Turnout heavy for early voting
By SHANNON CRABTREE news@journal-spectator.com

Photo courtesy of Raymond Fisher Sharon Villarreal, with the county elections department, tests an electronic voting machine while Joe King and Debra Medina watch intently. King is running for chairman of the Wharton County Democratic Party and Medina is the current chairman of the Wharton County Republican Party.

As early voting in March Republican and Democratic primaries enters its last few days, more than 1,600 ballots have been cast already, far outpacing the 2006 primary turnout.

Democrats had cast 869 votes by presstime Tuesday, Wharton County Elections Administrator Judy Owens reported, while Republicans had marked 752 ballots. Of those Democratic votes, 560 were cast in Wharton and 309 in El Campo.

In the Republican Primary, 423 ballots had been cast in Wharton and 329 in El Campo. During the 2006 Primary just 1,217 early votes were cast with a total election turnout of 3,449 ballots.

Those wanting to cast ballots for the March Primary can do so through Friday, Feb. 29 at the Wharton Civic Center at 1924 N. Fulton.

Voting hours today are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on Thursday and Friday early ballots can be cast from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

County residents can vote early at either of the county locations.

Samples of the ballots are available on the Journal-Spectator Web site: www.journalspectator. com

Whether voters are Republicans or Democrats, there is only one contested local office on the March ballot - the district attorney's post.

Democratic candidates are Wharton attorneys John C. Maher Jr. and John Roades while Republican contenders are attorneys Josh McCown, the incumbent, and Dawn Allison. Both live in El Campo.

Radio Station KULP 1390 AM will rebroadcast roundtable debates with the four DA candidates Feb. 28 starting at 6 p.m. The Democratic roundtable will be broadcast first, KULP's Jerry Aulds said, followed by the Republican roundtable debate.