Rep. Dukes: Accentuated the positive.

It may have been the bloodiest of all Travis County races: the knock-down, drag-out fight between Rep. Dawnna Dukes and challenger Brian Thompson has ended with a knock-out blow from the incumbent. With 18 of the 24 precincts reporting, Dukes has a unassailable 22 point lead, taking some precincts by up to 80%.

Talking to Dukes earlier, she puts her victory down to running on her record: a record, she said, that the voters responded to, while the negative campaign run by Thompson imploded. “The politics of mudslinging was a turn-off for them,” said Dukes.

Thompson, by the way, has not answered any calls for a comment.

This article appears in February 29 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.