Republican Candidate Greg Sanches is running away with the sheriff position in Angelina County.
With 41 of 41 precincts reporting, Sanches beat Democratic candidate Thomas Stewart by a margin of 31,055 to 6,956.
"It's been a long campaign, and I've talked to a lot of the public in the process, and they have a lot of concerns," Sanches said. "So I've really taken that to heart, so I want to get in there and work hard, do a good job, and pick a good team of people, and it's going to take time."
Sanches also said the Angelina County Sheriff's Office has some "good employees," and added he's looking forward to working with them.
In Houston County, Donna Kaspar retained her district attorney position, beating Democratic opponent James Ashworth by 2,300 votes.
"I'm glad the race is over," Kaspar said. "There has been a lot of negativity throughout this race and I'm just excited I've been re-elected."
San Augustine ISD officials are excited that their $5 million bond election passed overwhelmingly, 1,261 votes to 565.
In Sabine County, two alcohol proposals passed.
"The voters have spoken and in spite of the Louisiana lawyer and his clients, we have settled it ourselves," said Mary Greer, treasurer of the "Keep Our Tax Dollars in Sabine County" campaign.
In Shelby County, Willis Blackwell, the GOP candidate, won by a narrow margin over incumbent Newton Johnson Jr., the Democrat.
"I figured it would be very close," Blackwell said. "I didn't figure it would be a runaway by any means. And we were nervous about it, as he probably was."
Shelby County voters also elected acting District Attorney Larry Florence, the Republican candidate, over Stephen Shires, the Democratic candidate, by a narrow 4,842-4,181 margin. Florence was apointed Shelby County's district attorney after incumbent Lynda K. Russell stepped down.
Shelby County has spoken," Florence. "They have given me a mandate that they were looking for a change, someone from the outside that had a lot of experience to be able to handle these things, and I intend to do so."
Below are running totals from elections in six counties.
In Trinity County, the GOP candidate for sheriff, Woody Wallace edged the Democratic incumbent, Ralph Montemayor by a margin of 4,842 to 4,181.
"We felt like we had a good chance of winning and a lot of people believed in me and thought I could bring stronger law enforcement, and that's what we're gonna to do," Wallace said.
ANGELINA COUNTY: 41 of 41 precincts
Sheriff
31,055 Greg Sanches (R)
6,956 Thomas A. Stewart (D)
Running for open seat vacated by Kent Henson.
Tax Assessor-Collector
19,449 Thelma "Midget" Sherman (R)-Incumbent
8,440 Joe "JD" Douglas III (D)
PRECINCT 1: Commissioner
6,294 Rick Harrison (R)-Incumbent
1,583 Gregory "Greg" Tucker (D)
PRECINCT 4: Constable
2,160 Ray Anthony (R)
816 Lazaro "Lalo" Robles Jr. (D)
Vacated by Eddie Horton.
HOUSTON COUNTY: 22 of 22 precincts
District Attorney
5,362 Donna Gordon Kaspar (R)-incumbent
2,679 James "Ainsworth" Ashworth (D)
PRECINCT 1: Constable
2,663 Morris E. Luker (R)-incumbent
1,113 Harry Jackson (D)
SABINE COUNTY: 9 of 9 precincts
Sheriff
3,594 Tom Maddox (R)-incumbent
382 Ron Collier Write-in candidate
PRECINCT 1: Commissioner
797 T.H. "Tommy" Clark (R)
317 Larry Martin Write-in candidate
To fill spot of Gene Graham, who lost in primary.
Legal sale of beer and wine
1,368 For
678 Against
Legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants
1,389 For
684 Against
SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY: 12 of 12 precincts
SAN AUGUSTINE ISD: Trustee, Position 2
1,172 William (Bub) Johnson-incumbent
479 Jennifer Studdard
SAN AUGUSTINE ISD: Trustee, Position 5
905 Orvin Garrett
900 Dennis Barnes-incumbent
SAN AUGUSTINE ISD: Trustee, Position 7
914 William Richards-incumbent
772 James Moore
SAN AUGUSTINE ISD: $5 million school bond
1,261 For
565 Against
SAN AUGUSTINE ISD: Authorizing trustees to purchase attendance credits with tax revenues
1,153 For
555 Against
PRECINCT 2: Constable
269 Robert Pooh Wynn (R)
520 Jeff Mosby (D)-incumbent
PRECINCT 4: Constable
555 Kevin Gratehouse (R)
407 Ben Miller (D)-incumbent
SHELBY COUNTY: 15 of 15 precincts
District Attorney
4,842 Kenneth B. Florence (R)
4,181 Stephen Shires (D)
Position vacated by Lynda K. Russell.
Sheriff
4,642 Willis Blackwell (R)
4,554 Newton Johnson Jr. (D) - incumbent
PRECINCT 1: Justice of the Peace
2,192 Melissa Crouch (R)
2,210 Maxie Eaves (D)-incumbent
PRECINCT 3: Constable
1,024 Billy F. Hearnsberger (R)-Incumbent
399 Roy Cheatwood (D)
PRECINCT 4: Constable
390 Bryan Gray (R)
283 Fred Walker (D) - Incumbent
TRINITY COUNTY: 21 of 21
Sheriff
3,300 Woody Wallace (R)
2,923 Ralph Montemayor (D)-Incumbent
PRECINCT 1: Commissioner
1,018 Grover "Tiger" Worsham (R)-Incumbent
544 Tom McCrory (D)
PRECINCT 1: Constable
971 Rusty Barrett (R)
586 Ronald North (D)
Position vacated by Woody Wallace.
PRECINCT 2: Constable
1,126 Mark W. Cole (R)
979 R. Sterling Johnson (D)-Incumbent
PRECINCT 3: Commissioner
746 Neal Smith (R)
678 Cecil Webb (D)-Incumbent
PRECINCT 3: Constable
808 Carl Casey (R)
570 Hayne Huffman (D)-Incumbent
PRECINCT 4: Justice of the Peace
665 Greg Hollis (R)
830 Sam O. "Rod" Blair (D)-Incumbent
PRECINCT 4: Constable
561 Reggie Olive (R)
426 Ronnie Hunt (D)-Incumbent
STATE RACES
US SENATE
4,057,014 Ted Cruz (R)
2,794,214 Paul Sadler (D)
135,394 John Jay Myers (Lib)
57,380 David B. Collins (Grn)
Position vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison.
US Rep, District 1
176,777 Louie Gohmert (R)-Incumbent
65,943 Shirley J. McKellar (D)
4,029 Clark Patterson (Lib)
