In complete but unofficial results, Waller County Commissioner Glen Beckendorff has apparently easily captured the GOP nomination to replace retiring County Judge Owen Ralston.
Beckendorff polled 2,391 votes, or 58%, followed by Waller Mayor Paul Wood with 1,314 (32%) and Ralph “Bubba” Franz with 425 (10%). He will face Democratic Dorothy Bottos and independent candidate Larry Parr in the November general election.
Seven people were vying to replace Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace DeWayne Charleston, who is under indictment on federal bribery charges.
Marian Elaine Jackson, Johnny Johnson and Karen Maresh ran in the Democratic primary, while Brian “Doc” Murray-Wachtendorf, Leon Overby, Carrie Robinson and Milton Whiting were the GOP candidates.
Jackson was the top vote-getter for the Democrats with 204 votes (59%) over Johnson with 106 (31%) and Maresh with 34 (10%).
For the GOP, Overby polled 258 (39%), Whiting 214 (33%), Robinson 145 (22%) and Murray-Wachtendorf with 38 (6%).
In other contested Waller County primaries, Erica Hughes received 670 votes (80%) in the Democratic County Court at Law Judge race, while Roy Murphy III polled 164 (20%).
In the Republican race for Waller County Clerk, Debbie Hollan polled 2,156 votes (56%) over Louise Avery with 1,660 (44%).
In a three-way Republican primary for Pct. 2 County Commissioner, Frank Pokluda received 824 votes (55%), leading Bill Jordan with 394 (26%) and Don Garrett with 294 (19%).
Three Republicans were also running to replace Beckendorff in the Pct. 4 County Commissioner post. Stan Kitzman was top vote-getter with 609 (61%), followed by Larry Jones with 258 (26%) and Brett Ridgway with 129 (13%).
In the GOP primary for Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Joseph “Joey” Williams polled 396 (43%), leading Melinda Hashaw with 320 (34%) and Richard Wagner with 214 (23%).
In the Republican Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 spot, Delores Hargrave easily outpaced Russell Klecka. Hargrave took 1,108 (75%) of the vote over Hargrave’s 371 (25%).
In the Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 GOP contest, Ted Krenek received 802 votes (80%), topping Joe Garcia with 206 (20%).
