Reynolds wins primary runoff despite scandal
Embattled state Rep. Ron Reynolds fended off his remaining Democratic primary challenger in Tuesday’s runoff election, which increasingly focused on a string of legal woes that have engulfed the lawmaker.
Reynolds was opposed by Angelique Bartholomew, who said 27th House District constituents deserved a candidate who could pay full attention to their concerns.
Complete but unofficial results showed voters still wanted Reynolds as their incumbent representative, though final tallies indicated he won by a smaller margin than he had anticipated.
An attorney, Reynolds, the first African-American since Reconstruction to represent Fort Bend County, is appealing a November conviction from a Montgomery County jury on five counts of misdemeanor barratry. He represented himself at trial and has described the charges as racially motivated.
Before the results were final Reynolds, 42, said his constituents trusted him in spite of negative TV sound bites and mailers in what he called his opponent’s “dirty campaign.” He added that many of his constituents, whom he described as middle class and educated, found the allegations against him “preposterous.”
“They know me,” Reynolds said. “When people believe in you, when people know your work ethic, when people know your character, they give you the benefit of the doubt.”
Heading into the race, Reynolds attracted support from an array of elected officials including Mayor Sylvester Turner, U.S.
Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green and the Democratic Party chair of Fort Bend. Reynolds noted that none of his legislative peers was calling for his resignation.
Bartholomew’s campaign sought to capitalize on the criminal allegations involving Reynolds, as did Annie’s List, a statewide group supporting progressive and pro-choice women that endorsed Bartholomew.
Other events that trailed Reynolds included a ruling from a Harris County judge in April that ordered the lawmaker to pay $504,000 in damages for failing to give a mother her share of a settlement in a lawsuit related to her daughter’s death in a car crash.
That same day, in Austin, the State Board of Disciplinary Appeals held a hearing to consider whether Reynolds could continue to practice law in Texas. According to an order subsequently filed, Reynolds was suspended pending the outcome of his criminal conviction.
Bartholomew expressed pride in her campaign volunteers, whom she said pushed hard to meet community members. Moving forward, she said she believes more people will be paying heightened attention to Reynolds and the issues surrounding him.
“Things will never be the same in Fort Bend County or House District 27,” she said. “People are far more alert and aware.”
Reynolds first won the seat in 2010 to represent the district, which covers the eastern portion of Fort Bend County, including most of Missouri City and parts of Houston and Sugar Land. He hadn’t faced a primary contender since he was first elected.
Three Democratic candidates ran against Reynolds in the March 1 Democratic primary. While Reynolds earned the most support, he fell about 250 votes short of the number needed to avoid a runoff.
Unofficial results Tuesday indicated a significantly smaller turnout and much smaller margin.
Reynolds, who handily defeated previous GOP contenders, will face Republican Ken Bryant, a criminal defense lawyer and former Fort Bend ISD trustee, in the Nov. 8 general election.