1984: 73 votes
1988: 77 votes
1992: 96 votes
1996: 77 votes
2000: 156 votes
2004: 80 votes
2008: 79 votes
(WTH in 2000...and to a lesser extent, 1992?)
1978: 57
1982: 57
1986: 91
1990: 96
1994: 99
1998: 108
2002: 63
2006: 90
There is a difference between residence for voting purposes and residence measured by the census bureau. And the population can vary based on whether there is a drilling crew in the area or not. Voters with ties to the county might vote absentee by mail. I think the 2000 election might have been a little embarrassing, so they may have cleaned up the voting rolls.
Actually, the Democratic primary is when local officials are chosen. In Texas, a major party can only nominate by primary, and can not make replacement nominations except in cases such as death, etc. Primaries are organized by the county party, and a few counties only have a Republican or Democratic primary. Texas does not have party registration, but each election year, voters may affiliate with a party (ordinarily affiliation is simply by voting in the primary).
Since there is no Republican primary, there can be no Republican nominees. So a candidate would either have to file as an independent or run in the Democratic primary, which all voters may participate in.
A curiosity is that many primary voters ignore the statewide races and only vote in the local races. A contested nomination for district judge will always outdraw a gubernatorial race among candidates they know they won't for in the fall. And even higher will be the vote on advisory referendums which may be placed on the primary ballot (typically these are placed on the ballot by state party; but there is a provision for an initiative-like process).
