Johnson to fill Turner’s term in state House

Houston voters Saturday selected Jarvis D. Johnson to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of former District 139 State Representative Sylvester Turner, now mayor of Houston.

Johnson, a former Houston city councilman, defeated Rickey “Raykay” Tezino in Saturday’s race, according to unofficial results. He was the only challenger.

Johnson will serve until at least January. Johnson will face Kimberly Willis in a May 24 special election to determine who holds the seat past that point.

Willis, a social worker and community activist, did not choose to compete in Saturday’s bid to fill Turner’s unexpired term, instead focusing her efforts on the May 24 matchup. Primary runoff elections in judicial, sheriff’s and constable races also will be held that day.

In other races Saturday, Joe R. Zimmerman become the new mayor of Sugar Land, replacing James A. Thompson, who could not seek re-election due to term limits.

Voters rejected a proposal to modify the term limits of Sugar Land council members to no more than three consecutive three-year terms in a 10year period.

Also in Fort Bend County, Allen Owen defeated Fred G. Taylor in the Missouri City mayor’s contest.

Richmond voters selected Barry C. Beard to fill an open commissioner’s seat and approved increasing the number of commissioners from two to four while representing certain districts.

Fulshear voters selected Jeff Roberts as mayor and Tricia Krenek, Stephen Gill and James Murdoch as aldermen. They also voted to approve a home rule charter for the growing Fort Bend county community.

In Montgomery County, Jim Gentry was elected mayor of Conroe, according to unofficial results.

Current Mayor Webb Melder could not seek reelection due to term limits.

In Friendswood, Mike Foreman and Carl W. Gustafson were elected to the city council.

Voters there also approved a street maintenance sales and use tax and a downtown improvement sales and use tax.

Voters on Saturday also decided several school board races.

In Spring Branch ISD, realtor J. Carter Breed defeated Julie Jaehne in the only contested school board race.

In Katy ISD, unofficial results indicate George Scott narrowly defeated incumbent Joe Adams for a seat on the school board.

The Splendora school district narrowly approved a $30 million bond measure.

It passed by nine votes — 254 supported it, 245 voted against.