Published: March 28, 2008 05:49 pm      

Back to the polls

Early voting for run-off begins next week

A week of early voting begins Monday for the April 8 Primary runoff election.

Henderson County Republicans will choose the candidate for Henderson County sheriff to face Democrat Bill Casey in November, while Democrats have only a State Railroad Commission race to decide.

Voters can cast early ballots March 30 through April 4 at the Henderson County Courthouse, the Chandler Substation and at Seven Points City Hall. Early voting at the courthouse will be conducted in the basement between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Seven Points and Chandler locations will open from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. After a one hour lunch break, voting will resume from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Former Texas Ranger Ray Nutt and Henderson County Sheriff’s Department Assistant Chief Deputy Tony Allison are matched in the sheriff’s run-off. Nutt had 46.99 percent of the vote. Allison seized a spot in the runoff with 27.28 percent, edging Mitch Baker, who polled 25.73 percent.

The run-off hinges on which of the candidates can persuade supporters to return to the polls after a record-breaking Henderson County primary which drew 19.81 percent of the county’s registered voters. Nutt led the candidates with 4,225 votes while Allison finished with 2,453.

The Democrat Railroad Commission race places Mark Thompson, a therapist for blind children, in his first political race against petroleum engineer Dale Henry. The winner faces Republican incumbent Michael L. Williams in November.

Voters who choose to wait until election day to participate in the run-off may face a longer drive to the polls than usual on election day.

The county’s 31 boxes will be consolidated to four for the April 8 election. Boxes are at Malakoff City Hall, Payne Springs Community Center, Brownsboro Community Center and Cain Center in Athens.

Henderson County Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez said she was informed by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office that if the county consolidated polling places it was required to designate one polling place per Commissioner’s Court precinct.