WACO (March 9, 2010)—Republican District 17 Congressional candidate Bill Flores of Bryan won the endorsement Tuesday of Waco businessman and former CIA case officer Chuck Wilson.

Flores faces Waco businessman Rob Curnock in the April GOP runoff election for the right to challenge veteran Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, in November.

Wilson finished fourth in a five-man primary race for the seat with about 11,000 votes.

“I am convinced that Bill Flores has the better understanding of what life in Central Texas is all about, that he would be a more effective representative for McLennan County, and for the rest of the district,” Wilson said Tuesday.

Earlier, fifth place finisher Timothy Delasandro, who got about 3,000 votes, endorsed Curnock.

The third-place finisher, Dave McIntyre, has said he’ll back the GOP nominee, but has not endorsed either candidate in the runoff.

Flores led in the primary vote count with 33 percent of the vote to Curnock’s 29 percent.

The two were separated by about 3,000 votes.