Election results point to changes

By Tony Farkas

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COLDSPRING — Incumbents were unseated in several races in San Jacinto County on Tuesday, including Rep. Earnest Bailes and Sheriff Greg Capers.

Tuesday, March 5, was the primary election heading up to the November general election. With no Democrat filings for county-level races, the primary essentially has decided the winner.

For State Representative District 18, Bailes garnered 10,960 votes but was outpaced by Janis Holt with 15,005. A third challenger, Stephen Andrew Missick, gathered only 2,257 votes. Locally, Bailes did win San Jacinto County, receiving 2,868 votes to Holt’s 2,518 and Missick’s 378.

In the Sheriff’s race, Constable Sam Houston received 2,989 votes to Capers’ 2,884.

Unofficial results also show that Luke Sweeney with 632 votes beat incumbent Precinct 1 County Commissioner Laddie McAnnally with 549 votes.

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For the County Commissioner Precinct 3 race, James “Butch” Moody gained 404 votes, Crystal Dominy received 311, Carson Combs received 201, Billy Burchett received 198, Keith Pinkston received 168 and Richard Arrendell received 112. Incumbent David Brandon did not run for re-election.

Incumbent County Tax Assessor/Collector Betty Davis won over Mark Hamilton 4,026 to 1,492.

For Precinct 1 Constable, Rae Lynn Phillips received 618 votes, Lonnie Thomas received 510 and Derek White received 383.

For Precinct 3 Constable, Kevin Freed received 624 votes, Peter Sparta received 308, Emmitt Lemar Eldridge II received 241 and Dale Lowery received 202. Incumbent Sam Houston did not run for re-election as he ran in the Sheriff’s race.

For Precinct 4 Constable, incumbent Brian Cosme received 1,077 votes and Lou Rogers received 620.

Since neither candidate received the required number of votes — 50 percent plus 1 vote — runoff elections will be held between the top two vote-getters in local races. For Precinct 1 County Commissioner, that will be Sweeney and McAnally; for Precinct 3 County Commissioner, Moody and Dominy; for Precinct 1 Constable, Phillips and Thomas; and for Precinct 3 Constable, Freed and Sparta.