Special election May 10 to fill vacant Texas Senate seat

HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) – In just a few short weeks, Southeast Texas voters will venture to the polls to select the Republican they want to represent them in Texas Senate District 4.

The filing deadline for the special election was March 10. Although four Republican candidates entered the race, no Democrats stepped forward.

On Nov. 6, Gov. Rick Perry issued a proclamation ordering that a special election be held May 10 to fill the seat left vacant when former state Sen. Tommy Williams resigned.

Williams announced his resignation in October after joining the Texas A&M University System as its new vice chancellor of federal and state relations.

The Republican candidates running to fill the vacancy include state Rep. Brandon Creighton, state Rep. Steve Toth, former Texas Sen. Michael Galloway, and businessman Gordy Bunch.

If money plays a role in the election, Creighton may have the biggest advantage, as the state representative has $886,605.32 in his war chest, according to an April 10 report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Following the conclusion of the first quarter, Bunch had the second most in funds going into the election homestretch with $358,483 left in his coffers.

However, Bunch’s April 10 campaign finance report shows he has an outstanding loan of $450,000.

Toth, a Tea Party favorite, had $42,986.56 cash on hand, while Galloway has little more than $6,000 remaining in his war chest.

Texas Senate District 4 includes Chambers and Jefferson counties and parts of Galveston, Harris and Montgomery counties.

NOTICE OF EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

SPECIAL AND JOINT POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS ELECTION, MAY 10, 2014
(JEFFERSON COUNTY, WCID10)

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS:

Beaumont Courthouse-Main location 1001 Pearl St., Beaumont, Texas

Theodore Johns Library 4255 Fannett Rd., Beaumont, Texas

Rogers Park Recreation Center 6540 Gladys, Beaumont, Texas

Port Arthur Public Library 4615 Ninth Ave, Port Arthur, Texas

Nederland Recreation Center 2301 Avenue H, Nederland, Texas

DATES AND HOURS FOR ALL ABOVE LOCATIONS:

April 28 – May 2 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

May 5 – May 6 Monday - Tuesday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.