Mary Cunningham

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Llano County will draw on the experience of other counties when it asks for federal disaster relief funds.

County commissioners approved a resolution declaring a disaster in an emergency meeting Thursday, Oct. 25, following flash floods that indundated neighborhoods and carried away a highway bridge.

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 Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Provided no one else has filed to run for the position, the next Llano County judge is guaranteed to be someone with the last name Cunningham.

Incumbent Llano County Judge Mary Cunningham has filed for re-election and faces a March 6 Republican primary challenge from former DPS trooper and government contractor Ronald “Ron” Cunningham of Llano.

The deadline to file for a place on the March 6 GOP or Democratic primary ballot was 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11. No Democratic candidates had announced for the position as of the Highlander's deadline, so it appears the winner of the March 6 primary will run unopposed in November for the county's top executive position.

There are five other contested races on the March 6 Republican primary ballot. Incumbent County Clerk Marci Hadeler of Castell has drawn a re-election opponent in Clay Etter of Llano.