FROM STAFF REPORTS
The early voting is over, and a record number of county residents took advantage of the opportunity to cast early ballots ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Palo Pinto County Elections Administrator Judith Evans said 4,437 early ballots were cast during the two-week early voting period, representing one-fourth of the county’s 17,239 registered voters.
She said the county’s elections office has processed another 480 requests for mail in and absentee ballots, and she said she expects a large turnout Tuesday, when the polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at polling sites throughout the county.
There are no contested races for county offices up for election this term. Also, there is no election this fall for school districts and the hospital district since none had contested races.
The only contested race of local consequence is that for the District 11 Texas congressional seat currently occupied by Republican incumbent Mike Conaway. Democrat Mike Riley and Libertarian Scott Ballard are vying for that seat. This district represents Palo Pinto County in the House of Representatives.
Other races on the ballot of significance is, of course, the presidential race between incumbent Democrat Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Many voters in Texas are also focused on the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, with Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Paul Sadler seeking the seat along with Libertarian John Jay Myers and Green Party candidate David B. Collins.
All races on the local ballots are listed below. For more information about Tuesday’s election, and to see a map of the current voting precincts, go to the county elections office.
Texans can check whether they are registered or check the status of their registration by searching online for “Texas SOS am I registered.”
In the following list, candidates appear as they are listed on the ballot. An asterisk denotes an incumbent:
FEDERAL RACES
President and vice president
• Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan (Republican)
• Barack Obama/Joe Biden (Democrat)*
• Gary Johnson/Jim Gray (Libertarian)
• Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala (Green Party)
United States senator
• Ted Cruz (REP)
• Paul Sadler (DEM)
• John Jay Myers (LIB)
• David B. Collins (GRN)
U.S. Rep., Dist. 11
• *Mike Conaway (REP)
• Jim Riley (DEM)
• Scott J. Ballard (LIB)
STATE RACES
Railroad Commissioner
• Christi Craddick (REP)
• Dale Henry (DEM)
• Vivekananda (Vik) Wall (LIB)
• Chris Kennedy (GRN)
Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired Term
• Barry Smitherman (REP)*
• Jaime O. Perez (LIB)
• Josh Wendel (GRN)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2
• Don Willett (REP)*
• RS Roberto Koelsch (LIB)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4
• John Devine (REP)
• Tom Oxford (LIB)
• Charles E. Waterbury (GRN)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6
• Nathan Hecht (REP)*
• Michele Petty (DEM)
• Mark Ash (LIB)
• Jim Chisholm (GRN)
Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
• Sharon Keller (REP)*
• Keith Hampton (DEM)
• Lance Stott (LIB)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7
• Barbara Parker Hervey (REP)*
• Mark W. Bennett (LIB)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8
• Elsa Alcala (REP)*
• William Bryan Strange III (LIB)
Member, State Board of Education, District 14
• Sue Melton (REP)
• Stephen Hawkins (LIB)
State Senator, District 30
• Craig Estes (REP)*
• Richard Wells Forsythe Jr. (LIB)
State Rep., District 60
• James L. “Jim” Keffer (REP)*
Chief Justice, 11th Court of Appeals
• Jim. R. Wright (REP)*
Justice, 11th Court of Appeals District, Place 2, Unexpired Term
• Mike Wilson (REP)
LOCAL RACES
District Judge, 29th Judicial District
• Mike Moore (REP)
District Attorney, 29th Judicial District
• Michael Burns (REP)*
County Attorney
• Phil Garrett (REP)*
Sheriff
• Ira Mercer (REP)*
County Tax Assessor-Collector
• Linda G. Tuggle (REP)*
Depending on your county voting precinct, the following may be on the ballot:
• Commissioner, Pct. 1 – Curtis D. Henderson (REP)
• Commissioner, Pct. 3 – Mike Pierce (REP)*
• Constable, Pct. 1 – Rod Price (REP)*
• Constable, Pct. 2 – Marc Moon (REP)*
• Constable, Pct. 3 – Noah E. Bragg (REP)*
• Constable, Pct. 4 – Bill Blevins (REP)
• Constable, Pct. 5 – Gary F. Morris (REP)*
Top Stories
Early voting sets local record
Tuesday is Election Day across the county, nation
- Top Stories
-
-
Expert explains causes behind recent severe weather
Following last week’s devastating local storms, the nation’s midsection took a beating over the weekend with serious damage reported in Oklahoma and Kansas.
-
Know your sirens
Mineral Wells police dispatchers were inundated with calls Wednesday evening after the city’s weather sirens sounded ahead of a devastating storm.
-
Have storm damage?
Insurance claims continued to pour in following Wednesday evening’s devastating hailstorm and one local agent provided tips for those with damage.
-
Two arrested in auto theft
Hours after receiving a stolen vehicle report, Mineral Wells police investigators arrested two individuals in connection with the crime.
-
Wicked weather wreaks havoc
An estimated 10 tornados touched down across North Texas Wednesday night with reports of softball-sized hail throughout Palo Pinto County.
-
Rodeo sent home many winners, some unsuspecting
The 76th annual Palo Pinto County Livestock Association Pro Rodeo came to a close Saturday night and left several winners with some extra cash in their hands.
-
PK Lake drowning death believed to be accidental
GAINES BEND – An Azle man died Tuesday evening at Possum Kingdom Lake in what authorities are describing as an apparent accidental drowning.
-
Ride of Silence tonight
The local observance of the 10th annual Ride of Silence takes place tonight.
-
Fires erupt at PK, again
Residents in a number of homes on the Peninsula at Possum Kingdom Lake were evacuated Monday after a fire erupted near Frontier Unit and Riley roads.
-
Silva found not guilty in 2010 assault
PALO PINTO – A Mineral Wells man is free after a Palo Pinto County jury found him not guilty of crimes stemming from an incident on Thanksgiving Day in 2010.
- More Top Stories Headlines
-
Expert explains causes behind recent severe weather





