The 244th District Court has a new judge following a Tuesday GOP runoff between Cindy Weir-Nutter and Lori Ruiz-Crutcher.
Ruiz-Crutcher defeated former county attorney Weir-Nutter 2,122 to 1,631 or 56.53 percent to 43.45 percent. There is no Democrat in the November general election.
In the March primary Weir-Nutter had taken home 3,963 or 45.06% of the votes and Ruiz-Crutcher garnered 2,841 or 32.31%. Former Odessa Municipal Court Judge Dennis Jones came in a distant third with 22.63% or 1,990 votes. In order to win outright, one of the candidates needed to take home 50% plus 1 vote.
Jones would later endorse Crutcher in the run off.
In the GOP precinct chair races. Odessa Mayor Javier Joven was defeated by Richard Pierce, a political newcomer, 177 to 137 for the chair of Precinct 204. Mark Matta, an Odessa city councilman, defeated Judy Maikell Calloway 69 to 43 for the 312 precinct chair.
