This year's race to become Leon County's Precinct 3 commissioner has some unusual twists: Two of the candidates are cousins, and one of those is named Pork Chop.
Greg Ivey, 52, and Mark "Pork Chop" Ivey, 45, are both seeking to unseat Precinct 3 Commissioner Ray Gaskin in the March 4 primary election. The fact that the men are "some kind of cousins -- maybe fourth, fifth or sixth" is not an issue in the race, Greg Ivey said Tuesday.
Pork Chop Ivey targets the family lineage a little closer, estimating he and Greg Ivey are third cousins. Although the men have known each other for decades, "we've probably talked 20 words in five years," Pork Chop Ivey said.
The county commissioner's seat carries a four-year term and pays about $32,000. Leon County has four commissioners elected by geographic quadrants of the population who serve with the county judge on the commissioners court. They oversee road maintenance, approve policies and determine the budget and tax rate, according to the county Web site.
Incumbent Commissioner Gaskin, 60, has served two terms and is seeking another in the race against the Iveys. Gaskin could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Greg Ivey, who works for Leon County's Precinct 4 commissioner, said he has no criticism for the other hopefuls in the Precinct 3 race.
"I don't want to be derogatory toward the other candidates," he said. "I just think it's time for a change in Precinct 3. I've watched the slow deterioration of the roads."
The political newcomer said when he heard that a distant cousin also was seeking the post, it didn't affect his decision.
"We're not that close or anything, so that's really not an issue for me," he said.
Pork Chop Ivey, a truck driver, agreed that running against a cousin isn't a big deal.
"I need the money," he said when asked why he was running. "I want to make a difference if I can."
He also decided to have "Pork Chop" designated as his name on the ballot.
"Back when I was 8 years old, I was 3 foot tall and 3 foot wide," he said. "The name stuck. Everybody knows me as Pork Chop. If you ask them my first name, they can't tell you."
As for his choice to put the nickname on the ballot, "I wanted them to know which Ivey they're voting for," he said.
"There are worse things they could call me, though," Pork Chop Ivey added. "As long as they don't call me late for dinner, I'll be all right."
Two cousins ran against each other in a 2006 commissioner's race in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., but Democrat Victor Farrow and Republican Tom Farrow failed to unseat incumbent Commissioner Gerald Jones, who still holds the seat today.
• April Avison's e-mail address is april.avison@theeagle.com.
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