'Hello Newman'
Upstart challenger takes down McBride for bid
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan DEMOCRATIC SHERIFF NOMINEE Mitchel Newman accepts congratulations from a supporter after last Tuesday's runoff victory over Ronnie McBride.

Despite an early glitch in the posting of election returns, Mitchel Newman coasted to an easy victory over incumbent Ronnie McBride for the Democratic sheriff's nomination in the November general election.

Newman will face Republican Jim Byerly in the November election.

"I would like to thank the people of Jasper County who came out and voted," Newman said. "It was a good turnout for a runoff election. I look forward to coming back in November and battling a tough opponent.

"I appreciate everything that has been done for me and I didn't do this by myself," Newman said. "By the grace of God, we made it and I hope everything turns out good in November. I want to be everybody's sheriff."

When early voting numbers were posted, Newman grabbed a 500-vote cushion as he held a 1,432-928 advantage over McBride.

The boxes flowed into the Jasper County Clerk's office quickly and after the first three boxes were posted, Newman's lead continued to grow and thrilled a large crowd in support of the challenger.

But an early glitch in the voting system pulled the results of the first three boxes posted and caused a minor uproar in the parking lot, where the results were being posted.

The first box to post was box #6 and Newman won it 45-38. McBride won the second box posted 48-38 and continued the trend by winning the third box 46-43.

In fact, of the first six boxes posted, McBride captured five of them and slowly started to cut into Newman's early lead.

But if McBride was going to make an impact in the race, the incumbent sheriff needed to show well in Box #14, the Kirbyville area.

During the Democratic primary in February, McBride won the box 269-233 over Kirbyville Police Chief Paul Brister. Newman finished in third with 139 votes.

McBride needed to claim the majority of Brister's votes in this box to close the gap and make this contest a race.

When Box #14 was posted, McBride pulled off the win by only by 143-100 and with only 12 boxes left, Newman's camp started to feel secure that the nomination was complete.

Eight boxes later, McBride conceded the race to Newman and the celebration began in the parking lot for the Democratic winner.

"I have congratulated Mr. Newman on his win," McBride said. "I think he's done a real good job in working the county."

McBride believed he faced a rather uphill battle in gaining re-election to office.

"I had two ex-sheriff's and the Beaumont Enterprise campaigning working against me," McBride said. "It was a downhill battle all the way for me.

"The people have spoken and Mr. Newman has made a lot of promises and I just hope that Mr. Newman can fulfill his promises in the upcoming years," McBride said.