Haden, Theriot, Cyrier carry Republican races

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

A late night waiting on election returns led to a happy morning for three local candidates, as results from Tuesday night’s primary elections released early on Wednesday morning.

On the Republican side of the aisle, two contested races along with a hotly-contested Presidential primary drew a tota

l of 4,645 voters. The Democratic Party primary drew 2,644 voters, meaning all told, nearly 35 percent of Caldwell County’s 21,255 registered voters cast a ballot in this week’s election, a total nearly unheard of in recent history.

Caldwell County Democrats chose political newcomer Andi St. Leger to face Republican Chris Schneider for the bench in the 421st Judicial District Court in November. Though trailing by four votes after early voting totals were returned, St. Leger pulled far ahead on election day, picking up a total of 1,290 votes (54.18 percent) to Kimbrough’s 1,091 (45.82).

All other local races on the Democratic Party ticket were unopposed.

On the Republican ballot, two contested races determined who will face incumbent Democrat County Commissioners on November’s ballot.

In Precinct One, first-time candidate Hoppy Haden emerged victorious over Richard Mendez, who has sought the seat in the last three elections. Haden earned 1,010 votes (67.97 percent) over Mendez’s 467 (32.03 percent).

Haden will square off with Alfredo Munoz in November.

Incumbent Precinct Three Commissioner Neto Madrigal will face a challenge in November from Ed Theriot.

Republican voters gave Theriot 62.55 percent of their support (431 votes) over Randolph Flores, who earned 258 votes (37.45 percent).

On the regional scale, it was a late night waiting for out-of-county results, as numbers trickled in in the race for Texas House of Representatives, District 17.

Lockhart resident and incumbent Representative John Cyrier faced a challenge from Brent Golemon, who Cyrier bested last year in a special election to earn the seat.

Once again, the region threw their support resoundingly behind Cyrier, as he earned 13,969 votes to Golemon’s 7,555 to retain the party’s nomination. Cyrier is not expected to face a challenge in November.

Per state law, the results of Tuesday’s Primary elections, while trusted to be largely accurate, will not be official until the votes are canvassed by the Caldwell County Commissioners Court later this month.