Dallas County State Reps. Alonzo, Villalba on the Ropes in Primaries

State Reps. Roberto Alonzo and Jason Villalba were on the ropes in party primaries as Dallas County votes trickled in Tuesday night. Republican Lisa Luby Ryan, an interior design firm owner, had a slight lead over Villalba in District 114. The winner will take on Democrat John Turner in November. The district includes North Dallas and Lake Highlands."It's very exciting and we are very encouraged," Ryan said Tuesday night as the votes came in. "It's clear that District 114 was ready for a change. I'm humbled and grateful. We are going to continue our message through the fall." Alonzo was far behind 37-year-old attorney Jessica Gonzalez for the Democratic nomination in House District 104, which includes Dallas areas such as Oak Cliff, as well as Cockrell Hill, and parts of Grand Prairie and South Irving. Alonzo has served in the House since 2003 and also from 1993 to 1997."We ran a very strong grass-roots effort," Gonzalez said. "I am just really excited about the opportunity to serve the people. The district deserves better." But not all was lost for officeholders. Republican state Reps. Rodney Anderson and Linda Koop were well on their way to surviving primary challenges, as was Democratic incumbent Eric Johnson. Democratic voters were also narrowing the field to replace retiring, 13-term state Rep. Helen Giddings of DeSoto.Former DeSoto Mayor Carl Sherman and his former City Council colleague Deshaundra Lockhart Jones took the early lead for Giddings' seat. With no Republican or Libertarian foe in District 109, Sherman or Jones is likely to coast to victory in November. Dallas attorney Christopher Graham and self-employed Lancaster resident Victoria Walton were far behind Sherman and Lockhart Jones but, between them, appeared to be garnering enough votes to force the leaders into a runoff. The seat represents all or part of Dallas, Cedar Hill, Ferris, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Lancaster, Ovilla and Wilmer.There were also no Republicans or Libertarians running in District 100, where incumbent Eric Johnson held a solid advantage over former Dallas City Council member Sandra Crenshaw in the Democratic primary. District 100 is in Dallas and a small part of Mesquite.On to NovemberAnderson's November opponent in District 105 could be Democrat Terry Meza, who was leading former Irving school board member A.D. Jenkins. The district includes Irving and part of Grand Prairie.Anderson defeated Dinesh Mali in the Republican primary.Republican Morgan Meyer, unchallenged in the District 108 primary, is likely to face educator and writer Joanna Cattanach in the general election. Cattanach led attorney Zac Duffy in a Democratic primary. District 108 includes the Park Cities, Uptown and part of downtown Dallas.Koop was cruising against business owner Chad Carnahan and network engineer Scott Kilgore in District 102, which includes parts of North Dallas, Addison, Garland and Richardson. Koop will face unopposed Democrat Ana-Maria Ramos in November.Incumbents learn their foesDemocratic incumbent Victoria Neave of Dallas awaited the winner among three Republicans in District 107, which includes Lakewood and eastern parts of Dallas, southern Garland and most of Mesquite.Mesquite businesswoman Deanna Maria Metzger was well ahead in the primary. But attorney Brad Perry and aviation industry professional Joe Ruzicka were running neck-and-neck for second and, between them, had enough votes to force a runoff.Republican incumbent Matt Rinaldi appeared likely to face Julie Johnson in District 115, which includes parts of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch and Irving. Johnson, 51, a business owner, was far ahead of Rock Bower, 31, an attorney, in the Democratic primary.Showdown for an open seatThe field was narrowed in District 113, the seat for Garland, Mesquite, Rowlett and southeast parts of Dallas County that was vacated by Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, when she decided to instead run for the Texas Senate.  Continue reading...