Democratic results here- Republican results here.

I've already said, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the results come in down on the courthouse square at the gazebo. Been thinking, in particular about the judges race. There were 3 candidates, Dwayne Griffin, Walter Maynard and Pam Miller,  on the Democratic side and 1 candidate, Mike Ford,  on the Republican side. I like all the Democratic candidates on a personal level, and so it was difficult for me for a long time to figure out who to vote for. (I was not going to vote for Mike Ford, and neither are a number of Republican friends of mine).

The fact that Dwayne Griffin won the primary tells me that people are concerned about accountability in government and, in particular, the Hospital District/Authority issue. The citizenry, despite Gary Marks concerted effort, voted down the hospital district, and then some were surprised to see that, nonetheless,a simliar taxing system was put in place under the authority, without fixing the problems.  (That's why I think Mike Ford will not win in the fall, since he pushed for the certificates of obligation while executive director of the Roger E Marks Foundation. Seems to me that some Republicans are simply uninformed.).  When I went to the Democratic Meet the Candidates forum, it was apparent that the elephant in the room was the hospital situation. Both Dwayne Griffin and Walter Maynard attended the new Somervell County Hospital Authority meetings, which was good and showed an interest in both their parts. (Pam Miller and Mike Ford have not).  I didn't necessarily think that all the problems should be laid at Walter Maynard's doorstep, especially when he doesn't vote except as a tie-breaker) but that's where the buck stops. And clearly people don't like this hospital buck.

One thing I really liked hearing from Dwayne Griffin last night after it was apparent he won, was that he said he is going to put the county check registers online. Why? Because he believes that the citizenry should know how their money is being spent. More than anything else, that shows an excellence and why I believe he will be a great judge. Seems to me there needs to be even more transparancy in government and a change to the Good Ole Boy system.

I was sorry to see Terry Gosdin lose versus John Curtis on the Republican side. (even though, disclosure, my hub is running for county commish, too). But I like Terry Gosdin and his wife.

ON the state level, although I didn't vote Republican, I was surprised to see KBH do as badly as she did. I wonder if it's because she, once again, wasn't *all in* by qutting her job as Senator to run for Governor. It doesn't look very committed. I also saw those awful negative commercials that didn't really say much for herself.

Heh. Have to say I'm glad Kinky Friedman lost the ag race. I wondered why the fool he even got into it except to dog Hank Gilbert. That said, I lost enthusiasm for Gilbert once he switched horses about what race to run in.

P.S. Going to put the audio from that 14.5 million certificate of obligation hearing from March 3, 2008 here, in edited format. YOu can listen to the entire thing at this link above. But it clearly shows that the commissioner's meeting was not supposed to be one where a vote was held, that there should have been a public hearing BEFORE the certificates were okayed, and Mike Ford rushed the vote. I think any comments about this should definitely be made after listening to what happened.