Over 5,000 individuals hit the voting booth this weekend to cast their picks for Bastrop City Judge and City Marshal.

Phillip M. Lester, a member of the Louisiana and Texas state Bar Associations, and Ross Downs, a certified public accountant, had a fairly close race, but Lester pulled ahead with 55.8 percent, or 2,977 votes. Lester had 619 more votes at the end of the election than Downs.

Lester could not be reached for comment on Monday, but he said in the Bastrop Daily Enterprise’s Voter’s Guide that he plans on making his decisions based upon Christian models and principals.

He said if elected he does not intend to legislate from the bench but to make rulings as allowed by laws and facts presented to the court.

Lester’s said his main priority as City Judge would be: “to continue to earn the respect of the law enforcement and the people of Bastrop in our City Court.  I intend to run the City Court just like our District Court.  The court must be run like a business and I intend to run the court as ethically and effectively as possible. The most important issues for the court will be to continue to help improve the quality of life for our community and when the law allows it to promote our city, protect our children,  protect our elderly, and law enforcement. I will also attempt to provide a cleaner and safer community for everyone.”

The new City Marshal has yet to be named though. If one of the six candidates for marshal had received one vote over 50 percent that person would have been named the new marshal. However, this did not happen. A run-off will be on Nov. 4 for the two candidates who received the most votes.

Lisa Chafford, deputy marshal, and Marc Vereen, Bastrop Main Street Program director, will be candidates for City Marshal during the Nov. 4 election.

Chafford received 30.54 percent of the 5,327 votes on Saturday.

“I want to thank the voters for having the confidence in me. I hope you all still have this confidence in me come Nov. 4,” Chafford said. “Please consider that I am the only candidate that has that hands-on experience of the daily operation of the office and will continue doing this job come Jan. 1.”

 Vereen received 17.05 percent of the votes for a total of 908.

“I am thankful for the support and confidence voters showed throughout the election. Over the next four weeks of the campaign, I will continue my plans to build on the reputation the marshal’s office has developed over the years,” Vereen said. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the other marshal candidates for a clean campaign. I wish them well on further endeavors.”

Other candidates that will not continue in the election are James “Bubba” Boyd, Scott Floyd, Ernest Lee and Carol Lord.

Results for other races include Rodney Alexander for U.S. Representative with 92 percent of the votes. Foster Campbell was chosen as public service commissioner. Justice of the Peace for Ward 2 is Glennis Lewis, and “ZZ” Wilson was elected for Ward 9. Erwin “Hookey” Evans was chosen as Constable for Ward 2.