Linda Raschke

New Llano County judge elected as Cunningham unseats Cunningham

Challenger Ronald “Ron” Cunningham has apparently unseated Llano County Judge Mary Cunningham in the Llano County Republican Primary, according to final but unofficial results.

The two Cunninghams are not related, despite having the same last name.

Ron Cunningham received 2,140 votes, or 54.05 percent to 1,819, or 45.95 percent, for Mary Cunningham. Because there is not a Democratic opponent, Ron Cunningham will be sworn in as the new county judge in January.

Meanwhile, incumbent Llano County Clerk Marci Hadeler and incumbent Precinct 2 Commissioner Linda Raschke each survived primary challenges. Hadeler received 2,049 votes, or 56.03 percent, to 1,608, or 43.97 percent, for her challenger, Clay Etter.

Raschke received 618 votes, or 62.36 percent, while challenger Ricky Johnson received 373, or 37.64 percent.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Llano County commissioners voted not to impose a county-wide burn ban Monday with three commissioners voting to table the matter, one voting in favor of a ban, and County Judge Mary Cunningham abstaining.

The question of a burn ban is a regular agenda item during commissioners court meetings. Commissioners have been voting to table the question recently, saying conditions don’t warrant a ban.

Monday, however, Precinct 2 Commissioner Linda Raschke noted that the county had seen several “really big” fires recently, some burning “close to houses.”

County Emergency Management Assistant Ron Anderson said three fire chiefs in the county had told him the previous Wednesday that if the county got “significant” rainfall over the weekend of June 24-25, they might reconsider their recommendation for a ban.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

A revolution may be brewing in Llano County over what some residents perceive as an unneeded and unwanted change to Ranch to Market Road 1431 and an attitude bordering on contempt for local officials by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

At issue is a plan to change the ranch road from four lanes to what is known as a “super two” highway – one lane in each direction with intermittent turn lanes and passing lanes where engineers think they’re needed. The approximately 30 miles of Texas 71 between US 281 south of Marble Falls to Texas 16 in Llano is an example of that type of highway.