Hempstead County Primary

By Submitted, 05/23/18 2:01 AM

Hempstead County is headed towards a new county judge and a new JP with another incumbent JP facing a June 19th runoff. County voters awarded County Judge Candidate Jerry Crane with the Republican nomination in final but unofficial results Tuesday. Crane polled 1,261 votes or 57.37% of the vote cast. Incumbent Judge Haskell Morse polled 645 votes or 29.34 % and Greg Jackson polled 292 votes or 13.28 %. Crane will face Democratic challenger Allen Flowers in November.
The longest serving JP on the Hempstead County Quorum Court appears to have been defeated by the Mayor of Oakhaven. JP Lynn Montgomery who has served over 55 years was apparently beaten in the Republican Primary by Troy Lerew, Sr. Lerew polled 143 votes compared to 133 for Montgomery. There is no Democratic challenger for the seat.
County Clerk Karen M. Smith beat back a challenge from Eva J. Morehead in the Republican primary. Smith polled 1,188 votes or 54.87% compared to 977 votes or 45.13% for Morehead. There is no Democratic challenger.
Two candidates in JP District 7 are headed towards a runoff. Challenger Steve Atchley polled 138 votes or 43.13% of the vote compared to incumbent Mikki Curtis who received 100 votes or 31.25% of the vote. Falling outside the June 19th runoff was Jim A. Burke who polled 82 votes or 25.63% of the vote.
8th North Prosecuting Attorney Christi McQueen staved off challenger Angilynn Taylor with 1,856 votes to 951 votes.
In the only contested Hope School Board race, incumbent Kathryn Dickinson polled 222 votes or 59.20% of the vote compared to 133 votes for challenger Ira Dale Love and 20 votes for challenger Nicholas Ward.
McCaskill passed a 1.5% sales tax. The vote was 9 votes for, 6 votes against.