Texas primary runoffs are Tuesday. What's on the ballot in the Houston area?



Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff / Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Texas primary runoffs are Tuesday. What's on the ballot in the Houston area? 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

It’s runoff week in Texas.

While most candidates — Democrat and Republican — are focused on 2018’s general election, a few local office-seekers still are trying to get on the November ballot.

In primary races where no candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote, the race went to a runoff between the top two vote-getters. In Tuesday’s runoff election, voters will get to narrow the field even more.

To find out your district and more about your candidates in your party, see HoustonChronicle.com's voter guide for the runoffs.

Here’s a look at the candidates in local runoffs in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties:

Harris County

Several Democratic primaries were pushed to runoffs.

The race for Harris County district clerk pits Marilyn Burgess, chief financial officer for a fastener company and a past executive director of the Texas PTA, against Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter, an international service manager. The winner will challenge Republican incumbent Chris Daniel in the November general election.

In the race for county clerk, Gayle Young Mitchell, who formerly worked for the Harris County Clerk’s office, is up against Diane Trautman, a Harris County school trustee. The winner will face off against Republican incumbent Stan Stanart.

Cosme Garcia, who has worked in the county’s voter registration department, is in the runoff for county treasurer against Dylan Osborne, who works for the city’s planning and development office. The winner will challenge Republican incumbent Orlando Sanchez.

Two runoffs will determine the Democratic candidates for county school trustee. Position 3, an at-large seat, is a race between Josh Wallenstein, who started the Wallenstein Law Group in 2017, and Richard Cantu, the deputy executive director of the East Aldine Management District. The winner will go up against Republican Marc Cowart.

For Position 6, local minister Prince E. Bryant II faces Danyahel (Danny) Norris, the associate director of the law library at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. The winner will be unopposed in November.

The runoff for Precinct 7, Place 2 Justice of the Peace, pits Assistant County Attorney Cheryl Elliott Thornton against lawyer Sharon M. Burney. The winner will face Republican Daniel “DC” Caldwell in the fall.

Harris County’s Republican ballot includes only two runoffs.

The race for judge of the 296th state district is between Michelle Fraga, who practiced law for the county before starting her own firm, and Richard Risinger, a municipal attorney in Pasadena. The winner will face Democrat Donna Roth in November.

For Justice of the Peace, Precinct. 5, Place 2, two-term incumbent Jeff Williams is up against Mike Wolfe, who serves on the Harris County Department of Education’s board of trustees.

Montgomery County

In Montgomery County, only Republican voters will see countywide runoffs on their ballots, and both of those are for county commissioner positions.

Incumbent Charlie Riley faces a challenge from Greg Parker for the Precinct 2 post. Riley first was elected in 2014, while Parker is a former Comal County commissioner. The winner will face Democrat Ron Keichline in November.

In Precinct 4, incumbent Jim Clark, first elected in 2014, faces off against James Metts, who currently is the Precinct 4 justice of the peace. The winner will be unopposed in November.

Fort Bend County

Fort Bend Democrats will vote in just one runoff.

Incumbent Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Joel C. Clouser Sr., who has held the position since 1993, faces a challenge from lawyer Tanisha C. Green. The winner will be unopposed in November.

Republicans have two runoff elections.

For judge of County Court-at-Law 3, Tricia Krenek, a managing partner of a Katy law firm who has served on the Fulshear City Council, is vying against Harold Kennedy, who has been an associate judge in Fort Bend County since 1999. The winner will face Democrat Juli Mathew in November.

In the race for county treasurer, Bill Rickert, past board president of the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, squares off against against Tina Gibson, a former nurse and business leader who has been active in the Republican party. The winner will be unopposed in November.