Democrat Randy Shelton unseated appointed Republican Rick Williams in the contest for judge of the 279th District Court in Tuesday’s general election.

When final tallies were released about 2 a.m. Wednesday, Shelton had 27,365 votes, 60.48 percent, to Williams’ 17,881 fotes, 38.52 percent.

The judge’s seat was left vacant after the death of Judge Tom Mulvaney in November 2005. In January, Williams was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in January to serve out the rest of Mulvaney’s term and was running to keep the seat for a full term.

Shelton ran on his 17 years of experience in family law, particularly his board certification in the field.

He began working with families as a police officer in Houston and opened a private practice in Beaumont after receiving a degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston. He received certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1989.

Jefferson County Clerk Carolyn Guidry had a clear victory in holding her office. The incumbent Democrat had 30,100 votes, or 88.87 percent, over write in candidate Rhonda Dugas, who had 3,768 votes or 11.13 percent.

Dugas first filed to run as a Republican against incumbent Democrat Mark Domingue for Jefferson County Commissioner Precinct 2. She later withdrew from that race, leaving Domingue unopposed, and campaigned as a write-in candidate against Guidry.

Total voter turnout in the county was 47,093 voters, 29.67 percent of the 158,720 registered voters. Of those voting on election day, 20,411 used the electronic voting machines and 4,954 used paper ballots. There were 1,216 mail-in ballots and 20,512 early votes cast electronically.

Democrats led Republicans two-to-one in straight party voting, with 7,316 voters casting Republican ballots, 14,533 casting Democratic ballots and 91 voting straight party Libertarian.