News
District 97: Shelton and Barrett are left in House race
Democrat Dan Barrett beat out six Republican competitors in the District 97 state House race but didn’t earn enough votes to avoid a runoff. Joining him in the runoff is pediatrician Mark Shelton, who is in his first run for public office.
With 44 of 45 precincts reporting, Barrett earned 32 percent of the vote in his bid to replace Anna Mowery, who resigned this summer from her seat representing southwest Tarrant County.
Shelton took 23 percent of the vote.
Former state Rep. Bob Leonard came in third with 19 percent. Insurance executive Craig Goldman, who spent more than anyone else in the race, came in fourth, with 17 percent. The other three candidates, Fort Worth school board member Chris Hatch, healthcare executive Jeff Humber and Benbrook City Councilman James Schull—all received less than 6 percent.
State law requires Gov. Rick Perry to choose the runoff date. Tarrant County Elections Administrator Steve Raborn has asked Perry’s office to hold the runoff Dec. 11, the day Fort Worth will hold the runoff for its City Council race.
Mowery resigned this year after representing southwest Tarrant County for 19 years. She gave her support to Leonard late last month.
While the six GOP candidates vied for the attention of Republicans in the district, the Democratic base was widely expected to coalesce behind Barrett, the only Democrat running. The speculation over the last two months focused on which of the six Republicans would get the coveted second place.
All six Republicans cited illegal immigration as a priority.
“We had a great message that the voters liked,” Shelton said, citing his focus on illegal immigration and appraisal reform.
Barrett, a lawyer, focused his campaign on the Republican leadership in Austin, highlighting his sole opposition to House Speaker Tom Craddick among the candidates. He signaled Tuesday night that his runoff campaign will continue to do that, as Shelton has pledged his support to Craddick.
“We’ve got a very clear choice now,” Barrett said. “It’s a choice between me and someone who has committed to business as usual.”
The winner of the runoff will finish Mowery’s term, which lasts through 2008. The winner of next year’s November election will serve a full term and participate in the next legislative session in 2009.