Do Beto's Coattails Spell Trouble in San Angelo Judge Race?

SAN ANGELO, TX — Beto O'Rourke is running a competitive race for U.S. Senate against incumbent Senator Ted Cruz and his campaign has excited Texas Democrats. 

Democrat candidates down the ballot are counting on that excitement and straight party voting to make local races competitive. 

In Tom Green County, the race for precinct one Justice of the Peace pits a Democrat candidate who has never held office and never won an election against a Republican incumbent with ten years experience in the Justice of the Peace office. 

Sally Ayana is the only local Democrat on the ballot and will need the Beto effect and straight party voting to be competitive in the November general election.   

In June of 2017, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill eliminating straight party voting beginning in 2020.  This is the last general election where voters can check one box at the top of the ballot that casts a vote for all the candidates in one party.  The concern for down ballot Republicans is that Democrat voters will vote a straight party ticket because O'Rourke is a Democrat and not continue down the ballot and vote in individual races like Justice of the Peace. 

The Concho Valley Republican Women’s monthly luncheon Thursday was dedicated to helping Tom Green County Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Susan Werner’s campaign.

Werner is running for election to the office she was appointed to in 2016.  At the luncheon at the RiverView Restaurant in San Angelo Thursday, members of the CVRW made plans to help Werner campaign for the next few weeks before early voting begins.

Werner said, “We are putting together a team to walk door to door and hit as many houses in the precinct as we can.”  Werner’s was the only contested race in Tom Green County until County Commissioner Bill Ford picked up a write in challenger.  

Judge Werner worked as a clerk in the Justice of the Peace office for nine years before being sworn in as Justice of the Peace in Dec. of 2016.  She is campaigning on her experience including being certified as a Master Court Clerk, 300 plus hours of Texas Justice Court Training and additional certifications in Justice of the Peace Inquests, autopsies, magistration, processing juvenile cases, default and civil procedure, school shootings and more.  

Werner also stresses her conservative values as a lifelong Republican and her community service.  

There are four Peace Justices in Tom Green County and they are elected to four year terms.  

Justice Werner’s opponent has never held public office.  We will examine the candidates’ campaign finance reports in the coming days.  

Werner was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Tom Green County Commissioner’s Court unanimously in December 2016.  She is serving the remainder of the unexpired term of the late Justice of the Peace Kay Longest. Werner worked in the Justice of the Peace office as a clerk for ten years before her appointment.  

As we reported when Werner was sworn in in December 2016, The vote was unanimous in the final decision to pick Werner for the appointment of JP.

“Everybody agreed she has the best qualities to fit the job straight away,” said Pct. 4 Commissioner Bill Ford said.

Werner was recently endorsed by two San Angelo Police Officers Associations.  “I‘ve been working closely with law enforcement for over a decade and closer since I became Justice of the Peace.  I’m very honored they endorsed my candidacy.”

San Angelo Police Officer John Bouligny, President of the San Angelo Police Officers Association, says Werner has done a great job, “We’ve seen the job she’s done since she took over for Kay Longest and think she’s doing a good job and we hope she continues.”

San Angelo Police Officer Kelly Lajoie serves as President of the San Angelo Coalition of Police.  Lajoie says Werner’s experience led to the endorsement. “She has been in that realm for a long time and that spoke volumes to our board members who sat down and interviewed each candidate.”  

Both associations interviewed Judge Werner and her Democratic opponent and endorsed Werner.  The endorsement came with a $4,000 donation to Werner’s campaign.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election runs Oct. 22 to Nov. 2 and this is the last election voters can cast a straight party ballot.