2010 Political Chat

We're still waiting on final election results from Denton County.
Candace Carlisle has heard several reasons for the delay both from Frank Phillips, the elections administrator, and Dianne Edmondson, the Denton County Republican Party chairwoman.
The reasons they've given us: large voter turnout, several new precinct judges, some polling sites ran out of paper ballots and the county has new software.
This is Phillips' first election to run. He said he has learned some things that could be done more efficiently.
He estimated another batch of results should be posted around 11:30 p.m.

State Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, was leading primary challenger Kurt Hyde by a wide margin late Tuesday in her bid for a sixth term in the Texas House.

Crownover was leading with more than 72 percent of the vote in the Republican primary for House District 64 in Denton County, with about 12 percent of precincts reporting.
Crownover isn't facing a Democratic challenger in the November election.

"I have worked in this community, built a business, raised a family, done volunteer work in hundreds of different ways, so I think that's an important part," she said. "The state rep needs to know the community and know the people that they represent."

Crownover, 62, a state legislator since 2000, campaigned on her experience, including her seat on the Appropriations Committee in recent legislative sessions and her work last year helping oversee Texas' share of federal stimulus dollars. She has said she would continue pushing for a smoke-free workplace bill, one of her longtime goals.

Hyde, 64, a database administrator and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, said his campaign suffered a series of blows, including the loss of a campaign manager early in his run and the apparent disappearance of thousands of campaign mailers--a mystery he said the Denton post office is investigating.

Incumbent J.W. Hand was leading two challengers late Tuesday in the Republican primary for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace, but a runoff appeared likely.

With nearly 12 percent of precincts reporting, Hand had less than 45 percent of the vote, followed by Scott Smith, 30 percent, and Dave Jahn, 25 percent.

If no one secures more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters would face a runoff election April 13. "I had two worthy opponents, and it looks like now I will only have one," said Hand, 73, of Flower Mound, acknowledging the likelihood of a runoff with Smith.

Smith, 55, a businessman and former Trophy Club mayor, said he is staying positive about his chances. "I certainly would have liked to have more than 30 percent, but I think that if I can get in the runoff I have a very good chance of unseating the incumbent," he said.

Jahn, 41, a felony prosecutor and political newcomer, said he faced an uphill battle against two seasoned politicians. "Having never done it before, lessons learned," he said.

The winner of the primary is likely to take the office in November, since no Democrat is running.

The precinct extends southwest from Denton to the Wise and Tarrant county lines.

Lewisville resident Kimberly McCary is leading three opponents in the Republican primary for County Court at Law No. 1. McCary received nearly 31 percent of the 13,660 votes cast in early voting. Chance Oliver followed with 30 percent, George Mitcham with 26 percent and Christine Ventura with 13 percent. Election day ballots are still being tallied.

Incumbent James DePiazza of The Colony outran his first challenger, fellow Republican Carlos Gallardo, of Frisco, for another term serving as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2.
Precinct 2 covers the northeastern portion of Denton County, including Frisco, Hackberry, Hebron, Lakewood Village, Little Elm, Oak Point, The Colony and portions of Plano and Lewisville.

DePiazza has no Democratic opponent, but expects, after the Libertarian convention, an opponent in Vincent Venegoni , of The Colony, from that party. He thought the margin from straight-party Republican voters, as well as the support from some local Democrats will help him prevail and win a second term in November.
"I won't get complacent," DePiazza said.

Incumbent Joe Holland leads in the Republican primary for the Precinct 1 justice of the peace seat, according to early voting results. Posted on the Denton County elections Web site, shortly after 7 p.m., Holland led with 66 pecent or 2,357 votes to law enforcement veteran and first-time candidate Jim Bryan's more than 33 percent or 1,206 votes cast early. Results do not include ballots cast today which are still being counted.

Rep. Michael Burgess is winning by a landslide after early voting with more than 86 percent of the vote over James Herford. Looks like Burgess, who has represented the 26th Congressional District since 2002, will face Democrat Neil Durrance in the November election.
In the 158th District Court, Steve Burgess (no relation to the congressman) leads incumbent Jake Collier. Burgess has about 55 percent of the vote and Collier has about 38 percent. David Moraine has a little over 6 percent.
District Attorney Paul Johnson is leading with about 60 percent of the vote.
In the race for County Court at Law No. 1, the juvenile court, Chance Oliver and Kimberly McCary appear they could head into a runoff. McCary has slightly more than 31 percent of the vote and Oliver has a little more than 30 percent.

Incumbent J.W. Hand is leading two opponents in the Republican primary for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace, based on results from early voting. Hand received nearly 46 percent of the 3,084 votes cast early, followed by Scott Smith, with 29 percent, and Dave Jahn, with nearly 25 percent. The tallies don't include results from today's election, which are still being counted.

Results from early voting show state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, leading opponent Kurt Hyde by a wide margin in the Republican race for Texas House District 64. Crownover had more than 72 percent of the 4,816 early votes cast. Election day ballots are still being tallied.

It's just a few minutes before 7 p.m., when the polls will close. Our election night planning meetings are done, and we're ready for results. We'll post them here and keep you updated as often as we can.
May the best candidates win.

Krum City Secretary faxed another candidate filing over this afternoon, one for Bert Witherspoon, who will challenge Michael Wilkes in his bid for Place 3 on the city council.

In Shady Shores, City Secretary Angie Warner reports that only town council incumbent Charles Grimes has filed for re-election. In addition, only incumbents have packets. Warner said one other person picked up a packet, but then they brought it back.

Warner has found filings to be just as sparse other cities -- three years ago Mayor Olive Stephens asked Sherry Starr to be a write-in candidate so that Shady Shores would have a full slate. Warner questioned whether the economy has dissuaded people from wanting to spend money on a campaign.

In Hickory Creek, Kelly D'Amato said she thought there would be a race in that community, although she didn't expect anyone to file until the last minute.

Candidates must file by 5 p.m. Monday in order for their name to appear on the ballot.

Jeff Trammel called and complained that the street leading up to the polling place for the Democratic Party in Pilot Point had been closed, apparently because bricks fell off a building downtown.

Democrats are voting at the Pilot Point Opera House on Washington Street while Republicans are voting at the Senior Center two blocks away.

He was concerned that, while he was able to park and get to the polling place, others with mobility problems may be dissuaded from voting. Poll workers had told him turnout had been light there today.

We've placed a call to the city administrator to find out more.

Both Paul Meine and Christine Rodriguez have filed for re-election to their seats on the City Council. In addition, Michael Wilkes has filed for Place 3, a seat currently held by Joe Beall.