The Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–When the dust settled, election night Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney emerged as the next Henderson County Judge. He garnered 58 percent of the ballots, collecting 5,869 votes to attorney Weinstein’s 4,221 votes in the Republican Primary.
The new father was grateful to those who voted for him, expressing their confidence in his continued leadership as the presiding officer of Commissioners Court. “I’m very proud of what we have accomplished over the past 20 years,” he said, noting that the county is completely debt free having paid off the bond that built the jail, — an avenue of additional revenue for the county in housing out-of-county and Federal inmates.
Returning to the court is also Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Geeslin, who remained victorious over challenger Kelly Harris for a second time.
Kevin Pollock will continue as JP2 in Seven Points. Voters cast nearly 59 percent of their ballots for him and 41 percent for Dale Blaylock, a former JP2.
Other winners statewide in Republican Primary.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz won his party’s nomination for a second term in office as did Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in their contested races.
“I am deeply grateful that Republicans in Texas turned out and put their confidence in me to continue leading the fight for Texas values in Washington,” Cruz stated on social media. “The last five years have been an incredible honor and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish for 28 million Texans, from stopping national Democrats’ liberal agenda of bigger government, amnesty, and gun control, to working to fulfill our promises under new Republican majorities – including historic tax cuts, major regulatory reform, and the confirmation of principled, qualified, constitutionalist judges. I’ve worked hard to fulfill the mandate they gave me and will continue doing so as long as I have the privilege to represent them.”
George P. Bush won’t face a runoff despite three challengers, having collected 58.18 percent of the vote for General Land Office Commissioner. Jerry Patterson came in a distant second with nearly 30 percent of the vote.
Neither will Ag Commissioner Sid Miller (55.83 percent) or Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick (75 percent).
Other winners in contested Republican Primary races include:
• Presiding Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Sharon Keller; Place 8 Judge Michelle Slaughter
• Dist. 2 State Senator Bob Hall
• Dist. 2 State Rep Dan Flynn
• 5th Court of Appeals Dist, Place 11 John Browning.
Many of these will face a Democrat candidate in the General Election.
All 11 Republican Propositions won majority favor by wide margins. The odd-numbered propositions gained the lowest percentages of approval as shown: Prop 1 by 67 percent, Prop 3 by 85 percent, Prop 5 by 78 percent, Prop 7 by 68 percent, Prop 9 and 11 by nearly 87 percent.
Prop 10 won 94 percent voter approval for setting a 4 percent rollback rate on property tax increases.

By Denise York
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–Kaufman County Commissioners Court voted to accept a donation of 2.6 acres of land designated as the site for the new Kaufman County animal services building. The land, donated by JLM 786 Kaufman, LLC and Dassons Forney 208, LP is located just north of Crandall on FM 148 near the construction site for the new elementary school.
The property is being deeded to the county contingent on its use for animal services. If the county does not build the animal facility there, the property will revert to the original owners. The donation ends a more than year-long search for a suitable site for the construction. Last summer, a site near the Kaufman County Poor Farm and Kaufman County fairgrounds was under consideration, but opposition from the Historical Commission among others caused commissioners to look further.
The new site on FM 148 will provide a more centralized location and save time and money transporting animals. Currently, the county has an agreement with the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake and must transport animals to Tool.
Project Manager Pam Corder told The Monitor this location is also very close to the Spay and Neuter Center in Crandall, which will make it convenient when animals are adopted. “No name has been officially chosen for the center, but we know adoption will be in the name because that is our focus, to get these animals into good homes,” she said.
“One of the ideas we’ve come up with is to run some sort of a contest for local schoolchildren to design the logo. Then we can educate them about responsible pet ownership at a young age,” Corder said. Although there are some preliminary design plans drawn, no expected date for groundbreaking was discussed.
In other business, commissioners:
• approved purchase of equipment to outfit six Police Interceptors for Sheriff’s Office from Cap Fleet Upfitters in the amount of $57,394.68.
• approved purchase of CP1200 69” 9-Wheel Pneumatic Roller from Bane Machinery for Pct. 2 Road & Bridge in the amount of $77,909.
• paid bills in the amount of $1,355,228.54, of which $1,004,000 was road bond expense.
• heard reports from Tax-Assessor Collector, Treasurer, Public Works and Fire Marshal’s Office and Racial Profiling Report from Kaufman County Constable Pct. 3 for 2017.

Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–With nine Republican candidates vying for Jeb Hensarling’s U.S. Congress seat, there’s a good chance that this race will be decided in a runoff May 22.
A similar scenario is presented for Lance Gooden’s Texas House seat. Gooden is one of the nine hoping to be sent to Washington. Those with the same strong hopes include Bunni Pounds, endorsed by Hensarling to replace him; also Kenneth Sheets, former Texas Representative and Jason Wright, endorsed by Sen. Ted Cruz. Also with strong claims due to their military service and grassroots support include Sam Deen, David Williams and Danny Campbell.
Finally, Charles Lingerfelt, who has concentrated much of his efforts in helping honest people become elected throughout Texas with the Republican Party over the past 45 years is now hoping to be sent to Washington for the Texas 5th District.
Vying for Gooden’s vacated seat in the Texas House for the 4th District are strong competitors, including attorney Ashley McKee, who also serves on the Eustace ISD school board; Forney ISD trustee Keith Bell.
Gun Barrel City resident Earl Brunner presents his 28-year military career as driving his passion for veterans and slashing wasteful spending, while Stuart Spitzer reminded voters he has already served as their Texas House representative and knows the ropes to be the most effective at promoting their conservative interests.
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