Travis County state representative and judicial candidates head to runoff

Travis County state representative and judicial candidates head to runoff

By Yvonne Lim Wilson Wednesday, 03 March 2010

Travis County will host two runoff elections April 13, in races where no candidates garnered a majority of votes in the March 2 primary.

Texas House District 47, which includes Oak Hill and much of southwest Austin and Lakeway, saw a close primary contest between Republican candidates Paul Workman and Holly Turner.

Workman captured 38 percent of the vote, Turner received 36 percent and David Sewell received 25 percent. The winner of the runoff between Workman and Turner will compete against Democrat incumbent state Rep. Valinda Bolton.

Workman, founder of Workman Commercial Construction Services, Ltd., said he had anticipated the runoff with three viable candidates.

“We’re going to talk about experience and leadership and continue to preach that message,” he said. “I want to say thank you to voters who had confidence in me and I encourage them to keep the faith and come out one more time.”

Austin attorney Turner could not be reached for comment immediately.

Democratic judicial candidates for the 299th District Court Mindy Montford and Karen Sage have advanced to the runoff election with 45 percent and 37 percent of the vote, respectively. Montford and Sage emerged from a field of four candidates that also included Leonard Martinez (13 percent) and Eve Schlatelowitz Alcantar (5 percent). Current office holder Judge Charlie Baird is not seeking re-election. No Republicans are running for the 299th District Court.

In the State Board of Education District 10 Republican race, Marsha Farney will compete in a runoff with Brian Russell. Farney gained 36 percent of the SBOE 10 primary vote, and Russell gained 35 percent. Rebecca Osborne finished third with 29 percent.

For Texas Supreme Court Justice, Place 3, former state Rep. Rick Green led the GOP field with 19 percent of the vote. Jim Mosely, Debra Lehrmann and Rebecca Simmons all received about 18 percent, with Lehrmann advancing to the runoff against Green.

Winners are determined by majority vote of 50 percent or more. Runoff candidates are those candidates with the top two votes. Early voting for the runoff election takes place April 5 through April 9.