Cook wins fourth term in House

By PAUL STONE
The Palestine Herald

March 05, 2008 03:36 am

— District 8 voters overwhelmingly returned incumbent Byron Cook to Austin as the Corsicana businessman amassed 70 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s Republican Primary.
In earning his fourth term in the Texas House, Cook unofficially finished with 7,824 votes (70.2 percent) in the race, while challenger Bobby Vickery, a Neches native who now lives in Frost, received 3,228 votes (29.8 percent).
With no Democratic candidate in the race, Cook’s new two-year term will commence Jan. 1, 2009.
District 8 includes Anderson, Navarro, Freestone and Limestone counties.
Cook posted his strongest showing in Navarro County which is the home county of both candidates, finishing with 3,415 —or 75 percent — of the 4,537 total votes cast there.
In Anderson County, Cook prevailed by just a 60/40 margin, receiving 2,289 votes to Vickery’s 1,496.
“Obviously, I’m very pleased by the confidence the people of Anderson County and throughout the district have placed in me,” Cook said. “I’ve always said I wanted to work real hard and be effective for the district.”
In terms of funding his campaign, Vickery was at a significant disadvantage as the incumbent Cook out-raised the Neches native by more than 14 times, according to reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.
Cook raised more than $196,500, according to contributions included in his most recent three reports, while Vickery reported $13,650 during the same span.
“I fought a hard fight,” Vickery said Tuesday night. “I want to congratulate Mr. Cook on his win. I just hope he understands we want responsive government and a voice in Austin.”
Cook said he hoped to validate the massive show of support he received at the polls.
“That’s a vote of confidence,” said Cook, referring to his margin of victory. “That’s something I don’t take care for granted. I know I have to keep working hard and effectively and that’s what I’m going to do.”
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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com