Lone Democrat in Johnson County office loses seat

The only Democrat in public office in Johnson County lost his Precinct 1 county commissioner’s seat.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, R.C. McFall, the longest-serving commissioner on the court, had 47.5 percent of the vote to 52.6 percent for Republican challenger Rick Bailey.

"I’m kind of surprised," McFall said late Tuesday. " I’ve never been behind in early voting. I don’t know what’s going on."

McFall was seeking his fifth term on the Commissioners Court.

Alcohol sales

Keene voters appeared to have defeated a proposition for beer and wine sales for off-premises consumption. The proposition was failing 65 to 35 percent , according to early results. The Johnson County town is known for its Seventh-day Adventist roots.

No results were posted for the Rio Vista vote on a proposition to allow the sale of hard liquor.

Parker County

Voters were approving alcohol sales in retail stores and liquor-by-the-drink in restaurants. Unofficial final results for Proposition 1 were 66 percent in favor, 34 percent opposed.

Proposition 2, allowing mixed-drink sales in restaurants, was winning 57 percent to 43 percent.

Transportation bond package

In a final but unofficial vote tally, an $80 million transportation bond package was approved 58.8 to 41 percent. Supporters said the project would bring needed road projects and traffic-signal improvements to the growing county. The projects deemed most important are a traffic loop northwest of Weatherford, turn lanes and other improvements to Farm Road 1187 in Aledo and signal upgrades for Springtown.

College bond package

For the second time, voters defeated a $96.2 million bond package to improve infrastructure for Weatherford College and build additions to the overcrowded campus. According to final unofficial results, the vote was 67 to 33 percent.

Brent Baker, vice president for institutional advancement, said it is hard to determine why the bond program failed again.

"There were external factors such as the financial crisis and another bond in the county," Baker said.

Denton County

For the 16th state district judge seat, incumbent Republican Carmen Rivera-Worley defeated Democrat Karen S. Guerra with 63.4 percent of the vote.

In the race for Precinct 1 county commissioner, incumbent Hugh Coleman, a Republican, defeated Democrat Phyllis Wolper with 64.8 percent of the vote.

In the Precinct 5 constable race, incumbent Republican Ken Jannereth was defeating Democrat Mike Ballard with 55.5 percent of the vote.