Elected into office as Delta County Precinct 3 Commissioner was Bobby Asbill as Tuesday’s results were decided. It was his first try at political office with that defeating David Mims, who ran on the Democratic ticket. He will take over for the outgoing Loyd Vandygriff.
In a previous article Asbill stated he wanted to help improve the road conditions. He has spent 10 years as a resident of Delta County. He has experience in farming with his own farm in Delta County as well as dirt work and construction experience. He received 68 percent or 356 votes to Mims’ 31 percent or 166 votes.
“I have hands on experience with proper driveway construction,” said Bobby Asbill.
Asbill said he is prepared to stand his ground to do what is right for the County, Precinct 3 and its taxpaying citizens.
Of the just over 3,000 registered voters, 1,096 went to the polls for early voting in Delta County in one of the most attention-grabbing political election seasons. The total number of voters equaled 2,331 for this County.
Paris Junior College proposed tax did not pass with Delta County voters by a margin of 1,353 to 664 votes or 67 percent against.
According to the Paris Junior College website, Texas law requires that an annexation election ballot must state the current taxation rate. Because of the PJC taxing district’s small size, the current rate is .1773 cents per $100 valuation and it is paid only by those residing in the Paris and former Cunningham School District taxing area. Due to the state law, that will be the number appearing on the ballot. The actual rate voted on by the PJC Board of Regents is .085 cents per $100 valuation.
In surrounding counties Hopkins County was predominately 70 percent against the PJC proposition as well as Fannin County with Lamar County for the tax with 55 percent reported.
Uncontested races for Delta County included County Attorney Jay Garrett receiving 1,957 votes, Sheriff Ricky Smith with 1,998 votes, Tax Assessor-Collector Dawn Stewart 2,012 votes, Precinct 1 Commissioner Eric Lair with 663 votes, Constable Marshall Lynch with 1,966 and other offices District Attorney Will Ramsay with 1,934, District Judge 62nd Judicial District Will Biard with 1,901, 8th Judicial District Eddie Northcutt with 1,924, State Representative Larry Phillips with 1,882.
In the State Board of Education District 9 Kevin Ellis took 80 percent with 1,728 votes to Democrat Robert Burns with 18 percent and Mark W. Bennett with three percent. Railroad Commissioner went to Wayne Christian with 78 percent of the votes over Grady Yarbrough with 17 percent, Mark Miller with four percent and Martina Salinas with 1.4 percent. For US Representative John Ratcliffe received 91 percent of the Delta County votes.
Unofficially Delta County has favored Donald Trump with 80 percent of the votes or (1,836) over Hillary Clinton receiving 400 votes for 18 percent at the print deadline of the Cooper Review. In Delta County 82 percent voted straight Republican Party.