Early voting continues as runoff election is Tuesday

Early voting is underway for the long-awaited, much anticipated runoff election between two local Republican candidates and election day is fast approaching.

Candidates Bobby Manshack and Johnny Trahan are both seeking to position of Orange County Commissioner for Precinct 1, which is currently held by David Dubose. Dubose announced in 2015 he would not seek re-election. His term will expire at the end of December 2016.

Manshack and Trahan qualified for the runoff election as the two candidates received the most votes during the Orange County Republican Party Primary Election, which was held on March 1, 2016, as five candidates were seeking the Precinct 1 commissioner's seat.

Trahan received 1,046 votes in the March Primary, while Manshack received 828 votes.

Early voting began on Monday, May 16, as a total of 177 ballots were submitted at early voting locations in Orange, Bridge City, Mauriceville and Vidor. Of those 177 ballots, a total of 78 were received in the mail on Monday through delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.

Early voting figures from Tuesday, May 17, were not immediately available at press time as voting hours did not end until 8 p.m., Tuesday, due to the extended hours that day.

Early voting hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 18, through Friday, May 20. Locations include the Orange Public Library, 220 N. Fifth St. in Orange; Bridge City Public Works, 220 Nitsche in Bridge City; the Mauriceville Volunteer Fire Department, 10691 State Highway 62 in Mauriceville; and the Raymond Gould Community Center, 385 Claiborne in Vidor.

Election day is from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 24. Voting locations for Orange County Commissioner of Precinct 1 Republican race are for those living in locations for Box 1 through Box 9.

• Box 1, Cove Baptist Church, 1005 Dupont Drive in Orange

• Box 2, West Orange-Stark Middle School, 1402 W. Green in Orange

• Box 3, North Early Learning Center, 801 Cordrey in Orange

• Box 4, North Early Learning Center, 801 Cordrey in Orange

• Box 5, Trinity Baptist Church, 1819 N. 16th St. in Orange

• Box 6, North Orange Pentecostal Church, 7144 N. Hwy 87 in Orange

• Box 7, National Guard Armory, 4103 Meeks Drive in Orange

• Box 8, LC-M CISD Administration Building, 6586 FM 1130 in Orange

• Box 9, Sabine River Authority, 12777 N. Hwy 87 in Orange

A full list of voting locations for the Republican and Democratic Parties can be found online at http://www.co.orange.tx.us under Elections Administration.

The winner of the Orange County Republican Primary Runoff Election will be unopposed in November and will become the next Orange County Commissioner of Precinct 1 beginning January 2017.

There are three state-wide races which will be included on the Republican Party ballot for local voters to consider. These races include a runoff race between Railroad Commissioner candidates Wayne Christian and Gary Gates; Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2, between Mary Lou Keel and Ray Wheless; and Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5, between Scott Walker and Brent Webster.

There are no local races on the Democratic Party ballot. The only state-wide race on the Democratic ballot set for a runoff is for Railroad Commissioner between candidates Grady Yarbrough and Cody Garrett.