March 10, 1994
Brisbin edges Elms in county judge’s race
PRESIDIO COUNTY –– Marfa Mayor Jake Brisbin Jr., by the slimmest of margins, defeated incumbent Monroe Elms in the race for Presidio County judge in Tuesday’s Democratic Party primary election. Brisbin got 793 votes to Elms’ 770 votes, a margin of 23 votes, or 51 percent.
“I’ve got 9 more months of work to do for the city of Marfa and it’s time to get to it,” Brisbin said Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to being able to promote the entire county and take our economic incentive and tax abatement policies and make it county-wide to take us all forward.
“It’s my sincere hope that the local entities in Presidio County can work together and operate in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect,” Brisbin said.
Elms said Wednesday he ran a good race and has no regrets. “I feel good about it,” he said, “I’m just disappointed not as many people turned out to vote,” Elms said. “I wish Jake the best of luck in managing the county’s business,” he said. “I hope the progressive ideas I’ve tried to implement will continue.”
This year’s county judge’s race was a repeat of the 1990 election with a few new twists. Elms defeated Brisbin in the November 1990, election when Brisbin ran as a Republican. In that race. Elms polled 994 votes to Brisbin’s 843 votes, a difference of 151 votes, or a 54 percent advantage. Tuesday’s race saw Brisbin outpolling Elms on election day with Elms carrying the early vote. Three years ago, Brisbin took the early vote and Elms the election-day vote
Brisbin and Elms are cousins.
