by MELISSA PERNER

The Ozona Stockman

The last day to register to vote in the April 13 runoff is Monday, March 15.

A runoff election has been  set between incumbent Commissioner Alfredo Tobar and Challenger Eligio Martinez for Precinct 4 Commissioner.

Voter registration information can be found in the Tax Office located in the courthouse annex.

During last week's Democratic Primary Election, none of the four candidates running for Precinct 4 Commissioner were able to capture the majority vote needed.

Tobar had the most votes with 97, followed by Martinez with 80. Dee Montanez had 64 and Jesse De La Garza had 43. The candidates needed 143 votes to claim the election. Precinct 4 had 284 ballots cast.

Early voting will be April 5-9 at the courthouse annex. Voting on Runoff Primary Election Day will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ozona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.

In state and national races, U.S. Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, won Crockett County with 514 votes to Challenger Miguel Ortiz. Rodriguez also won the district.

Rodriguez will face the winner of a runoff in the Republican Primary between Francisco “Quico” Canseco and Will Hurd.

Canseco, 60, a San Antonio attorney, sought the same seat two years ago.

Hurd, 32, a San Antonio Marshall High School graduate, served nine years in the CIA, including a stint as an operations officer in Afghanistan. He returned to the San Antonio area last July after retiring from the agency and quickly mounted a congressional campaign.

Democratic Challenger Bill White won Crockett County. He will face Governor Rick Perry in November.

Crockett County also voted for Linda Chavez-Thompson, who won the state race for Lieutenant Governor, as well as Hector Uribe who won for State Land Commissioner.

While Hank Gilbert narrowly won the Agriculture Commissioner's race, Crockett County gave overwhelming support to Kinky Friedman.

Friedman had 355 local votes and Gilbert had 170.

In the State Senator's race for District 19, incumbent Carlos Uresti won Crockett County with 400 votes to Challenger Luis C. Juarez Jr. who had 223. Uresti won the state race and will face Republican Challenger Dick Bowen in November. Bowen, a Republican from El Paso, defeated Robert Sol Mayer of Sonora.

Locally, Fred Deaton won his second term for County Judge defeating Challenger Larry Williams 792 votes to 272. Deaton won early voting and all precincts, except for Precinct 4 which was close. Deaton had 90 votes and Williams had 93 in that precinct.

Justice of the Peace Jim Hearne defeated Challenger Royce Newton 762 votes to 238. Hearne led in early voting and in all precincts.

In local uncontested races, 112th Judicial District Judge received 662 votes; County and District Clerk Debbie Puckett had 789; County Treasurer Burl Myers had 786 and Commissioner, Precinct 2 Pleas Childress III had 207.

Crockett County had 1,074 ballots cast in the Democratic Primary Election, which is less than half of the 2,607 registered county voters.