Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson unopposed, wins seat in Texas House to replace Terri Hodge

By Gromer Jeffers Jr.
The Dallas Morning News

Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson is the newest member of the Texas Legislature.

Johnson, winner of the March Democratic primary in House District 100, was the only candidate to file for the May 8 special election called to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Terri Hodge.

Johnson can begin serving as the new representative for District 100 as soon as his victory is certified. Texas law allows an unopposed candidate on a special election ballot to immediately assume office.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to begin serving the people of House District 100 next month instead of having to wait until January 2011," Johnson said in a prepared statement. "I credit the voters of House District 100 for putting me in this position by providing me with such a large margin of victory in the Democratic primary last month."

Johnson does not face a Republican in the fall election.

Hodge, who has pleaded guilty to tax-evasion charges, halted her re-election bid during the primary campaign and resigned earlier this year. She faces sentencing later this month.

On March 2, Johnson won with 75 percent of the primary vote. Though Hodge had already departed the race, her name remained on the ballot.

A small band of her supporters unsuccessfully urged voters to select Hodge in order to have the election decided by precinct chairs.

The special election is significant because it gives Johnson more time to transition into his seat and to build House seniority. He'll get a jump on the freshman class of 2011.

Gromer Jeffers Jr.'s column appears regularly in The Dallas Morning News

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