The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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November 5, 2008

GOP retains stronghold in Walker County

By Jay Ermis

Walker County showed it remains a strong Republican county, favoring candidates in 12 national and state categories on Tuesday’s ballot, including president.

There were 5,200 Republicans who voted a straight party ticket.

John McCain and Sarah Palin collected 11,610 votes in Walker County compared to 7,323 for Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

McCain and Palin had 60.51 percent of the vote.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn had 11,610 votes in the county compared to 7,222 for challenger Rick Noriega.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of The Woodlands, who spends considerable time in Walker County, had 11,823 votes or 63.17 percent to Kent Hargett’s 6,350 votes.

Michael Williams had 10,141 votes in seeking a new term on the Texas Railroad Commission. His opponent, Mark Thompson, had 7,353 in the county.

District 13 state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, who was unopposed in her bid for re-election, had 14,321 votes in Walker County — one of four counties she represents in the state Legislature.

“We were definitely hoping to do a lot better, but a lot of people got activated and we will be looking at them for future effort,” said John Holcombe, who chairs the county Democratic Party.

“We will go back and study the numbers and see what will help in the future,” he said. “We’re really pleased that B.J. Gaines got re-elected to commissioner of Precinct 1 and Bobby Warren got elected commissioner of Precinct 3. We feel real good about that.

“I wish we had done better in the presidential race, but we’re going to have a party tonight anyway.”

Holcombe said he was looking for a higher voter turnout Tuesday because of the 11,000 voters who turned out for early voting.

“We had 9,000 voters Election Day and I was hoping more would turn out Tuesday, but it shows more and more people are voting early because they find it more convenient.”

Russell Martinez, who chairs the county Republican Party, said, “We were very pleased with the number of votes Republican candidates got in this climate.

“To see the Republican Party get 12 percent more straight ticket voting than the Democratic Party got, I was very pleased by that.”

“Clint McRae (sheriff) was right at 67 percent of the vote,” Martinez. “I was pleased with that. I was pleased to see the number of votes Republican candidates got.”

Martinez said Bobby Bates did a good job getting 2,064 votes in losing to Precinct 1 incumbent B.J. Gaines Jr., who had 2,592 votes.

“To come as close as Bobby did showed he worked hard,” Martinez said. ““I think in four more years he may be able to get there.”

Martinez said Charles W. Rushing had a tough challenge in opposing Democrat Bobby Warren for Precinct 3 commissioner — a precinct many consider to be the Democratic stronghold in the county.

Warren will replace retiring Precinct 3 commissioner Buddy Reynolds.

“Charles ran a good race,” Martinez said. “Overall, I am very pleased with our candidates.”

Martinez said he was impressed with the voter turnout, especially early voting with 11,000 casting ballots.

“I am pleased with the turnout,” he said. “Walker County is definitely a red county and we intend to keep it that way. The Republican Party is still the party of fiscal responsibility.

“The Republican Party has a responsibility to stay true to our values and our principals.”



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