Sawyer defeats Rattan in race for Pct. 4 commissioner

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Donley County Commissioner Dan Sawyer was re-elected by Precinct 4 voters last week in the only real contested local race of the November 4 General Election.

The Republican incumbent defeated his Democratic challenger, Rick Rattan, by a margin of 133 to 89.

Precinct 1 and 2 voters formally elected Republican Pam Johnston Mason to succeed the late Democratic incumbent, Connie Havens, for justice of the peace, 420 to 85. Havens passed away in September, but her name remained on the ballot.

A total of 947 total ballots were cast in last week’s election, and several unopposed local races were before the voters, including County Judge-elect (R), County Clerk Fay Vargas (D), County Treasurer Wanda Smith (R), Pct. 2 Commissioner-elect Daniel Ford (R), and Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand (R).

Clarendon native Mac Thornberry was easily re-elected to his District 13 seat in the United States House of Representatives. Local voters preferred Thornberry by a wide margin over his Democratic, Libertarian, and Green Party opponents. The congressman received 87.14 percent of the home vote with Mike Minter (D) getting 9.86 percent, Emily Pivoda (L) getting 2.25 percent, and Don Cook (G) getting 0.75 percent.

State Sen. Kel Seliger (R) and State Rep. Ken King (R) were also easily re-elected to their seats with each getting more than 90 percent of the local vote.

Donley County joined most of the rest of Texas in preferring Republican Greg Abbott as the state’s next governor with 802 votes compared to 119 for Democrat Wendy Davis, 17 for Libertarian Kathie Glass, and three for the Green Party’s Brandon Parmer.

Local voters helped re-elect US Senator John Cornyn with 800 votes compared to 94 for David Alameel (D), 23 for Rebecca Paddock (L), eight for Emily “Spicybrown” Sanchez, and one write-in vote.

Republican Dan Patrick will be the state’s next lieutenant governor thanks in part to 795 votes he picked up locally compared to 102 for Leticia Van de Putte (D), 26 for Robert Butler (L), and three for Chandrakantha Courtney (G).

Republican candidates were the choice all the way down the ballot in contested statewide and area races. In fact, 358 Donley County voters marked straight Republican ballots.

Donley County Commissioners are expected to canvass the election this week. New terms begin January 1.