Huffman takes Senate Dist. 17 seat in runoff By ALAN BERNSTEIN Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle Dec. 16, 2008, 11:32PM 1 2 STEVE UECKERT CHRONICLE BuzzRepublican Joan Huffman defeated Democrat Chris Bell in Tuesday's runoff election for a Houston-area seat in the Texas Senate, setting a new high for the number of women in the 31-member legislative chamber. With votes from all precincts counted, Huffman, a former judge and prosecutor, had 56 percent against the former congressman and Houston councilman, according to results that will be made final and official in a few days. "I have my supporters and thousands of...