Final numbers verified what early returns showed after polls closed Tuesday — Democrat Ron Walker will be the next county judge for Jefferson County.

It was almost 2 a.m. before election workers could sort through the nearly 5,000 paper ballots cast in the county to determine the officials winners. In the end Walker had amassed 27,693 votes, 59.90 percent, to Republican Billy Job’s 17,804 votes, 38.51 percent. Libertarian candidate Helen Sue Sherbaf collected 735 votes, 1.59 percent.

Deputy Chief County Clerk Theresa Goodness said returns were slow coming in because election officials had to check paper ballots for write-in votes. She said many of the paper ballots were incorrectly marked and election workers had to attempt to discern the intent of the voter, at times remarking ballots.

Voters also used the county’s new electronic touch screen voting system. Goodness said the electronic machines operated quickly and without problem.

Even with a 60 percent lead late Tuesday night, Walker was reluctant to call the race a victory until all the precincts had been counted.

“I feel good right now, but anything can happen in politics and in voting,” Walker said from an election night party at the Rockin’ A Cafe in Beaumont where supporters shared barbecue and watched bull riding exhibitions.

Walker, 70, is a retired chief justice from the Texas 9th Circuit Court of Appeals who defeated two-term incumbent Carl Griffith in March Democratic primary.

He said the support he has received during the campaign show that voters in Jefferson County are ready to go in a new direction.

“My No. 1 priority will be to help with the morale in this county, both the employees and the taxpayers. They need to get confidence back in their leadership. I am going to take care of the people first,” Walker said.

Walker said the past 24 months since his announcement to run in the Democratic primary have been a series of challenges, first running against Griffith and then facing a tough challenge from a Republican candidate.

“If I had the choice to go outside and ride one of those bulls or face the campaign again — I would take the bull,” Walker said. “Because I know the campaign ride will take longer than eight seconds.”

Walker said he is concerned about the county’s new touch screen electronic voting system.

“From the beginning of early voting, there have been people voting a straight Democratic ticket but the review screen is showing Republican. That’s not right. People need to have confidence when they cast their votes,” Walker said.

Walker is a Beaumont native that attended South Park schools and graduated from Lamar University-Beaumont. After coaching and teaching in the Orangefield school district, he attended law school at the University of Houston and practiced there for three years.

In 1972, Walker returned to Beaumont and was in private practice for 12 years. In 1983 he was elected as judge of the 58th District Court in Jefferson County. After eight years, he was then appointed by the governor as chief justice of the state appeals court in Beaumont where he served for 12 years. Walker retired in 2002, but said he has continued to work on mediations.