Voters choose Hagler for Sheriff

Democratic and Republican primary voters have spoken across Texas and that includes Menard County. Of the 1,467 registered voters, 668 voted for a 45.54% turnout. Elections Officer Tim Powell advised the News there are four provisional ballots that have yet to be added to the final tally.

Locally, voters were tasked with nominating a Republican party candidate for the office of Menard County Sheriff. With the upcoming retirement of Sheriff Buck Miller, Burl Hagler and Dwaine Rayburn were on the ballot to run for the GOP Sheriff candidate. Burl Hagler was victorious in the primary with 449 votes to Rayburn’s 188 votes. With no Democratic candidates to face in November, Hagler will go on to be the next Menard County Sheriff after the General Election.

The only other contested races in the county were among the Menard County Republican Party. In the County Chair race, George “Randy” Corbin bested Lisa Clark—longtime Pct. 1 Chair— for the position to be vacated by Susan Williamson. Corbin came out on top with 416 votes. Clark tallied 191.

The race for Repub. Party Precinct 1 Chair was a victory for Barry Kniffen (74 votes) over Nancy Jacoby (56 votes). Jacoby currently serves as Pct. 3 Chair and ran for Pct. 1 after a move to the precinct.

Tom Compton’s 79 votes triumphed over incumbent Penny Wade’s 43 to win the Precinct 4 Chair in the Menard County Republican Party.

The results of the County Republican Party races show a shakeup in leadership that has been brewing since the 2022 election cycle. Outgoing County Chair Susan Williamson raised eyebrows and suspicions with an unnoticed Party meeting intended to censure Menard County Judge Brandon Corbin before the 2022 primary election. Williamson claimed Judge Corbin had “failed to meet expectations leading up to the March 1 (2022) Republican County Judge primary,” although the News was unable to determine specific details or failures alleged against the Judge. Despite previous Party meeting agendas made available and notice of meetings being publicized, county Republicans were not made aware of the attempted censure meeting in February of 2022.

When word of the meeting got out, unhappy Republicans showed up to voice their displeasure at what many saw as an issue and potential action not representative of the Menard County Republicans as a whole. The organization’s suspicious behavior sparked a movement of sorts, demanding transparency, and accurate representation for the Republican voters the county party is intended to represent.

Williamson may have been concerned with Judge Corbin for unknown reasons; however, the voters competently proved they felt otherwise, as Corbin was reelected in 2022 and continues to serve.

The result of the movement toward transparency is clear after this week’s primary— none of the 3 candidates who previously held Chair positions were reelected. The newly elected Chairs will join Pct. 3 Chair-Gary Roberson and Pct. 4 Chair Virginia Hill to round out the Menard County Republican Party.

The Texas House seat for Dist. 53 was hotly contested by Wesley Virdell of Brady and Hatch Smith of Llano, who each filed for the place after current Rep. Andrew Murr announced his intention to not seek reelection after his fifth term. Neither hopeful has held prior elected office, although Virdell has election experience running for the U.S. Dist. 11 Representative seat and the Texas House seat Dist. 53 in years past. In Menard County, GOP voters chose Virdell by a 314 to 265 vote. Virdell was also successful across the district and will go on to face democratic nominee Joe P. Herrera in November.

Voting results provided are provided by the Menard County Elections Office and should be considered unofficial until canvassing.

Overall Menard County totals for the REPUBLICAN Party; number listed is number of votes.

County Attorney- Luke William Davis (incumbent) 518. Unopposed.

Sheriff- Burl Hagler 449; Dwaine Rayburn 188.

County Tax Assessor-Collector- Tim Powell (incumbent) 609. Unopposed.

Constable- Lee Callan 506. Unopposed.

County Commissioner Pct. 1- Frank E. Davis (incumbent) 119. Unopposed.

County Com. Pct. 3- Ed Keith (incumbent) 129. Unopposed.

County Chair- George “Randy” Corbin 416; Lisa Clark 191.

Precinct Chair, Pct. 1- Barry Kniffen 74; Nancy Jacoby 56.

Precinct Chair, Pct. 4Thomas A. Compton 79; Penny Wade 43.

Propositions: 1. Yes 497; No 112. 2. Yes 570; No 48. 3. Yes 552; No 57.

4. Yes 529; No 76.

5. Yes 520; No 88. 6. Yes 484; No 102. 7. Yes 415; No 118. 8. Yes 556; No 44. 9. Yes 430; No 163. 10. Yes 522; No 59. 11. Yes 464; No 137. 12. Yes 589; No 22. 13. Yes 592; No 20. President- Trump 482; Haley 100; DeSantis 8; Ramaswamy

30.

U.S. State Senator- Ted Cruz 515; Holland “Red” Gibson 41; RE (Rufus) Lopez 41.

U.S. State Rep., Dist. 11August Pfluger 578. Unopposed.

Railroad Commissioner-James “Jim” Matlock 184; Christi Craddick 182; Christie Clark 55; Corey Howell 35; Petra Reyes 32.

Justice Supreme Court Place 2- Jimmy Blacklock 481. Unopposed.

Justice SC Pl. 4- John Devine 234; Brian Walker 210.

Justice SC Pl. 6- Jane Bland 456. Unopposed.

Presiding Judge Court of Criminal Appeals- David J. Schenck 271; Sharon Keller 182.

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Pl. 7- Gina Parker 277; Barbara Parker Hervey 159.

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Pl. 8- Michelle Slaughter 238; Lee Finley 204.

Member, State Board of Education Dist. 1- Michael (Travis) Stevens 441. Unopposed.

State Rep. Dist. 53- Wes Virdell 314; Hatch Smith 265.

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District Pl. 3- Michael J. Ritter 253; Todd McCray 162.

Justice, Court of Appeals Pl. 4- Lori Massey Brissette 433. Unopposed.

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District Pl. 5- Adrian Spears 423. Unopposed.

Justice 4th Court of Appeals District Pl. 7- Lori I. Valenzuela 424. Unopposed.

Overall Menard County totals for the DEMOCRATIC Party; number listed is number of votes.

President- Biden 17; Gabriel A. Cornejo 1; Frank Lozada 1.

U.S. State Senator- Collin Allred 7; Roland Gutierrez 4; Mark Gonzales 4; Carl Oscar Sherman 2; Thierry Tchenko 1; Heli Rodriguez Prillman 1; Steven J. Keough 1.

Railroad Commissioner-Katherine Culbert 18; Bill Burch 3.

Justice Supreme Court Place 2- Randy Sarosdy 13; DaSean Jones 8.

Justice SC Pl. 4- Christine Vinh Weems 19. Unopposed.

Justice SC Pl. 6- Bonnie Lee Goldstein 15; Joe Pool 6.

Presiding Judge Court of Criminal Appeals- Holly Taylor 20.

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Pl. 7- Nancy Mulder 20. Unopposed.

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Pl. 8- Chika Anyiam 18. Unopposed.

Member, State Board of Education Dist. 1- Gustavo Reveles 18. Unopposed.

State Rep. Dist. 53- Joe P. Herrera 19. Unopposed.

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District Pl. 2- Beth Watkins 11; Velia J. Meza 8.

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District Pl. 3- Cynthia Maria Chapa 19. Unopposed.

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District Pl. 4- Luz Elena Chapa 19. Unopposed.

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District Pl. 5- Lisa A. Rodriguez 19. Unopposed.