all misdemeanor criminal cases, handles all juvenile delinquency matters, addresses mental health issues that require the intervention of the courts, and provides advice to all county departments — including the Commissioners Court.

Zielinski also cited the increasing workload for him and his staff.

"The criminal caseload continues to grow each month; and as the needs of law enforcement change, our team is prepared to address each need ... We are continually reviewing innovative ways to address first time and youthful offenders to rehabilitate them and avoid the commission of repeat offenses," Zielinski stated.

Sappington running

Ray Sappington will seek reelection as Cooke County Sheriff in the March 2024 Republican primary.

Sappington told the Register this week that he is happy with how far his department has come in his first term as Sheriff. He cited increased patrols in rural parts of the county and drops in violent and property crimes since he took office.

The department has also teamed with Era and Callisburg school districts to add School Resource Officers to their campuses — the districts pay 70 percent of the cost and those officers are free to patrol the rest of the county when school is not in session.

Sappington stated in a press release that he "... believes the taxpaying citizens of Cooke County deserve a professional Sheriff's Department, a department that is responsive to the needs of the citizens, a department that can provide safety, security and protection, and do so in a professional, courteous manner."

Sappington also worked with the Cooke County Commissioners Court to implement a new radio system and a new case management system. The department purchased new Sig Sauer pistols and rifles paid for by seized monies taken from criminals. The jail also began housing inmates from Denton and Grayson counties, which has brought in nearly $1 million in revenue to the county government.