[00:00:06]
[I. Call to Order]
THE BEAR COUNTY[II. Discussion of Bexar County Elections]
ELECTION COMMISSION.UH, I AM JUDGE PETER SKAY, COUNTY JUDGE AS CHAIR OF THE COM ELECTION COMMISSION.
UH, FOR AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST COMMISSION MEMBER, MS. CHRIS C***S, OUR BEXAR COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE, CHAIRWOMAN.
YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? NO.
OF WHAT? AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU AND TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION.
I'M JUST VERY DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.
WELL, HAVING CALLED A, A MEETING TO ORDER, I FIND THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM.
ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE PRESENT AT THIS TIME.
UH, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT TODAY IS THE SECOND MEETING OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION.
UH, THE FIRST WAS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.
UH, I THINK AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, UH, THE COMMISSION HAD NOT MET FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME, UH, IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION.
UH, I, THE CHAIR OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION WANTED TO REENGAGE THE COMMISSION, AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SOME BUSINESS TO TAKE UP TODAY.
[III. Approval of Election Commission meeting minutes for the January 17, 2024 meeting.]
ALL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A COPY OF THE MINUTES OF, UH, JANUARY 17TH, 2024.I'LL ASK THAT Y'ALL PLEASE REVIEW AND I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
AYE, LUCIA DIME, CLARK COUNTY CLERK APPROVE THE MINUTES.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, APPROVAL OF MS. SIGNIFICANT BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
AT THIS TIME, UM, I NEED STAFF TO LET ME KNOW IS THERE ANY, WE'RE GONNA GO TO P*****K COMMENT
[IV. Public comment]
COMMENTS.UH, JUST A REMINDER, UH, WE'LL BE ADOPTING THE RULES OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AND SO YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME TO THE PODIUM SPEAK, AND WE WILL, UH, GIVE YOU, I THINK THERE'S A TIMER AT THE PODIUM, AND NICOLE, UH, WILL BE KEEPING TRACK.
SO PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THE TIME AND, AND THE DECORUM THAT I'VE ASKED OF EVERYBODY HERE.
FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE VALERIE REER.
TODAY I WRITE TO URGE YOU, URGE YOU TO COM.
I COMPEL BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, ADMINISTRATOR, UM, JACKIE LENIN TO RETIRE FROM HER ROLE AS PREVIOUSLY PROMISED TO THE COMMUNITY ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2020.
RECRUIT AND HIRE A PRO PRO-DEMOCRACY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR WHO EXPAND VOTING ACCESS THROUGHOUT OUR CO COUNTY AND ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE A NEW CULTURE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN BEAR COUNTY ELECTIONS AND LOCAL NONPARTISAN CIVIC ORG ORGANIZATIONS.
I RUN RADICAL REGISTRAR AS WE DO YEAR-ROUND VOTER REGISTRATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE HAVE BEEN SINCE 2020.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, VOTER REGISTRATION IN TEXAS IS ARDUOUS.
THERE IS NO ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION AND ARCANE STATE LAWS DICTATING PAPER.
APPLICATIONS ARE JUST A FEW REASONS WHY GETTING OUR COMMUNITY REGISTERED TO VOTE IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN A MAJORITY OF OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS GAINED A TRULY VILE REPUTATION FOR VOTER SUPPRESSION, VOTER DISENFRANCHISEMENT, VOLUNTEER INTIMIDATION, AND USING BUREAUCRATIC RULEMAKING AS RETALIATORY MEASURE AGAINST FOLKS WHO SPEAK OUT.
I, MYSELF WAS FIRED AS A VDR THIS APRIL.
UM, NOT FOR TURNING IN IMPERFECT FORMS, BUT FOR NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE BRAND NEW, UM, APPRAISAL, ELECTION VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE.
THERE WERE NO SIGNS UP LETTING US KNOW THAT THE DEADLINE WAS EVEN THERE.
NOT A NEWSLETTER, NOT AN EMAIL, NOT A SMOKE SIGNAL.
SIGNAL WAS SENT OUT TO VDR S TO LET US KNOW ABOUT THE DEADLINE.
HOWEVER, I WAS TERMINATED FROM MY APPOINTMENT, UM, AS A VDR FROM STILL TURNING IN PERFECT FORMS. UM, SO, UM, DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
BEXAR COUNTY LAGS BEHIND ALL OTHER MAJOR TEXAS METROPOLITAN AREAS IN VDR.
UM, TRAVIS COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS 3,678.
ACTIVE VDR DALLAS COUNTY HAS 2066 ACTIVE VDR IN BEX COUNTY.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 924 VDR AND A LARGER POPULATION THAN THOSE TWO COUNTIES.
[00:05:01]
MINOR CLERICAL MISTAKE MADE BY A VOLUNTEER IN BEX COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, JACKIE LENIN AND HER STAFF REMOVED THE ABILITY FOR EVERYDAY CITIZENS VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO REGISTERED VOTERS.RATHER THAN COACHING AND RETRAINING THESE PUBLIC VOLUNTEERS, BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION STAFF MAKES THEM WAIT MONTHS BEFORE THEY CAN GET RETRAINED, REQUIRING THEM TO SHOW UP IN PERSON TO HEAR THE SAME PRESENTATION READ OFF OF PRE-PRINTED POWERPOINT SLIDES.
UM, THESE ABUSIVE AND RETALIATORY ACTIONS EQUATE TO BOTH POOR MANAGEMENT AND VOTER SUPPRESSION.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND IT'S TIME FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR TO STEP ASIDE AND LET A NEW LEADER REFORM BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS.
THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT MUST UNDERGO A COMPLETE CULTURE SHIFT, MOVING AWAY FROM PENALIZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORKING DIRECTLY BESIDE VOTER REGISTRARS TO ENGAGE MORE SAN ANTONIANS, WE DESERVE A BETTER, MORE INCLUSIVE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WHO IS WORKING YEAR ROUND TO EXPAND DEMOCRACY.
I AM A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR.
I'VE BEEN DOING BDR SINCE 2006, UM, AND RECENTLY I'VE BEEN DOING VOTER.
UH, I'VE BEEN A VDR HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY SINCE 2021.
I CAME HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT, SPEAK TO YOU GUYS IN REGARDS TO THE NEW RULE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN PLACE.
UM, THAT THEY, THAT ANY VDR CAN BE FIRED ON THE SPOT IF ONE PART OF THEIR VDR OR THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION FORM IS FILLED OUT INCORRECTLY.
I RECENTLY WENT TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE TO TURN IN SOME FORMS FROM A WEEKEND.
AS I ALWAYS, AS I ALWAYS AM ANXIOUSLY WAITING IN THE ROOM.
WHILE THEY CHECKED MY FORMS, CYNTHIA CAME OUT AND ASKED ME WHAT MY VDR NUMBER WAS, AND ONCE I TOLD HER, SHE SAID IN SHOCK, WOW, YOU'VE REGISTERED ALMOST 300 VOTERS WITH NO MISTAKES UNTIL TODAY.
I WILL HAVE TO CANCEL YOUR VDR NUMBER NOW THE PANIC SET IN.
AND I ASKED WHEN THE SOONEST I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET BACK OUT THERE.
SHE TOLD ME I'D HAVE TO WAIT 30 DAYS.
SO AFTER SEARCHING FOR WHEN THE NEXT VDR TRAINING IN PERSON WOULD TAKE PLACE, SHE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE JULY 9TH.
UM, I'VE WORKED AT THIS, I'VE WORKED AT MANY JOBS BEFORE, AND I'VE NEVER BEEN FIRED ON THE SPOT AND HAVE TO WAIT 30 DAYS FOR TRAINING.
I'M CURRENTLY STILL SUSPENDED AND AWAITING MY TRAINING DAY.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE ALSO WORKED, UH, AS A VDR HERE IN THE COUNTY, AND MANY HAVE SHARED WITH ME THEIR, THEIR EXPERIENCES AND HOW UNHAPPY THEY HAVE BEEN AS WELL.
ONCE THEY'VE BEEN FIRED, THEY HARDLY EVER RETURN THIS RULE DISSUADES PEOPLE FROM COMING BACK AND VOLUNTEERING WITH THE COUNTY.
IN CONCLUSION, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REEVALUATE THIS ROLE AND CREATE A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS AND LOCAL NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS DYLAN VIMO AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF BOOTH, TEXAS.
WE BUILD THE POLITICAL POWER OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER REGISTRATION.
I WANNA FIRST THANK THE COUNTY FOR CONVENING HERE TODAY.
AFTER SUCH A LONG HIATUS, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE CONSISTENTLY REEXAMINING THE STATE OF OUR ELECTIONS AND THIS SPACE IS WHERE THAT HAPPENS, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE HERE ONCE AGAIN TODAY TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE OBSTACLES AND THE ISSUES THAT WE FACED WITH THE BEX COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE.
OVER THE YEARS, UNDER MS. CALLAN'S ADMINISTRATION TO NAME ONE, THERE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT FAILURES FOR BEXAR COUNTY TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF POLLING LOCATIONS IN 2020 AND 2022, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAD TO WRANGLE UP SOME AWESOME PASSIONATE STUDENTS FROM COLLEGE CAMPUSES AROUND SAN ANTONIO TO COME UP HERE AND PLEAD FOR MORE POLLING LOCATIONS.
AND THE CRAZY PART IS THAT REALLY DIDN'T WORK.
IT WAS THE STATE THAT MANDATED US TO CREATE MORE POLLING LOCATIONS.
AND THAT WAS KIND OF WILD TO SEE OTHER PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR LIKE CLOSING THE ELECTIONS OFFICE WITH LITTLE TO NO PUBLIC NOTICE, DENYING RE RECIPROCITIES OF VDR DURING ELECTION SEASON OR VIOLATING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT BY SUPPRESSING AWARENESS FOR CURBSIDE VOTING BACK IN 2020, WHICH IS YET ANOTHER INSTANCE, WHICH, UH, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAD TO STEP IN AND CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR COLIN'S ADMINISTRATION.
IN THIS CASE, IT WAS TCRP AND MOVE TEXAS WHO NEEDED TO INTERVENE.
WHEN YOU ASK YOUNG VDR FOR SENATE FROM SAN ANTONIO ABOUT OUR ELECTIONS, YOU HEAR CAUTIONARY TALES ABOUT HOSTILITY AND MALPRACTICE.
WHEN YOU TELL VDR FROM OTHER COUNTIES ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES, THEY STAND IN DISBELIEF BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY BETTER IN A LOT OF OTHER WAYS IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES, IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
VDR, THE VDR NUM, THE NUMBER OF VDR AND BEARS DROPPING LIKE A ROCK.
AND I PROMISE YOU IT'S IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE LARGE SCALE AND THE SMALL SCALE PRACTICES OF OUR ELECTIONS OFFICE.
[00:10:01]
THIS CULTURE AND THESE PROCESSES START AND END WITH MS. CALLANAN AND WITH RESPECT TO HER APPOINTED POSITION IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT SHE'S HELD THE POSITION, IT'S TIME TO BEGIN SEARCHING FOR AN ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR THAT CAN BRING A FRESH APPROACH TO THE WORK.AND THAT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY AND NOT THE PREFERENCE OF AN OFFICIAL.
WE NEED TO START WITH THE BASICS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT EASY ACCESS TO ELECTION INFO THAT'S UP TO DATE.
NO MORE CLOSING IN THE OFFICE WITHOUT NOTICE OR HAVING NO, OR HAVING TO SCAVENGE THE INTERNET FOR BASIC HOURS OF OPERATION.
THESE THINGS DIRECTLY INHIBIT NOT JUST THE PROCESS OF ELECTIONS, BUT IN BEXAR COUNTY, BUT ALSO THE CULTURE AROUND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND WE HAVE TO REEVALUATE THE WAY THAT ELECTIONS IS CONDUCTING OUR VOTER REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS.
IT'S NOT RIGHT OR FAIR FOR THAT.
THE EXPECTATION FOR ALL OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS TO FALL ON LOCAL NONPROFITS TO CARRY IT OUT AS YOU AS YOUTH, AS A YOUTH CIVIC EDUCA ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO VOTER EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT, MOVE TEXAS DEMANDS ACTION FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. THE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION PROCESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR FOSTERING CIVIC TRUST AND ENSURING THAT ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS ARE SUPPORTED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY WITHOUT BARRIERS OR DISCRIMINATION TAKEN TOGETHER.
THESE PROBLEMS UNDERMINE THE GROWTH OF A CIVIC CULTURE, AIM TO BUILD AT BUILDING THE DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP.
IT'S TIME FOR A NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
LET ME HAVE ROSARIO ZARB COUSIN.
UH, MY NAME'S ROSARIO AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZEN WHO DOES VOTER ROLL REVIEWS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY VOTER RULES HAS AN ESTIMATED 13,000 VOTERS IDENTIFIED AS COMMERCIAL ADDRESSES? 8,000 IDENTIFIED AS VACANT ADDRESSES AND 8,011,000 IDENTIFIED AS INVALID ADDRESSES.
THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE ELECTION OF SECTION 1.015 DEFINES A VOTER RESIDENCE AS A DOMICILE THAT THAT IS ONE'S HOME AND FIXED PLACE OF HABITATION TO WHICH ONE INTENDS TO RETURN AFTER A TEMPORARY ABSENCE.
RESIDENT ADDRESSES ARE USED BY OUR ELECTION OFFICE FOR MAILING OF VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS, APPLICATIONS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS, AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS.
OUR LATEST MAILING OF VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS INCLUDED UNDELIVERABLE ADDRESSES AND VOTER ADDRESSES THAT DID NOT MEET OUR ELECTION CODE.
DEFINITION OF THE COST OF THE UNDELIVERABLE ADDRESSES TO BEXAR COUNTY IS ESTIMATED AT $176,000 AND CAN BE REOCCURRING FOR EACH ELECTION.
THE NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS DATABASE IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 54,000 RECORDS IN BEXAR COUNTY VOTER ROLLS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MOVED AND OUT OF STATE OR OUT OF COUNTY REVIEWS.
CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS ESTIMATE 20% OF THESE VOTERS HAVE VOTED AT THEIR NEW LOCATION WHILE REMAINING ON OUR VOTER ROLLS.
THE VOTER REGISTRAR IS NOT REQUIRED TO CONFIRM THAT VOTER ROLLS ADDRESSES ARE VALID AS CHA UNLESS CHALLENGED, BUT IF A VOTER'S REGISTRATION IS CHALLENGED, THE VOTER REGISTRAR MUST SEND A NOTICE TO CONFI TO CONFIRM THE VOTER'S REGISTRATION A ADDRESS.
HOWEVER, THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION IS NOT BEING APPLIED SINCE THE CHALLENGE PROCESS HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR THE VOTER REGISTRATION FOR THE VOTER REGISTRAR AS NOTED BY THE, BY OUR NEXT ONE OF OUR NEXT SPEAKERS.
I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE TEAM REVIEWING OUR VOTER ROLL AND THE DATE.
AND TO DATE, WE HAVE SUBMITTED 2,500 CHALLENGES WITH THE POTENTIAL OF 2000 MORE CHALLENGES BEFORE THE AUGUST 7TH DEADLINE.
HOWEVER, WITH AN ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR UNWILLING TO MAINTAIN CLEAN VOTER ROLLS AND REJECTING THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE REPORTED TO THE SECRET.
WE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND WILL BE REPORTING TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS TAYLOR TREVINO, UM, AND I AM THE VOTING RIGHTS SENIOR ADVOCACY MANAGER FOR THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR CALLING THIS MEETING TODAY TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION OF WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE IMPORTANT POSITION OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU ALL BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR IMMEDIATELY SO THAT THEY CAN BEGIN AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
UM, SORRY,
SO I DIDN'T WANNA GO THERE AGAIN, BUT THERE'S ONE SITUATION THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO EVERYONE HERE.
[00:15:01]
OUR CURRENT ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR HAS A HISTORY OF POSTING POLLING LOCATIONS ONLINE.WELL, AFTER THE DEADLINE, WHICH IS THREE WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION DAY, THIS PAST MAY AHEAD OF THE LOCAL UNIFORM ELECTION, OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR AGAIN DECIDED THAT HER PREFERENCE AND OPINION TRUMPED THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE.
ACCORDING TO THE SAN ANTONIO REPORT, SHE BELIEVED THAT PUBLISHING THE ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS THAT FAR IN ADVANCE WHILE THE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS WERE ALSO POSTED, WOULD JUST CONFUSE VOTERS.
DOES SHE REALLY THINK THAT BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY SO MUCH SO THAT SHE FEELS ENTITLED TO DISMISS STATE LAW? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF VOTERS BEING CONFUSED ABOUT THIS, AND THEY SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT IN EVERY OTHER COUNTY, BUT WE HAVE HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM VOTERS ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THEIR POLLING LOCATIONS ONLINE.
I SAY THIS IN AN EFFORT, AGAIN, TO URGE OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS TO HOLD OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNTABLE SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT GOING FORWARD.
THE NEXT LEADER OF THIS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE RESIDENTS THEY SERVE, WHO SEES THE STRUGGLES THEY FACE WHEN TRYING TO REGISTER TO VOTE OR CAST A BALLOT AND WORKS TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES AND REMOVE ANY UNNECESSARY BARRIERS.
SOMEONE WHO UPHOLDS AND DEFENDS VOTING RIGHTS AND WORKS WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT HAS WHAT IT NEEDS TO BEST SERVE BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS.
WE URGE BEXAR COUNTY TO BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR IMMEDIATELY, AND I HOPE TO HEAR UPDATES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS POSITION IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IF NOT LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
CHITO, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND FOR ALL THE HARD WORK Y'ALL DO AND ALL THESE ISSUES YOU FACE TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO JUST BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, UH, OVER 10 PLUS YEARS.
WE MET WITH MISS JACKIE COWEN AND EVEN WELL BEFORE THAT EVEN, BUT 10 PLUS YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN FIVE TO SIX DEAF PEOPLE TO REGISTER FOR, UH, VOTER REGISTERS THAT REALLY EXCITED YOUR DEAF COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO REGISTER BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T READ IF THEY REQUIRED A SL THE VOTER CARDS, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS MORE OF A PHOTO OP BECAUSE THE PRESS WAS BOUGHT IN AND WE DIDN'T DO THAT PART.
I ACTUALLY JUST BROUGHT SOME MEMBERS FROM THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND INTERPRETED THE EVENT FOR MS. CALLAHAN.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY TODAY THERE'S STILL AN ISSUE AND EVEN THOUGH MS. CALLAHAN FELT IT WAS VERY CONVENIENT TO HAVE TWO PLACES IN ALL OF BEXAR COUNTY, ACTUALLY ONE, IT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN NONE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE AWARE TO THE DEAF COMMUNITY THAT THESE PLACES WERE THERE WITHOUT SOMEONE WHO WORKED IN AN ORGANIZATION LETTING THEM KNOW THE GENERAL DEAF POPULATION WASN'T GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ON WHERE THEY COULD VOTE WITH ACCESS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE PLACES WERE NOT READY.
THE DEAF GENTLEMAN IN ONE SITUATION AT MS. CALLAHAN'S OFFICE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR VOTING ROOM WITH PEOPLE WATCHING THEM AND LISTENING TO HIM, AND THERE WERE PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WERE IN THERE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE BUILDING.
BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.
IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND THE ACCESS IS NOT COSTLY.
IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE AND, UH, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, MAKING THAT ACCESSIBLE IN ONE OR TWO LOCATIONS IN ALL BEAR COUNTY.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY POPULATION THAT WOULD ACCEPT THAT WE HAVE BEGGED FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
MS. CALLAHAN, I THINK YOU'RE A GREAT PERSON.
I THINK YOU'RE EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT.
WE JUST NEED SOMEONE WITH A HEART FOR GIVING ACCESS AND THOSE RIGHTS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY.
AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND AND TRY STYLE TROUBLE.
LAST FRIDAY WE MET WITH JACKIE CALLANAN AND HER STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR VOTER ROLLS.
WE'VE BEEN SUBMITTING VOTER CHALLENGES BASED ON THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE'S NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS DATABASE WHERE PEOPLE FILE FOR A PERMANENT CHANGE OF ADDRESS.
WE ARE NOW ABLE TO PROVIDE LISTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED FOR A PERMANENT CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND HAVE ALSO REGISTERED TO VOTE FROM THAT NEW ADDRESS BASED ON SECRETARY OF STATE
[00:20:01]
VOTER ROLL.OUR GOAL IN MEETING WITH JACKIE AND HER TEAM WAS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH INFORMATION IN AN EASY TO READ, LOGICAL AND USEFUL FORMAT.
AT THIS MEETING, WE LEARNED THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAD STOPPED PROCESSING ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES.
WHEN ASKED WHY SHE PROVIDED A PRINTOUT FROM THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR IN TRAVIS COUNTY THAT STATED SPEAKING ONLY FOR THE COUNTY I WORK IN TRAVIS COUNTY'S CURRENT POSITION IS THAT THESE LISTS SOURCED FROM THE USPS'S NCO OA DO NOT MEET THE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE COMPONENT OF LEGAL VOTER ROLL CHALLENGES SET FORTH IN TEXAS ELECTION CODE SECTION 16.92.
AND JACKIE LET US KNOW THIS IS HER POSITION AS WELL WITHOUT READING THE ENTIRE SECTION DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, THE PERTINENT PART OF SECTION 16.092 SAYS THE PERSON MAKING THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING IT BASED ON THEIR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUNDS FOR THE CHALLENGE.
IN 2018, TEXAS SENATOR PAUL BETTENCOURT REQUESTED A FORMAL LAW ADVISORY OPINION FROM THE SOS TO DEFINE WHAT THE TERM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE MEANT.
THEY OBLIGED THE SOS IN ELECTION LAW OPINION RP DASH ONE STATED PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE IS NOT DEFINED IN SECTION 16.092 OF THE CODE, NOR IS IT DEFINED ELSEWHERE IN THE CODE.
IT HAS BEEN DEFINED BY TEXAS COURTS AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS TO INCLUDE INFORMATION WHICH IS BASED ON ONE'S OBSERVATION AND OR EXPERIENCE, AND CAN INCLUDE LOGICAL CONCLUSIONS BASED ON UNDERLYING FACTS AND KNOWLEDGE DERIVED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES USING MULTIPLE GOVERNMENT DATABASES, I-E-U-S-P-S AND COA AND SOS VOTER ROLLS THAT INDICATE A PERSON HAS MOVED FROM COUNTY A TO COUNTY B AND THEY HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN COUNTY B WOULD BE THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION OF LOGICAL CONCLUSIONS BASED ON UNDERLYING FACTS THAT WERE DERIVED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, WHICH IS THE SOS OPINION.
JACKIE SAID IT'S TOO OLD SINCE IT'S FROM 2018, AND THEY WILL NOT ACT UNTIL THEY RECEIVE NEWER GUIDANCE.
THIS OPINION WAS SET FORTH IN A COURT OF LAW GIVING IT LEGAL PRECEDENCE, AND IT MUST BE FOLLOWED UNTIL CHALLENGED AND SUCCESSFULLY OVERRIDDEN IN A COURT OF LAW.
GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP MR. CHICK.
UH, THE TEC OPINION DOES NOT EXPIRE, AND THE OPINION ALSO STATES THAT THE REGISTRAR MUST ACT PROMPTLY ON CHALLENGES.
WE ALL JUST WANT BEXAR COUNTY TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND MAINTAIN CLEAN VOTER ROLL.
OH, YOUR HONOR AND COMMISSION MEMBERS, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY REGARDING ILLEGALITIES SURROUNDING SIGNAGE AT POLLING SITES.
DURING THE MARCH, 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION AT JUDGES TRAINING.
PRIOR TO THE START OF EARLY VOTING, THE JUDGE JUDGES WERE ONE SHOWN A SIGN DEMOCRATS VOTE HERE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE JUDGE'S EQUIPMENT WITH NO ACCOMPANYING REPUBLICAN SIGN.
TWO WERE TOLD IT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THREE WERE TOLD TO PLACE IT AT THE POLLING SITE.
QUESTIONING THIS DIRECTIVE, A NUMBER OF JUDGES CONTACTED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF BEXAR COUNTY DIRECT TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS REVEALED FALSEHOODS AND ILLEGALITIES.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE HAD NOT APPROVED THE SIGNAGE.
THE SIGNAGE WAS IN VIOLATION OF TEXAS ELECTION CODE SECTIONS 1 72 0.1 27 AND 1 73 0.003 AND RULES 81.109 AND 81.132.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS PROMPTLY WROTE AN EMAIL TO THE BEARER COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR DATED FEBRUARY 21ST, 2024, STATING THE VIOLATIONS AND DIRECTING THE SIGNS BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED.
I HAVE COPIES OF THAT EMAIL FOR YOUR, FOR, FOR YOUR FULL REVIEW IF YOU WILL LIKE THEM.
DESPITE THIS DIRECTIVE, A COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE SIGNAGE IN QUESTION DID NOT OCCUR AS AN ILLUSTRATION.
DURING EARLY VOTING, A POLL WATCHER WENT TO A POLLING SITE AND THE SIGN WAS STILL UP.
THE WATCHER ALERTED THE JUDGE OF THE SIGN VIOLATION AND THE JUDGE STATED, I KNOW I CALLED DOWNTOWN TO SEE IF I COULD REMOVE IT, AND THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR TOLD ME, NO, LEAVE IT WHERE IT WAS.
THIS IS WELL AFTER THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR HAD RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.
THIS IGNORING OF THE LAW ON THE
[00:25:01]
PART OF THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR RESULTED IN A REPUBLICAN PARTY RECEIVING NUMEROUS CALLS FROM REPUBLICAN VOTERS EXPRESSING CONFUSION ON WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO VOTE, THINKING THAT THERE WERE SEPARATE POLLING SITES FOR DEMOCRATS AND FOR REPUBLICANS WITH JOINT PRIMARIES, WHERE POLITICAL PARTIES SHARE POLLING SITES.THESE ILLEGALITIES CONCEIVABLY FACILITATED VOTER SUPPRESSION AND COULD PER THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S EMAIL CONSTITUTE ELECTIONEERING.
JUST PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RECEIVED WORD THE DEMOCRAT PARTY SIGNS WOULD AGAIN INCLUDED IN THE JUDGE'S EQUIPMENT.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR AND VOLUNTEERS ATTENDED THE MORNING VOTING EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION AND ADVISED JUDGES NOT TO PLACE THE SIGNS AS THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LATER RECEIVED SOME REPORTS.
THERE WAS A LETTER INSERTED WITH THE VOTING MATERIALS STATING NOT TO PUT THE SIGNS UP EVEN THOUGH THE SIGNS REMAINED IN THE EQUIPMENT FOR DISTRIBUTION.
THIS CONFUSION RESULTED IN SOME SIGNS BEING PLACED ANYWAY, AGAIN IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, PUBLIC TRUST IN BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION TIME HAS EXPIRED.
DE DEPENDS UPON LAWFUL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR OF ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS INVOLVED IN THEIR OVERSIGHT AND EXECUTION, OUR COUNTY TAX DOLLARS SHOULD NOT BE USED TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT WILLFUL VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
I SPENT 20 YEARS WORKING IN COMPUTER NETWORKS, COMPUTER DESIGN, FIELDING TESTING, ALL ASPECTS.
I HAVE A BACHELOR'S IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND A MASTER'S IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING.
I NEVER GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS UNTIL AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION WHEN ALL THE ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD AND COMPUTERS CAME UP.
I SAID, WELL, GEE, I KNOW COMPUTERS.
I'D LIKE TO GET INVOLVED AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I BECAME A JUDGE TO LEARN THE PROCESS, HOW TO BE AN ELECTION JUDGE.
I WENT TO DIFFERENT SITES ALL OVER THE COUNTY, AND I BECAME A VOLUNTEER WITH THE ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUPS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU BEXAR COUNTY IS LACKING IN SECURITY AND INTEGRITY FOR OUR ELECTIONS IN THE COMPUTER SIDE, TEXAS ELECTION CODE HAS MANY DIFFERENT SAFEGUARDS TO GUARD PAPER BALLOTS.
SO ONCE YOU PUT THAT PAPER BALLOT IN A BOX, IT'S SECURE.
AND HOW TO MAINTAIN THAT CHAIN OF CUSTODY IS VERY IMPORTANT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHEN YOU HAVE CHAIN OF CUSTODY, IF EVIDENCE IS SECURED, YOU HAVE A WITNESS THAT WILL SIGN OFF ON THAT.
IT'S DOCUMENTED EVERYWHERE THAT EVIDENCE GOES.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO IT, SOMEONE HAS TO WITNESS IT AND SIGN WHAT HAPPENED.
WE DON'T DO THAT WITH OUR PAPER BALLOTS.
AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS ELECTION CODE ELECTION ASSISTANCE, UH, ASSISTANCE COMMISSION HAS A BEST PRACTICES HANDBOOK THAT DETAILS ALL HOW TO DO CHAIN OF CUSTODY.
THOSE ARE NOT ALL FOLLOWED EXAMPLES.
WE WENT DOWN TO WATCH THE COUNT OF THREE PRECINCTS AFTER THE ELECTION AND THE BALLOTS WERE BROUGHT OUT IN JUST BOXES, NO SEALS, NO CHAIN OF CUSTODY RECORDS.
THOSE BALLOTS COULD HAVE COME FROM ANYWHERE.
I COULD HAVE HAD 'EM IN MY TRUNK.
WE ALSO DID A HAND COUNT OF TWO DIFFERENT, UH, LOCATIONS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR AND THE BALLOTS THEY BROUGHT OUT WERE IN JUST BOXES.
WE COUNTED THOSE TWO DAY TWO, UH, BATCHES OF BALLOTS AND ABOUT A THIRD OF 'EM DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE SIGNATURE OF THE ELECTION JUDGE ON THE BACK.
AND IF THEY TOLD US IF WE'D HAD A RECOUNT, THOSE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN USED.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LEGAL.
SO WE HAVE GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND I LOOK AT 'EM AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I WAS ONE FOR 20 YEARS WHEN I SERVED THE AIR FORCE, AND THEY'RE SERVANTS TO THE PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE FOR THAT SYSTEM TO WORK AND OPERATE CORRECTLY.
WE NEED TO HAVE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE GONNA FOLLOW THE LAWS WE HAVE AND PERFORM THEIR ACTIONS CORRECTLY IN OUR BEST INTEREST, NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S.
SO AS I'VE LEARNED LOOKING AT HOW WE ADMINISTER ELECTIONS HERE WITH THE PROPRIETARY COMPUTERS THAT NOBODY CAN LOOK AT, UM, THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC NEED TO TAKE EXTRA ACTION TO BE TRANSPARENT AND FOLLOW THE LAWS.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO GET MORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.
[00:30:01]
GOOD AFTERNOON.THE WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS IN THE PAST I RECEIVED A LETTER THAT WAS DIRECTLY IN VIOLATION OF MY CONSTITUTIONAL VOTING RIGHTS FROM THE BELL COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT THAT REMOVED ME FROM THE VOTER ROSE AND DENIED ME THE RIGHT TO VOTE UN UNLESS I INTRODUCED EVIDENCE OF MY ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE GREAT WORK OF THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT AND THE ATTORNEY WHO'S ACTUALLY BACK THERE RIGHT NOW, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VOTE IN ONE OF THE ELECTIONS.
WE STOOD THERE FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE OUR ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR HAD TO TAKE DIRECTIONS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD TO GET ON THE PHONE WITH HER.
I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE DEPUTIES AND EXPLAINED TO HER THAT SHE COULD NOT LEGALLY ASK PEOPLE TO PROVE THAT THEY WERE ELIGIBLE, NOR WAS IT LEGAL FOR HER TO EVEN GIVE NOTICE BY MAIL TO PEOPLE.
THE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION, TEXAS PUB, UH, PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS MUCH RESEARCH OUT THERE THAT'S USED BY BOTH, UH, NONPARTISAN AND, AND, AND, AND, UH, PARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS.
WHEN IT COMES TO D EIGHT, OUTTA 10 TEXANS HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
IT IS HORRIFYING TO THINK THAT AT LEAST A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO 200,000 REGISTERED VOTERS WHO HAVE HAD JUSTICE, UH, CONTACT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM MAY OR MAY NOT.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY NUMBER, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT WAS PROBABLY IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS HAD THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS VIOLATED BY OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS PAST WEEKEND AND TWO WEEKENDS AGO, I ATTENDED A MEETING, UH, WITH THE TEXAS, UH, ORGANIZING PROJECT AND JOLT AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
WELL, I LEARNED THAT THE TRAINING FOR VOTER REGISTRARS TELL PEOPLE THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA REGISTER REGISTERED SHOWMAN WITH A CRIMINAL HISTORY, THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT ASKING FOR MORE DETAIL, A DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF REGISTERED VOTERS OF THIS COUNTY.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW OR ASK FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO FORMALLY PUT FORTH AN INQUIRY AS TO HOW FAR THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTION HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE.
I SEE THE LIGHT COMING ON, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN CONVINCED THAT WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP AND NEW IDEAS AND REAL PEOPLE WHO CARE AT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT WOULD TAKE.
ALRIGHT, I IS THE LAST PERSON THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED UP.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE NOT SKIPPED ANYBODY OR SOMEBODY THAT HAS SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT YOU NEED TO SIGN UP BEFORE YOU SPEAK? HAS ANYBODY, HAVE WE FAILED TO CALL OUT ANYBODY'S NAME? I JUST WANTED TO MENTION I DO HAVE PRINTOUTS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE OPINION.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRINT OUT, IF YOU'LL GIVE IT TO OUR CLERK, NICOLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE RECEIVE IT? AND DO YOU HAVE COPIES FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION? ALRIGHT.
AT THIS TIME, THE CO UH, THE TIME IS 4:34 PM ON FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH.
AT THIS TIME, THE COURT IS GOING THE COURT, EXCUSE ME, THE COMMISSION, ELECTION
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
COMMISSION, WE'LL RECESS IN ORDER TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SEC SESSION, UH, PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 4 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, UH, ITEMS WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED AND ACT UPON IF APPROPRIATE IN OPEN SESSION WILL BE PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING THE POSITION OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK ALL THOSE, UH, AND I WILL ASK THAT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE REMAIN, I NEED, IS IT JERRY RESPOND DICK? UH, I'LL ASK THAT YOU STAY AS THE RECORDER FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
I'LL ASK THAT SUE JANA, WHO IS HERE AS AN ATTORNEY WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CIVIL SECTION, WILL BE HERE TO OFFER ADVICE.
AND I'LL ASK THAT MS. JACKIE CALLAN REMAIN IN THE COURT, UH, IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THOSE MATTERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK, UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER, UH, DISCUSSION MATTERS? THIS TIME THE COURT CALLS A RECESS.
[00:35:01]
ASK THAT Y'ALL, EVERYBODY, WE WILL, UH, REENGAGE WITH THE MEETING AND FINISH OUT THE BUSINESS OF TODAY'S AFTERNOON'S MEETING.SO THIS TIME PLEASE EXCUSE YOURSELF AND THOSE THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REMAIN, PLEASE REMAIN AT THIS TIME IS 5:19 PM THE COMMISSION ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
UH, AT THIS TIME, UH, LET THE RECORD REFLECT,
[V. Discussion and appropriate action regarding position of Elections Administrator]
UH, THAT WE, UH, ARE TAKING UP DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE POSITION OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.UH, I'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT, UH, I'LL ASK THE MEMBERS TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF RETIREMENT OF THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY JUDGE ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION TO ISSUE A LETTER TO THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR CONFIRMING THE APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE WITH A COPY TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? AYE.
LUCIA DON CLARK, BE COUNTY CLERK COMMISSION ELECTIONS COMMISSION, ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF RETIREMENT OF JACKIE F CALLEN BEAR COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
CHRIS C***S SECOND BY MS. C***S.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS MOTION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES.
THE SECOND MOTION I'LL ASK FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER IS A MOTION TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO BEGIN THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS FOR NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, INCLUDING APPROVING A RESOLUTION REQUESTING FINANCIAL RESOURCES FROM BEXAR COUNTY AND SUPPORT FROM BEXAR COUNTY'S HUMAN RESOURCES AS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS TO BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
CIA, DONA CLARK BEAR COUNTY CLERK ACCEPT THE MOTION TO LOOK FOR A INDIVIDUAL OR CANDIDATE TO FILL IN THE POSITION FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR I A SECOND CA THERE'S A MOTION BY MS. LUCIA ADAM CLARKK, SECOND BY MS. MONICA RA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES.
[VI. Discussion and appropriate action related to future meetings schedule]
NOW TAKE UP DISCUSSION.APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO FUTURE MEETING SCHEDULE.
I BELIEVE THE COMMISSION HAS, UH, WANTS TO PUT ON RECORD AND MS. LUCIA DIAMOND CLARK, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED A MOTION, BUT YOU, THE COMMISSION IS ASKED THAT WE GO TO A WORK SESSION AS SOON AS PRACTICAL IN ORDER TO SET OUT THIS PARAMETERS, STANDARDS, PROTOCOL PROCESS OF HIRING.
UH, ALSO PLEASE RESPECT THAT I, AS COUNTY JUDGE, WILL TAKE THE RESOLUTION ON THE, UH, REPLACEMENT PROCESS.
UH, RE ASKING FOR FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
UH, IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH TO FIND THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE AN APPROPRIATION, UH, BY THE COMMISSION'S COURT.
THE COMMISSION, THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE ANY BUDGET, SO I INTEND TO NOW, IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET ON THE JULY 9TH IS I BELIEVE, THE, THE NEXT MEETING.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE, AND THEN THAT IS THE ONLY MEETING FOR JULY.
SO WE WILL TAKE THAT MATTER UP ON THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST.
AND WHEN WILL THAT BE FOR PURPOSES SO PEOPLE COULD KNOW THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD? AUGUST 6TH.
WE'LL BE TAKEN UP THAT REQUEST.
UH, AND I WILL BE ASKING COMMISSIONERS COURT, MY FEDERAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IN ORDER TO APPROPRIATE THE MONEY NECESSARY TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH.
SO AT THIS TIME, UNLESS THERE'S ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT.
I WANNA SAY, UM, MS. JACKIE CALLAN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR 28 YEARS OF SERVICE AND YOUR 19 YEARS OF BEING THE ELECTORS ADMINISTRATOR HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THE GROWTH FROM ONE POINT PLUS
[00:40:01]
POPULATION TO NOW A 2.004 POPULATION.NOT ONLY THAT, BUT YOU SERVE THE 27 CITIES IN A LOT OF THE UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY FOR MANY ELECTIONS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION.
THANK YOU TO YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ALSO SERVED BESIDE YOU AND HAVE WALKED THIS PATH WITH YOU.
SO I HOPE YOU LEFT A, A HUGE LEGACY BEHIND.
I I KNOW YOU DID, BUT IT GOES TO KNOW THAT BEXAR COUNTY WAS IN GOOD HANDS AND YOU TRIED YOUR BEST TO RUN THE BEST ELECTIONS IN TEXAS.
AND IT'S CHANGED THE CULTURE IN TEXAS OF HOW ELECTIONS ARE HANDLED NOW.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART, I RAN TWO ELECTIONS WITH YOU, UH, IN MY ELECTIONS AS A COUNTY CLERK.
UH, JACKIE, I KNOW I SPOKE WITH YOU EARLIER, UM, BUT I WANTED TO REITERATE, UH, IT WAS AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO WORK AND SERVE WITH YOU OVER THESE LAST SIX YEARS.
UM, YOU HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED YOURSELF, UM, WITH THE UTMOST UH, PROFESSIONALISM.
AND SO FOR THAT AND YOUR STAFF AS WELL, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, UM, FOR, FOR EVERYTHING AND FOR ALL OF YOUR, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
JACKIE, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE EMPLOYEES AT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.
AND I ALSO WANT OUR CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE GONNA DO A NATIONAL SEARCH, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE HAVE QUALIFIED CITIZENS AND QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES THAT CAN DO THE JOB AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE, OR I WANT OUR CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE GONNA CONDUCT A NATIONAL SEARCH, THAT THAT DOES NOT EXCLUDE OUR PEOPLE HERE IN THIS GREAT COUNTY.
AS I SAID TO YOU EARLIER, UH, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU IN ALMOST EVERY CAPACITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN THE FUTURE.
ALRIGHT, UM, I'LL RESERVE, UH, FOR PURPOSES, I BELIEVE THE MEDIA IS, UH, THAT IS PRESENT.
UH, IT IS THE INTENT OF THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO, UH, RETIRE TO THE SIDE ROOM.
UH, IN ORDER TO DO A PRESS CONFERENCE, UH, I'LL INVITE ALL COMMISSION MEMBERS TO JOIN ME.
I'LL INVITE, UH, MS. JACKIE TO JOIN THE COMMISSION AND TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS, UH, OR MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, UH, TO THE MEDIA.
SO AT THIS TIME, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? AYE.
LUCIA TH MCC CLARK BE COUNTY CLERK.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY MS. C***S.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGN BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABS OBSESSION? MEETING ADJOURNED.
PLEASE ASSIST THE, UH, MEDIA AND THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH, AND THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME HERE TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AND IT'S BEEN RECEIVED AND NOTED FOR THE RECORD.