Rusk Co. voters could see runoffs

REP. CHUCK HOPSON Rusk County voters could possibly face two runoff elections, one for their state representative and another for a constable spot in Precinct 4.

Democratic incumbent Chuck Hopson won his District 11 State Representative spot by 102 votes overall, with 26,030 votes to Republican challenger Brian K. Walker's 25,928 votes. In Rusk County, Walker prevailed with 9,677 votes versus 8,214 for Hopson. Libertarian Paul Bryan polled 307 votes.

Hopson said Tuesday morning that he expects Walker to ask for a recount.

"Walker actually has to call for it," Hopson said. "We will wait seven days for military and provisional ballots and another seven days for the election canvass, so a recount is two weeks away."

He added, "My real opponent wasn't Brian Walker, it was Barack Obama. That was a heck of a headwind. One of my counties went 76 percent for McCain; that's tough to overcome."

Kathy Wittner, elections manager Rusk County, said voters cast a total of 18,920 ballots, with 10,604 voting early or absentee. There are 31,891 registered voters in Rusk County.

The second race that may see a runoff between Democratic incumbent David Guy and Republican challenger David Roberts for Constable Precinct 4. Guy polled 958 votes to Roberts' 927.

In the presidential race, Rusk County voters overwhelmingly chose Republican John Mc- Cain, who garnered 13,641 votes to Democratic candidate Barack Obama's 4,983 votes. Seventy-seven cast ballots for Libertarian Bob Barr.

Wittner said there were 10 votes cast for certified write-in candidates, including Chuck Ballinger, Alan Keyes, Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney. Ballots were also cast for such notables as Mickey Mouse and Jesus Christ.

The elections manager said she was pleased with Election Day and "everything went real smooth" and there were no problems with the electronic voting machines. Sixty-five cast paper ballots and everyone else used the computers.

Straight-ticket ballots were more than 2-to-1 for Republicans, with 6,644 votes. The Democrats got 3,207 straight-ticket votes and the Libertarians picked up 32 in Rusk County.

For U.S. Senator, Republican incumbent John Cornyn picked up 13,156 Rusk County votes, compared to Democrat Rick Noriega's 4,752. Two hundred fifty-on voted for Libertarian Yvonne Schick.

Incumbent Republican Louie Gohmert, U.S. House of Representatives, handily beat Roger L. Owen, an independent, 13,739 to 1,237.

Besides the Precinct 4 constable contest, there were no other contested local races. The total number of ballots cast for these uncontested Rusk races are:

— County Attorney, Republican Micheal E. Jimerson, 13,536

— Sheriff, Republican Danny Pirtle, 13,637

— County Tax Assessor-Collector, Democrat Matt Johnson, 10,620

— County Commissioner, Precinct 1, Republican Bill Hale, 3,561

— County Commissioner, Precinct 3, Democrat Freddy Swann, 2,564

— Constable, Precinct 5, Republican Jimmy Skinner, 4,694

In other statewide and district races, Rusk County voters chose:

— Railroad Commissioner, Republican Michael L. Williams, 11,725; Democrat Mark Thompson, 5,440; Libertarian David Floyd, 405

— Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Republican Wallace Jefferson, 11,697; Democrat Jim Jordan, 5,462; and Libertarian Tom Oxford, 355

— Justice, Supreme Court Place 7, Republican Dale Wainwright, 11,345; Democrat Sam Houston, 5,777; and Libertarian David G. Smith, 405

— Justice, Supreme Court Place 8, Republican Phil Johnson, 11,943; Democrat Linda Yafiez, 5,102; and Libertarian Drew Shirley, 391

— Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3, Republican Tom Price, 11,579; Democrat Susan Strawn, 5,491; and Libertarian Matthew Eilers, 350

— Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4, Republican Paul Womack, 12,000; Democrat J.R. Molina, 4,945; and Libertarian Dave Howard, 429

— Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9, Republican Cathy Cochran, 12,765; and William Bryan Strange III, 1,290

— State Board of Education, Republican Barbara Cargill, 12,618, versus Libertarian Kim Stroman, 1,381

— Chief Justice, 12th Court of Appeals, Republican Jim Worthen, 12,838

— Justice, 6th Court of Appeals Place 3, Democrat Jack Carter, 8,010