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Updated 12:30 p.m. March 5
Waller County primary winners Justin Glenn Beckendorff and Brian Cantrell have shared their thoughts following the March 3 election.
In his own words
In a March 4 Facebook post, Beckendorff, who won the Republican primary for Waller County judge, thanked everyone who voted in the primary election and his friends, family and supporters who “worked tirelessly” on his behalf to help with the campaign.
As of the March 3 election, no Democratic candidate has filed to run in the November primary.
“I am honored and blessed to be your next county judge, and while I know I have big boots to fill, I am excited to take on this new challenge,” he said in the post. “Judge [Carbett “Trey” J. Duhon III] set an incredible standard and put Waller County in a great position to grow the right way. I will carry that standard forward and fight for the citizens of this great county each and every day.”
Beckendorff told Community Impact that working closely with current Waller County Judge Duhon on committees and acting as his replacement at Commisioners Court gave him the confidence he needed to run for judge after Duhon chose not to.
“I think it’s the natural next step for me when the judge decided not to seek reelection,” he said. “That was 100% his decision, and at that point, I felt like it was time to continue the hard work that he’s done and we’ve all done.”
Through its bond programs, Beckendorff said he wants to address growth and develop infrastructure that fits the county’s demands in a way that makes financial and logistical sense.
“I think the biggest obstacle for Waller County, or any county or city, is how do you continue to pay for those needs while continuing to be responsible for tax rates, tax dollars because there’s always a need to fix roads, to widen roads, to add county services,” Beckendorff said.
What they’re saying
Cantrell, who secured the Waller County Precinct 4 commissioner primary win, also thanked the volunteers, friends, family and supporters who stood beside him throughout this campaign and made the win possible in a March 4 Facebook post.
“This campaign has always been about something bigger than an election,” he said in the post. "It’s about the future of Waller County and making sure our community continues to grow the right way — with strong leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to serving the people who call this county home."
Cantrell will face Democratic candidate Ethel Wilmore in the general election this November. After winning the primary with only 32 more votes than candidate Dan Smith, Cantrell told Community Impact he is eager to establish partnerships with the city of Katy, get to know its residents and find out what is most important to them.
“I realize it was a close race,” Cantrell said. “So for me, I need to continue to get out in the community and really educate people about our campaign and our goals and what we’re about.”
Also of note
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Updated 10:35 p.m. March 3
Unofficial Waller County election data show Justin Glenn Beckendorff and Brian Cantrell have secured their seats in the November election.
At the polls
Beckendorff has won the Republican primary for Waller County judge with 3,762 votes against Brent Davis, who garnered 1,878 votes, data shows. As of the March 3 election, no Democratic candidate has filed to run in the November primary.
Meanwhile, Cantrell secured the Republican primary for Waller County Precinct 4 commissioner with 785 votes against Dan Smith, who garnered 753 votes, according to unofficial results.
Cantrell will face Democrat Ethel Wilmore, who ran unopposed in the primary.
In their own words
Community Impact reached out to Beckendorff and Cantrell for comment but responses were not received by press time. This article will be updated with comments when they are received.
Also of note
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted 9:30 p.m. March 3
Waller County has released March 3 primary election early voting totals for multiple races, including county judge and Precinct 4 commissioner.
What you need to know
The county judge position has two Republican candidates battling for the position after incumbent Carbett "Trey" J. Duhon III decided not to seek reelection. There are no Democrats running for the position.
According to unofficial early voting results, Justin Glenn Beckendorff leads the county judge race with 2,427 votes, followed by Brent Davis with 1,193 votes.
Meanwhile, Brian Cantrell leads the Republican Precinct 4 commissioner race with 521 votes trailed by Dan Smith with 437 votes, data shows. The winner of the Republican race will face Democrat Ethel Wilmore, who is running unopposed in the primary.
The Precinct 4 commissioner seat—which represents the southern region of the county, consisting of Katy, Brookshire, Pattison and Fulshear—opened after Beckendorff filed to run for county judge.
A total of 6,289 Waller County voters cast their ballots during early voting, representing approximately 13.94% of the county’s 45,118 registered voters, according to early voting statistics.
About the candidates
Davis, a self-employed general contractor and the owner of Davis Irrigation Services, said in a questionnaire with Community Impact that he chose to run because he “deeply cares about Waller County and the people there.”
Meanwhile, Beckendorff, the current Precinct 4 commissioner and emergency response partner, said in the questionnaire he chose to run because the county is growing fast and he wants to protect the county’s rural character while managing county services.
Smith is a former Katy City Council member and 24-year business leader with an MBA, while Cantrell serves as the Waller County fire marshal and chief of emergency management/homeland security.
What’s next?
Community Impact will update this article as more election day totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
