Lou Murdock concedes race to republican challenger Tommy Smyth
By: David Gonzalez
Updated: November 9, 2012
A decision is made in the Wichita County Tax Assessor Collector race left undecided after Tuesday's election.
The race between Democrat Incumbent Lou Murdock and her Republican challenger Tommy Smyth was very close.
Smyth received 198 more votes than Murdock but on Friday, Murdock decided to concede the race.
Murdock says she wanted to go for 20 years as wichita county tax assessor collector but after 16 years of service, she says she will not pursue a recount of Tuesday's election results and will concede the race to Tommy Smyth.
Murdock says she's called Smyth to congratulate him on his victory but he did not answer so she left him a voicemail.
She says it would have cost $2,000 to recount the votes but she feels the margin was to wide to do so.
Murdock says she will be retiring to spend more time with her 99 year old mother, three children, six grandchildren and one great- grandchild.
Murdock says she's grateful to the Wichita Falls community for their support all these years.
"I can't thank them enough," Murdock says. "The support was overwhelming. The people that contributed to my campaign, some contributed money, a lot of people put signs out. They made phone calls. They did everything they could think of to help."
Murdock says her last day in office will be on Dec. 31.
Tommy Smyth says he is glad to hear Murdock conceded the race and is ready to get to work.
"This is a unique opportunity for the first time in 16 years to do some different things and we're excited about it and we look forward to serving everybody in Wichita County, all across the board in Wichita County, so my supporters, her supporters; We're all in this together," Smyth exclaims.
Smyth will be sworn in as Wichita County Tax Assessor Collector on Jan. 1 and his first day will be on Jan. 2.
