Cleburne Mayor Justin Hewlett and former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams will keep us waiting to hear their choice for U.S. Congress in the Republican primary for District 25.
Hewlett, a surprise third-place finisher overall behind Parker County car dealer Roger Williams and Tea Party leader Wesley A. Riddle, said he wants to "sit down and look both candidates in the eye" before deciding whether to endorse either in the July 31 runoff.
"A lot of people backing me said, 'Hey, if you weren't in this, we'd be for Roger," Hewlett said. "But I've got a couple of questions for both of them about things that were said during the campaign."
Hewlett won Johnson and Bosque counties, the second largest bloc of votes in the district after Travis, a Roger Williams stronghold.
Michael Williams, who finished fifth overall but a strong second in Travis County, said by text message that he has not decided whether to endorse.
The new district stretches from Burleson to San Marcos. Besides Travis County, the runoff turnout is expected to be heaviest in Johnson County, where voters are also settling a runoff for county commissioner, and in Hays County for a state Senate runoff.
Roger Williams was endorsed last week by three former opponents, including Lago Vista Republican Chad Wilbanks, who had sent a last-minute mailer accusing both Williamses of "cruis'n Texas" and "looking to buy a seat in Congress." Bill Burch of Grand Prairie and Ernie Beltz of Cedar Park also endorsed Roger Williams.
Riddle, a Gatesville resident and retired Army lieutenant colonel, was endorsed by fourth-place finisher Dave Garrison of Horseshoe Bay and also by Hays County candidate Brian Matthews.
Another candidate, Dianne Costa of Highland Village, said she will not endorse either candidate because she does not live in the district, which stretches from Burleson to San Marcos.
--Bud Kennedy
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