Posted 1:45 am Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Rep. Chuck Hopson Grabs Narrow Victory
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Democratic incumbent Chuck Hopson squeaked out a narrow victory over Republican Brian Walker late Tuesday night in the District 11 state representative race.
Staff Writer
Democratic incumbent Chuck Hopson squeaked out a narrow victory over Republican Brian Walker late Tuesday night in the District 11 state representative race.
With all 95 of 95 precincts reporting in the district that encompasses Cherokee, Houston, Panola and Rusk counties, Hopson recorded 26,030 votes compared to Walker’s 25,928. A total of 52,830 votes were cast. Libertarian Paul Bryan trailed with 872 votes.
All results are complete but unofficial until canvassed.
Of the four counties, Hopson had the strongest showing in Cherokee County, with 8,988 votes, while Walker had the most votes in Rusk County, 9,677 votes.
Hopson held a narrow lead in early voting, with 14,191 votes to Walker’s 13,928 and Bryan’s 428 votes. That narrow margin remained constant throughout the evening.
Of the four counties, Hopson had the strongest showing in Cherokee County, with 8,988 votes, while Walker had the most votes in Rusk County, 9,677 votes.
Hopson held a narrow lead in early voting, with 14,191 votes to Walker’s 13,928 and Bryan’s 428 votes. That narrow margin remained constant throughout the evening.
“We do not know the final votes in all four counties,” Walker said late Tuesday night when contacted by the Tyler Paper. “We want to wait until we have definitive numbers (to comment either way).”
Hopson expressed confidence he would win the election.
Hopson expressed confidence he would win the election.
“You never hope it’s going to be that close,” he said. “You only have to have one vote more and that’s the way we are.”
Hopson said he already has his staff set for next session and would pre-file bills that effect water and education.
From Election Day, he said he would have seven or eight weeks until the next legislative session starts on the second Tuesday of January.
Overall, Hopson said he has been satisfied with his campaign and was satisfied with the early voting turnout.
“It’s a historical presidential race this time,” he said. “The people were very interested in that.”
This will be Hopson’s fifth term to serve as state representative for District 11.
“I am really glad to be here,” he said. “I consider it an honor to support the district I was born in.”
Walker, hoping to pull off an upset, said earlier he would try to get assigned to the Committee on Borders and International Affairs, and would help District 6 State Representative Leo Berman push legislation through that would, in part, penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Additionally, he would address rising property taxes and business taxes and revamp the welfare system, Walker said.
He noted he would not change anything about the way his campaign was run.
Hopson, 67, graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in pharmacy, is a former Jacksonville School Board member, former Jacksonville City Council member and a former member of the Jacksonville Planning and Zoning Commission.
He has also been a Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association.
Hopson has been married to wife Billie for 26 years and they have three children.
According to the resume on his Web site, Walker received a Doctor of Jurisprudence in December 2003 from the University of Houston Law Center and a Bachelor of Science in Resource and Environmental Studies from Southwest Texas State University in August 2000.
He served as an assistant district attorney in Harrison County from March 2004 to July 2005, according to the resume.
Walker lives in Tatum and has a law office in Longview.
Hopson said he already has his staff set for next session and would pre-file bills that effect water and education.
From Election Day, he said he would have seven or eight weeks until the next legislative session starts on the second Tuesday of January.
Overall, Hopson said he has been satisfied with his campaign and was satisfied with the early voting turnout.
“It’s a historical presidential race this time,” he said. “The people were very interested in that.”
This will be Hopson’s fifth term to serve as state representative for District 11.
“I am really glad to be here,” he said. “I consider it an honor to support the district I was born in.”
Walker, hoping to pull off an upset, said earlier he would try to get assigned to the Committee on Borders and International Affairs, and would help District 6 State Representative Leo Berman push legislation through that would, in part, penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Additionally, he would address rising property taxes and business taxes and revamp the welfare system, Walker said.
He noted he would not change anything about the way his campaign was run.
Hopson, 67, graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in pharmacy, is a former Jacksonville School Board member, former Jacksonville City Council member and a former member of the Jacksonville Planning and Zoning Commission.
He has also been a Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association.
Hopson has been married to wife Billie for 26 years and they have three children.
According to the resume on his Web site, Walker received a Doctor of Jurisprudence in December 2003 from the University of Houston Law Center and a Bachelor of Science in Resource and Environmental Studies from Southwest Texas State University in August 2000.
He served as an assistant district attorney in Harrison County from March 2004 to July 2005, according to the resume.
Walker lives in Tatum and has a law office in Longview.
