Republican voters divided over candidates in Brown County Judge's race

BROWNWOOD, Texas — The Brown County Judge's race has caused a split among some Brown County Republicans.

After winning the GOP primary back in March, Paul Lilly must now face off against write-in candidate Steve Fryar in the November election for Brown County Judge.

Fryar is a Brownwood businessman and a well-known Republican, but Lilly supporter Robert McLean said that it is wrong for Fryar to run in the election.

"He wasn't even interested in running in the primary. He wasn't interested in being judge back then, or else he would've ran," McLean said. "So why is he all of a sudden coming in as a write-in candidate?"

Lilly unseated incumbent Ray West in March to become the Republican candidate for Brown County Judge, which is a post that West has held since 1992.

McLean said that Fryar's candidacy could harm the Republican Party, but Fryar supporter Lisa Jaso disagreed with that assertion.

"It's a long shot for a write-in candidate," Jaso said. "But if you write in that name and he has more votes than Mr. Lilly, he gets elected."

Jaso said that Fryar's business and administrative background is the main reason why she is supporting Fryar.

"Mr. Lilly does not have that background. Mr. Fryar has a longtime background in business. He's dealt with employees, he's dealt with all those things," Jaso said.

Although Fryar has those business credentials, McLean said that Lilly is the real conservative on the ballot.

"The voters spoke up and they voted for who they wanted," McLean said. "Lilly is the true choice."

A Democrat is not running in the Brown County Judge’s race and Election Day will be held on November 6.