WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday he has appointed Waco attorney and Midway school board President Peter Rusek as judge of 74th State District Court.

Rusek, 66, a shareholder with the Waco law firm Sheehy, Lovelace and Mayfield, will replace Judge Gary Coley Jr., who won a new four-year term in January 2025 before announcing his resignation, effective Feb. 15.

With the judicial appointment, Rusek must resign from the Midway Independent School District board, where he has been a member since 1996 and president since 2004.

He will file to run for election to the unexpired term in the March 2026 Republican primary. If successful there and in the November 2026 general election, he will run again for a full, four-year term in 2028.

Rusek said he is humbled by Abbott’

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