Schilling drops out of Llano County Sheriff's race

By Lew K. Cohn

The Highlander

Managing Editor

The Llano County Sheriff's race has ended before a May 24 runoff election can be held as candidate James Schilling has voluntarily withdrawn from the race.

According to a press release from Schilling received by The Highlander on Tuesday afternoon, he has “come to realize that being elected Llano County sheriff would not be in the best interest of my family or me.

“I have a daughter graduating high school and a son going into junior high school and on several occasions, I have missed important times with both of them and my wife due to law enforcement responsibilities,” said Schilling, the former Llano Police chief. “After much time in prayer and conversation with my family, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race for Llano County sheriff.”

Schilling said he offered his “deepest thanks to all of you who gave your support to my campaign. It means so much that so many of you put your trust in me for this important role.

“I pray for the safety and effectiveness of the entire Llano County Sheriff’s Department and hope that many of the good suggestions, more involvement with the youth, better response to all areas of the county, improving equipment and pay for the employees, that surfaced during the campaign will be implemented,” Schilling added.

Incumbent Sheriff Bill Blackburn, when reached for comment, said this was “the first I have heard of this” and noted that Schilling was a no-show for a candidate forum Tuesday night.

Llano County GOP Chairman Jim Simmons confirmed Schilling did not attend the candidate forum on Tuesday night. He said it is extremely rare that a candidate for county office who makes a runoff does not continue a race.

“You hardly ever hear of this happening and I don't remember it happening to my knowledge,” Simmons said. “Normally, when a candidate makes a runoff, he or she is ready to go for the next election.”

Simmons said there will be an impact to voter turnout for the primary because of the loss of the sheriff's race.

“I do think it will have an impact because this was a county-wide race,” Simmons said. “Now that this is not going to happen, it is going to be localized to races like Precinct 3 commissioner.”

Schilling finished second in a five-candidate Republican primary on March 1. He received 1,195 votes, or 21.74 percent, while incumbent Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn received 2,542 votes, or 46.23 percent. Blackburn was forced into the runoff with Schilling because he failed to reach a 50.01 percent majority to be declared the clear-cut winner.

The Precinct 3 commissioners race is now the only contested race remaining on the GOP runoff ballot and features Ron Wilson, who had 378 votes in the primary, against Mike Sandoval, who had 297 votes.