Published: December 02, 2008 05:16 pm      

Hopson still rep after recount

By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday the Chuck Hopson campaign is claiming victory in the recount of the House District 11 election results. With results available from three of the district’s four counties, it appears Hopson will not only retain the 104-vote lead he earned on election day, but will expand upon it.

Hopson picked up 14 new votes in Rusk County, while his opponent Brian K. Walker gained one vote in Panola County and four votes in Houston County. The recount has been concluded in Cherokee County as of press-time, but county officials could not be reached due to their participation in the Rusk Christmas parade.

“The votes for state representative in District 11 have been counted and recounted, and the will of the voters is clear. I am gratified by the trust the voters have placed in me,” Hopson said. “I want to thank all of the county officials and workers for their hard work and diligence.”

Hopson won election night by only 102 votes out of 52,830 ballots cast. He received 49.27 percent of the vote, while Walker finished right behind him with 49.08 percent. Hopson picked up two more votes through absentee and military ballots.

A former member of both the Jacksonville City Council and the Jacksonville Independent School District, Hopson has been representing District 11 in the state legislature since 2000.

“I am looking forward to joining my colleagues in Austin in January for the 81st Legislature. I will continue to focus on our legislative agenda of making sure that East Texas has a world class education system, protecting personal property rights and East Texas water rights,” he said.