Monday, Nov. 19, 1990

Election Notes Texas

He's not old enough to drink and barely of age to vote, drive or get married, but John E. Payton will soon be officiating at weekend weddings and night- court hearings in Collin County, Texas. Last week the 18-year-old high school graduate trounced incumbent Jim Murrell, 50, grabbing 82% of the vote to become a justice of the peace.

With no Democratic opponent in sight earlier this year, Murrell decided to take it easy on the campaign trail and simply deride young Payton's G.O.P. primary challenge. But Payton aggressively went pressing the flesh, knocking on more than 10,000 doors after school hours, and won. Last week, after a late-starting, intensive $31,000 write-in campaign to keep his robes, Murrell was stripped of his job in the general election.

Justice Payton plans to use the proceeds of his new $38,200-a-year post to get him through Collin County Community College and perhaps a law degree later. May it please the court.