LANDFILL CONTROVERSY DRIVES WALLER COUNTY JUDGES RACE

  

There are hotly contested races for county judge in several area counties during today’s(Tuesday’s) primary election.

The ongoing controversy over a proposed landfill near Hempstead in Waller County means there are two Republican and two Democrats vying for the position.

Former Waller County Commissioner Sylvia Cedillo  lost her seat two years ago but now, as one of the most outspoken opponents of the proposed landfill, she wants to be the Democratic party’s nominee for Waller County Judge.  She is up against Sam Eng. 

Incumbent Republican County Judge Glen Beckendorf, who has repeatedly voted in favor of the landfill is not running for re-election.  Trey Duhon and Stan Kitzman was vying for the Republican nomination. 

The Pintail Landfill Corporation wants to construct a landfill on a 573 acre site at highway 6 near Hempstead,  but the proposal has met with strong opposition, from all political stripes.  Beckendorf said earlier he understood this opposition but there was no legal reason to deny the corporation the permit.  The landfill controversy has been the subject of several highly controversial meetings in Waller County.

There are other contested races for county judge in other counties. 

Grimes County has three candidates running in the Republican primary for county judge.  Ben Leman, Pamela Beard and John Louis Pierce II are vying for the position and there is no Democrat on the ballot.

Six Republicans and no Democrats want to be the next Austin County Judge after Carolyn Bilski announced her retirement late last year.

Tommy Johnson, Nick Tirey, John F. Graham, Clyde Drake, Tim Lapham and Abel Pena Jr., are all running and a run off is likely. 

Long time Fayette County Judge Ed Janecks (YA NESH KA), is facing a challenger in the Republican primary I Lee Allen Fritsch.  Janecka first became Fayette County Judge 20 years ago and has seldom faced any opposition.