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JANUARY 28TH, 2025 AT NOW, 10:41 AM IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BOARDROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING 1948 PRO BRANCH STREET, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 7 8 2 1 4.I AM CHAIRING THE, UH, ELECTION COMMISSION AND AT THIS TIME IN THE CALL ORDER, LET ME CALL RO.
BEFORE I DO THAT, LET ME JUST SAY GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS ELECTION COMMISSION MEETING.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING.
LET ME EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE FOR INITIAL INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITIONS OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE NOT MAKING A DECISION TODAY AS TO THE SELECTION OR APPOINTMENT OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
WE'RE JUST TAKING ANOTHER POINT, IMPORTANT STEP IN THE PROCESS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO JOB, UH, APPLICANTS THAT ARE HERE.
UH, I AM ALERTING THE COMMISSION AND NOW THE PUBLIC THAT BECAUSE OF THE TIMING, WE, WE, I APOLOGIZE FOR TIMING, BUT WE DO HAVE AN APPLICANT HERE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA GO WITH APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THAT MAY CAUSE SOME IMPOSITION ON THOSE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT YOUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD.
UH, WE ARE ANTICIPATING APPROXIMATELY ABOUT AN HOUR PER APPLICANT.
AND THEN, UM, I WILL, WE'LL NEED A, A LUNCH BREAK OR AT LEAST A BREAK.
AND SO, UH, WE SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP AROUND 1:30 PM IS OUR TIMELINE FOR TODAY.
UM, AFTER WE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN GET AN UPDATE FROM ROBERT.
HALF EXECUTIVE SEARCH REGARDING THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION SEARCH PROCESS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WE WILL BE CONDUCTING THIS INTERVIEWS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AS IS APPROPRIATE FOR PERSONAL MATTERS ACCORDING TO STATE LAW.
GIVEN THE TIMING FOR THESE CANDIDATES, WE WILL BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SHORTLY AND CALL PUBLIC AFTER COMMENT LATER IN THE DAY.
FURTHERMORE, I'D LIKE TO AT THIS TIME ENTER INTO THE RECORD A LETTER MEMORIALIZING JACKIE CALLAN'S COMMITMENT TO STAYING ON IN THIS POSITION THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY.
OBVIOUSLY, UH, MS. CALLANAN WHO IS PRESENT, I ACKNOWLEDGE HER PRESENCE TODAY, UH, HAD RIGHT AFTER THE MINUTE I, BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I, AND I'M, I'LL ASK FOR THE APPROVAL, BUT, OKAY.
WELL, I'LL, I'LL ASK FOR A VOTE.
I'LL ASK, I'M GONNA BRING THIS MATTER UP TO THE COMMISSION, NICK, SO IF YOU'LL BE PATIENT, WE'LL GET TO THAT.
BUT I ALSO WANTED A, UH, NOTE, A CORRECTION ON MY LETTER DATED JANUARY 28TH, 2025 TO MS. CALLANAN.
UH, THERE IS A CORRECTION THAT IT WAS, UH, HER RETIREMENT DATE WAS JANUARY 24TH, 2025.
DATE, UH, SHE HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO, UH, WORK TO THE END OF FEBRUARY, 2025.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION, IT'S TIME TO, UH, PROCESS THIS INTERVIEW AND MAKE A DECISION AND THEN COME UP WITH A, AN AGREEMENT AS TO WHOEVER, UH, IS SELECTED, APPOINTED, UH, AND AS TO THEIR OBVIOUSLY COMPENSATION, THEIR START DATE, THEIR END DATE, ALL THOSE TYPE OF, UH, DETAILS NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.
SO WE NEED A LITTLE LAG TIME IN THERE.
SO JACKIE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO DO HER DUE DILIGENCE IN WHICH SHE ALWAYS DOES.
UH, WELL FOR OUR ELECTIONS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN ELECTION IN MAY.
UH, SO IT, I'M GONNA KIND OF, UH, AS CHAIR JA JUST RECOGNIZED.
JACKIE, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO BRING TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION AT THIS TIME? I'LL GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.
AND FOR THE RECORD, JACK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOTTEN THE COPY OF MY LETTER TO YOU WITH THAT CORRECTION IS, AND I'LL ASK THAT IT BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND I'LL TURN IT TO THE CLERK FOR FILING WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSION MINUTES.
AT THIS TIME, UH, CALL THE ORDER AND CALL ROE, UH, BEXAR COUNTY CLERK LUCIA DOMINIC CLARK, PRESENT, UH, REPUBLICAN PARTY COUNTY CHAIR, CHRIS KZ, PRESENT BE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR ALBERT ESTE.
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LITTLE ARROW ON MY SCRIPT HERE.AND COUNTY JUDGE PETER SKAY IS PRESENT.
UH, AT THIS TIME THEN, IT IS BROUGHT, OBVIOUSLY BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION THAT THE PUBLIC, I HAVE ALERTED THAT WE HAVE APPLICANTS.
[V. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]
SO AT THIS TIME, UH, I'LL ASK, IS THERE, UH, UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION OR NOT? 'CAUSE IF NOT, I WOULD RECOMMEND, JUDGE THAT WE ALLOW THE, UH, WITH YOUR BLESSING, OF COURSE, THAT WE ALLOW THE, UH, SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FIRST.IS THAT A MOTION? MY MOTION? I SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGN BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
[II. Approval of meeting minutes from November 21, 2024 meeting]
UH, DO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES? HAVE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES? MS. JERRY, HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY? DO YOU HAVE A COPY? EVER HAVE A COPY? PLEASE REVIEW THE MINUTES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I LAR APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024.
WELL, PLEASE, UH, I'LL GIVE YOU ANY ADDITIONAL TIME TO REVIEW THE MINUTES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS, ADDITIONS.
SECOND BY MS. C***S, IS THERE ANY FURTHER NEED OF DISCUSSION OR TIME TO REVIEW? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MINUTES SECOND BY SAYING AYE.
[III. Public comment]
US NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.UH, UH, WE WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
WE WILL GIVE EVERY, EVERYONE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I'LL ASK THE, AS WE TRY TO DO ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT, ALLOW THE CITIZENS TO, UH, OR SPEAK WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMISSION.
SO WITH THAT, UH, DO I HAVE, WHO'S MY TIMEKEEPER, MR. NOAH.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK SUSAN CORBEL TO PLEASE STAND OR, OR COME TO THE PODIUM.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE DAY.
IT'S WORTH ME TAKING OFF WORK.
IT'S WORTH EVERYBODY COMING HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US, UH, SPEAK.
BEFORE YOU GO IN, I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS LIKE, UM, HONESTLY, WE CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS SMOOTHLY.
AND I AM HERE BECAUSE I DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR SELECTION OF THE NEXT DIRECTOR, THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING.
HOW WOULD YOU WILL ASK THESE QUESTIONS IF, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED? HOW WOULD YOU DETERMINE WHERE POLLING SITES SHOULD BE LOCATED? SEEMS SIMPLE.
AND WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEBODY WHO TAKES THAT CHAIR WHO THINKS CAREFULLY ABOUT IT AND CAN COMMUNICATE THAT TO YOU IN ADVANCE.
HOW WOULD YOU DETERMINE HOW MUCH SECURITY WILL BE NECESSARY AT EACH POLLING SITE? IT IS NO DOUBT A CONCERN THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS SAFE.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE INTERVIEWING PEOPLE OUGHT TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT DO THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE? HOW WILL YOU DETERMINE IF THE MONEY FROM THE THREE FUNDING SOURCES TO SPENT IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY? NOW YOU'RE GONNA GET A BEAN COUNTER, IN A SENSE.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS DATA.
AND WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THAT PERSON KNOWS HOW TO HANDLE A VERY COMPLEX BUDGET.
THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE, BUT HOW WOULD YOU DETERMINE NEW WAYS TO RECRUIT POLLING, STAFF SITE, POLLING STAFF REACH SITE, TO HAVE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE AT THE POLLING SITES, TO PARTICIPATE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY IN EQUAL PROPORTIONS
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OF AID BY AGE AND GENDER? WE NEED AGGRESSIVE RECRUITING TO GO ON.AND THAT ALSO DOES MEAN PROBABLY COMPENSATION.
WHEN YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT BUDGET TO COVER THE UPCOMING ELECTION CYCLES, WILL YOU BE INCLUDING STAFFING, FULL-TIME AND TEMPORARY? THE TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT, I THINK, SHOULD, UM, ROBUSTLY IMPROVED.
UM, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO LOOK AT CENTRAL OFFICE EQUIPMENTS, NEW SCANNERS, PURE HARDWARE SOFTWARE? IS THIS PERSON THAT YOU'RE HIRING SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE CAPABILITY OF DOING PURCHASING IN A VERY ROBUST WAY? AND WILL THEY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IMPROVE POLLING SITE EQUIPMENT? AND I ALSO THINK, AND THIS IS A HARD ONE, THAT WHEN WE DO INITIATIVES, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SHOULD DO INITIATIVES TO ENCOURAGE VOTER EDUCATION, THAT THEY SHOULD THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THE ROI.
THEY SHOULD THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT IT IS, HOW MUCH TIME THAT WAS.
YOU CAN READ IT AT THE BOTTOM.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, DISTRIBUTE FUNDS SUCH AS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $392,000 THAT YOU LOOK AT, THE RESPONSE THAT HAPPENED WASN'T WORTH THE MONEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD LUCK.
UH, MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION THIS MORNING, UH, I CAME TO, UH, EXPRESS MY, MY DEEPEST THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL ARE ABOUT TO DO.
HAVE AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY, MAINTAIN DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTY AND POSSIBLY IN THIS COUNTRY.
SINCE WE ELECT, UH, OUR CONGRESSMEN FROM HERE.
AS YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ASSAULT RIGHT NOW AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE, AT THE, UH, HIGHEST LEVELS IN WASHINGTON HAVE BEEN READING THE, THE MEDIA ABOUT WHAT, UH, THE PRESIDENT IS DOING IS TRYING TO DISMANTLE OUR DEMOCRACY.
YOU HAVE AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE, CAN YOU ELECT SOMEONE THAT WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP TO THE PRESSURE THAT WILL COME FORWARD? AS YOU KNOW THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS PROSECUTED A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE LAST ELECTION FOR ENGAGING IN CIVIC BEAUTY OF HELPING PEOPLE TO VOTE.
AND THAT SOMETIMES FALLS IN THE ADMINISTRATOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, WE HAVE HAD OUR PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH, UH, JACKIE CONCERNING THE, UH, SELECTION OF, UH, VOTING POLLS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
WE HAD HAD THE HELP OF THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COMMISSION COURT TO FORCE HER TO OPEN UP MORE BOXES THAN THE POLLING PLACES.
SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE NOW IN YOUR SELECTION JUDGE AND THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION, YOU WILL ENSURE I'M, I'M TRYING, I'M, I'M TRYING THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS COUNTY, SOMEBODY LOCAL.
I HOPE IT'S NOT SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT LOCAL THAT KNOWS US AND KNOWS THE, THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, I AS A, UH, MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A PRECINCT CHAIR, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY, MANY RACES.
AND, UH, WE NOW WELCOMING OUR NEW, THE COUNTY CHAIR, UH, UM, UH, MICHELLE TO DO, TO BRING US TOGETHER AND KEEP US ON, ON A STRAIGHT LINE IF YOU CAN, MICHELLE.
BUT, BUT MOST IMPORTANT, MOST IMPORTANT THAT I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY IS THAT TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY.
KNOW THAT YOU, YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN.
THEY ELIMINATED ALL THE DEMOCRATS FROM SERVING ON THE COMMITTEES ON AS CHAIR AS YOU KNOW.
SO I WANNA WRAP IT UP BY SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND NEXT TIME, PLEASE, PLEASE CHOOSE THE MEDIA TO TELL THE WORLD OR TO TELL US THAT YOU HAVE
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A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING.THE MEDIA PLAYS A VERY KEY ROLE IN THIS THING.
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED ABOUT WHEN THEY, UH, DID AWAY WITH THE TUSKE, UH, LESSONS.
NOBODY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, BUT NOW WE KNOW THEY PUT IT IN THE HEADLINE.
SO PLEASE ADVERTISE IT, JUDGE, SO THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT IT.
YOU TAYLOR TRU, YOU WILL APPROACH THE WAY THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT.
IT'S SOMEONE WHO WILL BE INNOVATIVE, NOT ONLY WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING OR BETTER LIFE, BUT ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO BETTER ACCESS.
AND WORKING ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT TO HELP ACHIEVE THESE VERY SAFETY.
AS A MEMBER OF THE
AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, IF ELIGIBLE VOTE ANY GIVEN ELECTION.
GENERALLY, THE MAJORITY OF HARRIS STILL ELIGIBLE.
1974,
NOW, HARRIS, DALLAS, AND TRAVIS COUNTY ALL TAKEN THE STEP OF ADDING THEIR COUNTY JAIL AS OPPOSED TO RESULTS ARE ATTEMPTS.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
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DEMOCRATS, DEMOCRATS, UH, I WANTED TO, UH, OFFER THE IDEA OF, UH, FORMING A COMMITTEE FOR BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE COUNTRY.VOTING, UM, ASIDE FROM THE CHOICE OF, UH, PERSON, I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT DO WE WANT GOING FORWARD, UH, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IDEAS LIKE POLLING PLACES AND DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, YOUTH ELEMENT IN PARTICULAR.
I WANTED TO POINT OUT, I WAS AT ALAMO HEIGHTS COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
APPARENTLY BROWNIES AND BOY SCOUTS, THEY GET POINTS FOR COMING TO CITY COUNCIL UNITY POINTS.
SO THEY WERE THERE LAST NIGHT.
UH, AND ALONG THE LINES OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE OTHER LOCALITIES DOING? I GOT, UH, APPOINTED ALSO IN TRAVIS COUNTY TO BE A VDR.
ONE EMAIL REALLY STRUCK ME THAT DATED THAT.
THEY HAD 96.3% ELIGIBLE VOTERS REGISTERED, BUT THAT WAS ASTOUNDING.
UH, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, REGISTRATION AND THEN TURNOUT AND SEE HOW THAT CAN BE ENHANCED.
SO ANYWAY, BOTTOM LINE IS SORT OF A CITIZENS COMMITTEE WITH OFFICIALS AND LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES, WHAT ARE THEY DOING SO THAT WE'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE, UH, ALONG THOSE LINES.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE WAY THAT SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE? I WILL REQUIRE YOU SIGN IN, DONE AS I ME TOO.
UH, NOAH BARHOP, MY STAFF, UH, TO BE PRESENT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'M GONNA ASK PERMISSION WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT CON, UH, COMMISSION THAT STEPHANIE CASTANO FROM OUR HUMAN RESOURCES BEAR COUNTY IS PRESENT TO GIVE US, UH, ANY GUIDANCE OR DIRECTION
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IN REGARDS TO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.I'LL ALSO ASK FOR UNANIMOUS, UH, CONSENT PERMISSION THAT WE ALLOW MR. LARRY ROBERSON, WHO IS CHIEF OF THE CIVIL SECTION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IS ALSO HERE, UH, TO PROVIDE ANY LEGAL ADVICE OR CONSULTATION.
UH, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, UM, WE HAVE A PROCESS.
UH, LET ME KIND OF, FOR PURPOSE OF THE RECORD, WE HAVE ALLOTTED ABOUT ONE HOUR PER APPLICANT.
AND THAT'S THE REASON I HAVE SNOW.
WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER, UH, APPLICANT TO INTERVIEW THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR TODAY.
AND POSSIBLY THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL, UH, APPLICANTS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSION.
I WANNA MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE NO VOTE ON A SELECTIONS OF ADMINISTRATOR TODAY.
AND SO HOPE EVERY EVERYBODY WILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL RECONVENE AT ANOTHER ELECTION COMMISSION MEETING.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS.
AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME WONDERFUL, REALLY WELL, NOT WONDERFUL, THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW.
WE NEED TO MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO GIVE OUT NOTICE.
AND PERHAPS WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT PUBLIC NOTICE.
I WILL SAY, UH, I'LL HAVE TO ASK OUR BUDGET OFFICE TO COVER ANY EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION, SO DON'T WANNA PRESUME THAT.
UH, I'LL HAVE TO LET MY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT WE NEED SOME, UH, BUDGET, UH, IN ORDER THAT WE CAN, UH, UH, ACCOMMODATE THE PUBLIC IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC NOTICE.
ALSO, TOO, WE'RE, UM, ANTICIPATING THAT WE TAKE A, A BREAK FOR THE COMMISSION IN ORDER THAT WE JUST HAVE A, A BREAK.
AND ALSO, I BELIEVE WE'RE BRINGING IN SOME LUNCH FOR THE COMMISSION.
SO PLEASE DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
UH, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THAT.
[V. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]
AT THIS TIME, THE TIME IS NOW ALLOWED.BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'D LIKE TO THANK THOSE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP TODAY THAT TOOK OUT TIME TO ATTEND OUR MEETING AND ALSO TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT US AS A COMMISSION GET INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT PARTY, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THE MAIN THING IS THAT WE GET MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE.
AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND I KNOW I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF ALL OF US HERE.
MR. DOMINIC CLARK, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY TO VOICE, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE'RE TAKING THE INTERVIEWS INTO CONSIDERATION.
YOU ALL HAD VALID POINTS FOR US TO CONSIDER LOOKING FORWARD, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
BUT I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THE MIXED GENERATION OF, FROM YOUNG TO THE YOUNG.
I'M GONNA SAY
AND JACKIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE EXTENSION UNTIL FEBRUARY.
BUT IT, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU, JUDGE, IF THERE'S A WAY I CAN ALSO TAKE MY CHIEF DEPUTY TO THE BACK, UH, FOR EXECUTIVE AS WELL TOO.
I HAVE ONE OF MY CHIEF DEPUTIES HERE.
ANY OBJECTIONS? THE CHIEF DEPUTY CAN REMAIN IN THE ROOM FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS? UH, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE THE JERRY, IS THERE ANY AND CHAIRS, DO YOU HAVE ANY DESIGNATION? GO AHEAD.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME, I'M TRYING TO GET, MAKE SURE THOSE THAT WILL REMAIN.
JERRY'S GONNA REMAIN MR. PRISCILLA.
PRISCILLA PRISCILLA'S GONNA REMAIN, KNOW'S GONNA REMAIN.
LARRY'S GONNA REMAIN, STEPHANIE'S GONNA REMAIN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PURPOSES TO GIVE THE, THE COMMISSION ASSISTANCE FOR THIS, UH, PARTICULAR.
SO, MS. KOONS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VISITORS.
YOUR INPUT IS INSTRUMENTAL IN WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
AND I ALSO WANNA BE SURE ON THE RECORD, JUDGE AND TO OUR COMMISSION THAT WE ABSOLUTELY THANK
I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR, UM, HELPING, UH, THE CITY, UM, AND, AND ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR US, THIS TRANSITION.
SO, ALI, I WANNA JUST ECHO THAT.
THAT WAS, UH, ABSOLUTELY JACKIE, YOU'RE FANTASTIC.
UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS CONTINUITY.
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UM, CLEARLY WE HAVE, UH, A DECISION IN THE COMING WEEKS TO MAKE, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOU HELPING THAT TRANSITION.ALRIGHT, DOES THAT CONCLUDE THE REMARKS OF THE DIES? ALL RIGHT, THE TIME IS NOW 11:11 AM UH, THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS NOW AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO STAY MAY STAY.
EVERYONE ELSE MAY REMAIN OUTSIDE.
UH, YOU ARE INVITED AND WELCOME TO COME BACK ONCE WE COMPLETE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I, AS A COURTESY HAVE TRIED TO GIVE YOU A TIMELINE.
UH, IT LOOKS LIKE A MINIMUM ABOUT TWO HOURS BEFORE.
WE MAY WELL COME OUT OF EXECUTIVES, BUT BE MORE THAN TWO HOURS.
AND SO WITH THAT, UH, I HOPE THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE YOU AS BEST WE CAN.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK THOSE TO PLEASE EXCUSE YOURSELF.
UM, I ASSUME THERE'S, IF STAFF, I ALSO HAVE, I THINK JIM LEKO AND CYNTHIA COST FROM MY OFFICE, PLEASE HELP THE PUBLIC KNOW WHERE RESTROOMS ARE AND PERHAPS SOME REFRESHMENTS.
THERE'S BEEN SOME REQUESTS FOR COFFEE THAT I DID NOT PROVIDE FOR A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL.
SO IF Y'ALL WOULD, IF Y'ALL WOULD ACCOMMODATE THAT GENTLEMAN, THAT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL THEN, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK OUT AND CONCLUDE OUR MEETING.
ARE WE GOOD? I GOT THE THUMBS UP.
THE TIME IS 2:06 PM THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS, UH, COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION BACK AT THE OPEN SESSION.
UH, THERE'LL BE NO ACTION TAKEN UPON, UH, OPENING IN, UH, OPEN SESSION AT THIS TIME.
UH, FOR PURPOSES OF THE RECORD, UH, WE CONDUCTED THE PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING INTERVIEWS OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF L ADMINISTRATOR.
AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, PRIOR TO ENTERING OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, I INDICATED TO THE PUBLIC, AND I WILL CLOSE WITH TODAY'S MEETING WITH THE STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC THAT A DECISION TO SELECT AN ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR HAS NOT BEEN MADE TODAY.
UH, THERE'LL BE AN ADDIT, UH, AN ADDITIONAL MEETING, UH, THAT WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW THE SAME FORMAT TO COMPLETE AN INTERVIEW PROCESS.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE POSSIBLY ONE, IF NOT MORE, CANDIDATES THAT MAY BE BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION.
UH, I BELIEVE THE HOLES AT THIS TIME, WE HAVEN'T MADE THE SPECIFIC TIME LIMIT, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT FEBRUARY 10TH OR 12TH SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT WE ARE COMING BACK VERY SHORTLY.
AND IT IS THE COMMISSION'S DESIRE TO TRY TO GET A ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR SELECTED IN ANTI, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MAY ELECTIONS.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE VOTERS OF BEXAR COUNTY, FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF BEXAR COUNTY, AND, UH, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN OUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY.
SO, WITH THAT, I'LL ASK THE COMMISSION, ARE THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR STATEMENT, MR. RUSTY? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK FOR THE COMMISSION'S DILIGENCE TODAY.
I, I THINK IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE, YOU KNOW, MEETING.
AND I WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU SAID, JUDGE.
I THINK OUR MAIN PURPOSE HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD, FAIR ELECTIONS WITH INCREASED VOTER TURNOUT AS ALL OF OUR COUNTRIES SHOULD WANT.
SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE COMMISSION AND, AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS HERE TODAY, AND I, I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING.
AND AGAIN, WE JUST WANNA MAKE ELECTIONS BETTER IN BEXAR COUNTY, IN THE STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY.
AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND VOICING YOUR CONCERNS TO US.
THE ELECTION COMMISSION, WE'VE MADE HISTORY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A, A LONG MINUTE SINCE THE COMMISSION HAS MET IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SO THANKS TO THE COUNTY JUDGE AND MORE SO THANKS TO THE COUNTY CHAIRS, UH, FOR JOINING US AND WANTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE VOTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE BRING MORE MODERNIZATION, ACCESSIBILITY, COMMUNICATION, AND IMPROVING WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE.
BUT MOVING FORWARD, TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY IS A KEY TO SUCCESS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
SO THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE FOR RUNNING A GOOD, UH, COMMISSION MEETING.
AND THANK YOU TAX ASSESSOR FOR BEING VERY VOCAL.
AND EVERYBODY ELSE WAS SITTING AT THE TABLE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD FOR OUR PUBLIC.
MS. C**N, OH, I JUST WENT AND BY VOCAL SHE MEANT
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CONSTRUCTIVE VOCAL.MS. C***S, ANY COMMENTS? MS. ALISE? THANK YOU, JUDGE.
BUT WHAT, THANK YOU FOR A VERY PRODUCTIVE AND, UH, INFORMATIVE MEETING.
AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL WORKING DILIGENTLY TO FILL THAT, UH, UH, ELECTION ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UH, I ECHO THAT VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION BY COMM, UH, MR. ESTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION ADJOURN IS GRANT.
WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT POSTED NOTICE FOR ELECTIONS COMMISSION.