Burnet County sees record primary turnout

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A record number of voters cast ballots in the March 1 Party Primary Election, a process that will be repeated for the eight candidates in four county runoff races.

“The turnout beat the 2008 primary, which was the biggest we know of,” said Doug Ferguson, Burnet County elections administrator. “The total was 11,751 of about 27,000 registered voters.”

The four races to be decided in a primary runoff election on May 24 are those for Burnet County Commissioner in Precincts 1 and 3 and Burnet County Justices of the Peace in Precincts 1 and 4.

In Precinct 1, voters for commissioner will choose between Jim Luther Jr. of Burnet, whose 1,086 votes amounted to 37.49 percent of the vote and Sam Cox of Kingsland, who received 1,020 votes for 35.21 percent. They outdistanced Glenn Whitworth (791 votes, 27.30 percent).

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace runoff candidates will be incumbent Roxanne Nelson of Burnet, who brought in 1,094 ballots (41.31 percent) and Michael Horton of Marble Falls, whose 1,077 votes ranked a close 40.67 percent. Trailing was Lynn H. Sheffield, with 477 votes (18.01 percent).

For County Commissioner Precinct 3, voters will return to the polls to choose between Billy Wall of Bertram, whose top number of votes, 920, represented 47.35 percent, and his second-closest competitor, K. Linvel Baker of Smithwick, who received 646 votes (33.25 percent). Darrell (Butch) Turner was edged out with 377 votes (19.40 percent).

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 will be decided in a runoff between Coach Larry Berkman of Marble Falls, who had 831 votes (38.21 percent), and Debbie Bindseil of Spicewood, who came in at a close second with 769 votes (35.35 percent). Their defeated contenders Frank Reilly (415 votes or 19.08 percent) and Bill Worley (160 votes or 7.36 percent).

For the full story, with comments from each of the runoff candidates, see the Friday, March 4, edition of The Highlander.