Lewis defeats West

Tryon Lewis, barring a Libertarian miracle, is headed to Austin.

Pending the November election and defeat of Libertarian candidate Elmo Hockman, Lewis will take up his freshman term in the State House of Representatives.

Lewis took 76 percent of the votes in the heated runoff election for the District 81 seat in the State House of Representatives. His opponent, incumbent Buddy West, took 24 percent.

In a higher-than-normal voter turnout districtwide - Ector, Andrews and Winkler counties - Lewis took 5,171 votes, while West got 1,531 votes.

"I really wanted voters to know we have a great future out here in West Texas, and we need to get on with it," Lewis said.

In the March primary, West, the incumbent, took 4,601 votes, or 38.37 percent. Lewis got 5,273 votes, or 43.98 percent. The two moved on to a runoff while challengers Randy Rives and Jesse Gore were defeated.

Efforts to reach West were not successful Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Lewis said he's already gearing up for his tenure in Austin - pending a defeat of Hockman in November. Libertarian candidates in Texas rarely get more than 5 percent of the vote.

"We start tomorrow," Lewis said Tuesday night. "Obviously we don't get sworn in until January, but we can't wait. There's too much to do. What I want to get done and what the voters have told me they want are going to take a lot of work."

Lewis campaigned promising legislation on public education, illegal immigration, water rights, tax reform and domestic violence.

The 60-year-old Republican nominee also thanked voters Tuesday night for turning out in higher-than-expected numbers.

"Those who voted for Buddy, those who voted for me, I want to thank everybody for getting out and voting and being such good citizens," he said.

VOTER TURNOUT

OVERALL

>> Lewis: 5,171 (76.02 percent).

>> West: 1,631 (23.98 percent).

ECTOR COUNTY

>> Lewis: 4,646 (76.14 percent).

>> West: 1,456 (23.86 percent).

ANDREWS COUNTY

>> Lewis: 251 (68.02 percent).

>> West: 118 (31.97 percent).

WINKLER COUNTY

>> Lewis: 274 (82.78 percent)

>> West: 57 (17.22 percent).

FACT FILE

>> Seat: District 81 state representative.

>> Term: Two years.

>> Annual salary: $7,200.

>> Per diem allowance: $17,920.