Flores beats the socks off of Rob Curnock in Runoff

Flores set a wide margin in early voting and the trend held

With all counties reporting but Somervell, Bill Flores
claimed the nomination of the Republican Party to run
against incumbent Chet Edwards within an hour of the polls
closing.

Early voting figures reported at 7:15 p.m. showed the
retired Houston oil man ahead by 58 percent to 42 percent.

Within 15 minutes, the margin was 63 percent to 37 percent,
a figure that changed only very little over the course of
the next hour when the Associated Press called the race at
8:05 p.m. with 11,860 votes for Mr. Flores reported in 35
percent of all precincts for a final figure of 65 percent
over 35 percent.

Mr. Curnock is a former sports anchor man for Waco's KWTX
Channel 10. He operates a video tape service in that city
today.

"I am honored and humbled by the trust that the voters have
placed in me. Tonight we have taken an important step
forward in returning limited government principles for our
country and fixing the damage that Congress and this
administration have created. Going forward, I will reach
out to every Texan in this district who wishes to see our
country return to fiscal conservatism, protect our social
values, and adhere to the Constitution.

"I am deeply thankful for all of the people who supported
us, tens of thousands of them across these 12 counties.

"I am more energized than ever to run a vigorous, issue-
based campaign that will defeat Chet Edwards in November,"
Mr. Flores said from his victory celebration in College
Station, where he lives following his recent retirement as
CEO of Phoenix Exploration.

A first-time candidate for public office, Mr. Flores will
face the veteran politician, a former Texas Representative
and Senator and 10-term member of the U.S. House of
Representatives. He is rumored to have more than $2 million
in his campaign war chest.

Mr. Flores is reported to have raised more than $800,000 in
his drive for the nomination and has spent all but about
$60,000, according to campaign finance figures. Records
show that he donated more than half of the funds to himself.