Harry Lange, Susan Andrews take county commission seats

Harris County Commission Chairman Harry Lange turned back a challenge in the Republican Primary to retain the District 4 seat, while the District 5 seat went to former Harris and Muscogee counties school superintendent Susan Andrews.

There is no Democratic opposition in November in either race.

Lange took 64 percent of the vote against challenger Josh Alford on Tuesday. Lange had 333 votes to Alford’s 187.

Andrews, who currently works for Gov. Nathan Deal’s Office of Planning and Budget, won the seat vacated by Joey Loudermilk in an uncontested race.

A lifelong Harris County resident who has resided in District 5 that includes Ellerslie, Waverly Hall and parts of Midland, Andrews is making her first venture into elected politics.

“The county commission is a little different from the school boards I am used to,” Andrews said. “But I know what the role of a board is. When you serve as the CEO of a board, you learn to understand the role of that board.”

Four Harris County Republican incumbents, Sheriff Mike Jolley, Tax Commissioner Vickie Jamerson, Coroner Joe Weldon and Superior Court Clerk Stacy Haralson, all won the party nomination and do not face Democratic opposition in November.

Thomas Lakes, who works as a law clerk for Chief Superior Court Judge Gil McBride, won an uncontested non-partisan race for Harris County probate judge. Lakes will be taking over for Judge Allen Levi, who did not seek re-election. Chief Magistrate Jennifer Webb won re-election without opposition.

In the only contested Harris County Board of Education race, Scott Greene defeated Joe Ligon with more than 54 percent of the 577 votes cast in the District 4 race. In District 1, Shane Lipp was unopposed for a seat vacated by Charles Ragsdale. In District 3, incumbent Jack Stewart was unopposed. In District 6, incumbent Steven Goodnoe was unopposed.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 2:32 PM with the headline "Harry Lange, Susan Andrews take county commission seats."