Runoff campaigns begin

Aaberg asks for recount in county attorney race

Published Sunday, March 9, 2008

By Brian Knox

The primary election may be over, but three races are still left to be decided before November's general election.

Runoff elections on April 8 will feature two candidates each for county attorney, Precinct 1 county commissioner and Precinct 4 constable. All three are Republican races.

Early voting for the runoff will be March 31 to April 4.

The runoffs are required because no candidate received a majority of votes Tuesday. Those who voted in the Republican primary, or registered voters who did not vote in the primary elections, are eligible to vote in the GOP runoffs.

The race for county attorney now includes James Stainton and Marilyn Belew, however the close vote has resulted in a challenge from candidate Thomas Aaberg. Stainton received 2,026 votes or 40.3 percent, and Belew received 1,518 votes, or 30.2 percent. Aaberg trailed Belew by only 33 votes in the final tally.

Aaberg said Wednesday he planned to petition for a recount.

"It might not change," he said. "But with it being that close, I need to try."

With no Democratic opponent, the winner of next month's runoff will be the next county attorney.

Precinct 1 incumbent Commissioner Robert Rankin will face opponent Danny White in the April 8 runoff. White received the most votes with 591 or 42.2 percent, while Rankin received 517 or 36.9 percent. Also receiving votes, and forcing the runoff, were John Wayne Peterson with 204 and Cory Schwenn with 90.

The winner of the runoff will face Democratic challenger Jim Popp in the general election. Popp, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, received 727 votes.

Kevin Huffman was the top vote getter in the Precinct 4 constable race with 518 votes or 38.4 percent. He will face Gary Emmert, who received 448 votes or 33.2 percent. Forcing the runoff was Carl David Shawn who received 382 votes.

For a complete precinct-by-precinct chart of Tuesday's vote, see page 11A.

Controversy at the polls

While most of the election process went smoothly Tuesday, there was controversy at at least one polling location.

Charles William Randolph, the Democratic candidate for District 61 of the Texas House of Representatives who will face Phil King in November's election, said he arrived at the Precinct 1-2 (South Decatur) polling location at the agriculture extension office on South State Street shortly before the polls closed at 7 p.m. He said that according to his watch, and others who had gathered for the caucus at 7:15 p.m., the election judge stepped outside at 6:55 and asked if there was anybody else who would like to vote. When he didn't receive any answers, he went back inside.

Randolph said the election judge came back to the door a few moments later and locked it as a few last-minute voters showed up. Despite their pleadings, they were not allowed to vote

A Decatur policeman was even called to make sure order was kept.

Elections Administrator Lannie Noble said he spoke with the election judge who verified that he went outside and asked if anyone else wanted to vote, heard no response and locked the door.

"The time was 7 p.m. on the (electronic voting machine), which is what all judges must go by," Noble said. "They are all synchronized together."