Published Sunday, March 21, 2010 12:13 AM

Area candidates ready for runoffs

By MATTHEW WATKINS
matthew.watkins@theeagle.com

The highest profile primary race in Texas this year -- the campaign to secure the GOP nomination for governor -- ended in March, but Brazos County is just gearing up with key runoff elections that will carry into April.

Candidates for District 17 U.S. representative, state representative, county judge and some county courthouse positions all left their street signs up after the March 2 election day, and are now poised for their second stretch run of the year.

The top race on the April 13 ballot this time will be between the two Republican candidates vying to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards in the November general election.

Bryan businessman Bill Flores received the most votes in March. He will face Waco small business owner Rob Curnock, who ran and lost against Edwards in 2008.

Those candidates have been working to earn the support of people who voted for the March race's three losing candidates, Chuck Wilson, Timothy Delasandro and David McIntyre.

Wilson has endorsed Flores in the race and Delasandro is now backing Curnock, and McIntyre has indicated that he will withhold his endorsement until after the runoff is over.

The runoff for the Republican nomination for District 14 state representative will be winner take all because no Democrat entered the race. The two candidates are incumbent Fred Brown and challenger Gerald "Buddy" Winn.

Winn served for decades as Brazos County's tax assessor-collector. Brown has spent most of his career in top administrative positions within the car-selling business.

Brazos County Commissioner Duane Peters narrowly missed escaping a runoff in the election for the Republican nomination for Brazos County judge. Peters carried about 46 percent of the vote in March. Bryan mayor Mark Conlee won 31 percent of the vote.

Laura Taylor Davis also came close to winning outright in March for the Republican nomination for Brazos County treasurer. She carried 48 percent of the vote, and will face Jerry Pitts in April. Pitts took 19 percent of votes.

The winner of that race will be unopposed in November.

The Democrats will only have one local race to vote on in the April runoff. That will be for Pct. 4 justice of the peace. Rose Jones and Greg Banks are the two remaining candidates in that race.

Early voting is April 5-9.

---

Notice about comments: Theeagle.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Theeagle.com cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not theeagle.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. The Eagle is proud to offer our users enhanced commenting features. You can now build user-to-user connections, follow friend's recent posts, add an avatar that fits your personality, and more. If you have posted here before you’ll need to sign up again and if you’ve never posted start now by signing up!.