Blanco County Republicans have named Johnson City Councilwoman Teresa Taylor-Babb as their new nominee for Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 in the November General Election.
The nomination follows the death of incumbent Randy Brodbeck, who ran unopposed in the March GOP primary. No Democrat sought the position in the solidly Republican county just west of Austin.
But Taylor-Babb may not be unopposed in November.
After the party nominated Taylor-Babb, Blanco County’s all-Republican Commissioners Court appointed Casey White to fill Brodbeck’s unexpired term as the Place 1 Justice of the Peace.
Now White has reportedly indicated he plans to run for the position as a write-in candidate in November.
Party officials question whether he’s eligible.
Blanco County GOP Chair Carlette Lewis announced on June 22 that, in accordance with state election law, the party had selected a new Republican candidate to replace Brodbeck on the November ballot.
After interviewing four prospects, the party’s executive committee—composed of locally elected precinct chairs—chose Taylor-Babb.
Lewis then encouraged Blanco County commissioners to appoint Taylor-Babb to serve the remainder of Brodbeck’s unexpired term.
During a closed session of their June 23 meeting, commissioners interviewed three of the four prospective candidates considered by the party, including Taylor-Babb, White, and Ashley Guthrie.
Commissioners then unanimously voted to appoint White, a local contractor and a director of the Blanco County Fair Association, instead of Taylor-Babb.
Lewis told Texas Scorecard White now plans to run against Taylor-Babb as a write-in candidate in the General Election.
She questioned why County Judge Brett Bray and the other four commissioners chose White over the party’s nominee, who Lewis believes brings more relevant experience to the job.
Taylor-Babb is the current mayor pro tempore of Johnson City, and she previously spent 17 years as a law enforcement officer in the Austin area and 10 years as a missionary.
Lewis also questions whether White is eligible to be a write-in candidate.
Texas election law states that a person who was a candidate in a Primary Election is ineligible to be a write-in candidate for that same office in the succeeding General Election.
The Blanco County GOP is awaiting guidance from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office on whether White’s participation in the party’s primary candidate replacement process is disqualifying.
