By CHARLES RICHARDS
Paris attorney Will Biard captured the 62nd State District judgeship Tuesday night, defeating State Rep. Ervin Cain by a 96-vote margin — 6,218 (50.4 percent) to 6,122 (49.6 percent).
Will Biard
Scott Cass
He carried Lamar County, the largest of the four-county region that is served by the court, winning 64 percent of the votes. That was just enough to withstand Cain’s edge in Hopkins (Sulphur Springs), Franklin (Mount Vernon), and Delta (Cooper) counties.
In another high-interest race locally, Scott Cass — the chief deputy for current Sheriff B.J. McCoy, scored a decisive victory over longtime former law enforcement officer Johnny Williams. Cass received 4,341 votes (61.5 percent) to 2,516 (35.7) for Williams.
Lawrence Malone won the GOP nomination for county commissioner of Precinct 1, receiving 1,117 votes (68.7 percent) to 510 votes (31.4 percent) for challenger Dennis Johnson.
In an often contentious race for county commissioner of Precinct 3, Rodney Pollard won back the job he lost four years ago to Kevin Jenkins, when a wave of Republican voters meant victory to almost everyone running under the GOP banner. Pollard trailed after the early vote, but came on strong to win, 945 (52.5 percent) to 854 (47.5 percent).
Madaline Chance, who became Precinct 1 constable four years ago when incumbent Randy Boren ran unsuccessfully for sheriff, successfully won her bid for re-election, but by a razor-thin margin. Chance led after the early vote, then fell behind after the first few boxes came in from Tuesday’s vote. But she surged ahead again at the end and won by 14 votes — 503 (50.7 percent) to 489 (94.3 percent).
Cindy Ruthart repelled the challenge of former Paris mayor Jesse James Freelen to win re-election to Justice of the Peace of Precinct 5, Place 1. Ruthart got 2,149 votes (68.4 percent) to 991 (31.6 percent) for Freelen.
In other contested local races, Larry Cope won the GOP primary for Constable of Precinct 3 without a runoff, getting 743 votes (59.5 percent) to 379 votes (30.0 percent) for Steven C. Hill, and 133 votes (10.5 percent) for Sam Hurst.
Gene C. Hobbs Jr. outpolled Jimmy Hodges 1,675 (59.7 percent) to 1,129 votes (40.3 percent) to win the GOP primary for constable of Precinct 5.
In the only contested local Democratic race, county Democratic chairman Brady Fisher won re-election over Mike Mosher by 398 (64.9 percent) to 215 (35.1 percent).
Lamar County gave Biard a 1,938-vote margin — 4,437 to 2,499. Cain won Delta County 447 (51.9 percent) to 414 (48.1 percent); Franklin County by 1,295 (68.9 percent) to 584 (31.1 percent); and Hopkins County by 1,881 (70.6 percent) to 783 (29.4 percent).
Both candidates were in the Republican primary. Biard will win without opposition in the November general election, since there is no Democrat opponent, and will take office next January.
“A win’s a win,” Biard said, adding that he was ”on my knees praying” while he sweated out the two hours it took for the last four boxes in Franklin County to be counted.
“I had a big turnout and a lot of supporters in Lamar County, so that was helpful. I feel good. I’m excited. It’s going to be fun,” Biard said.
Biard succeeds District Judge Scott McDowell, who did not seek reelection.
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For results of all elections on the Republican and Democratic ballots in Lamar County, go to:
http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/TX/Lamar/39969/83620/en/summary.html
For a summary of statewide results in the Republican Primary, or for any other county’s voting in the GOP primary, go to:
http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/may29_160.htm
For a summary of statewide results in the Democratic Primary, or for any other county’s voting in the GOP primary, go to:
http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/may29_161.htm
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Charles Richards Charles Richards moved to Paris in 2004 after retiring from a 40-year career in journalism – the last 26 years as a news writer and sports writer with The Associated Press in Dallas and Washington, D.C. In mid-2004, The Paris News coaxed him out of retirement, and he began covering the police, court and regional beat for The Paris News. Then in early 2005, he was switched to coverage of a sharply divided Paris City Council. He was appointed by the City Council in 2006 to the 12-member City Charter Review Commission, which extensively rewrote the outmoded document. His writing awards include two first-place awards in statewide competition for feature writing. The most recent was his 2005 story on a Paris doctor’s startling use of leeches in a successful attempt to re-attach a man’s severed ear. Over his career, Richards’ interview subjects include Alabama Gov. George Wallace, President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush, David Koresh, Arnold Palmer, Muhammad Ali and numerous other political and sports figures. He is an alumnus of Texas Tech, where he was editor of the school newspaper. He lives in Paris with his wife, Barbara, who is retired after 30 years as a teacher and high school counselor.
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