* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] NICE TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY. ARE WE READY TO GO? ALL RIGHT. OH, GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025 MEETING OF THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOW ON THE DIOCESE COMMERCIAL'S COURT IN THE PUBLIC PORTION. WE NEED TO HIT THAT BUTTON BELOW THE SCREEN IN ORDER FOR US TO BE HEARD. YOU CAN KEEP IT ON, OR WHEN YOU SPEAK, PLEASE TURN THAT MIC ON SO THAT UH, YOU CAN BE PART OF, UH, THE RECORD. ALRIGHT. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE OUR INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITIONS OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THREE INTERVIEWS THAT ARE SCHEDULED. UH, AS YOU REMEMBER, WE HAVE ONE HOUR PIECE. I THINK PERHAPS, UH, WHEN WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, WE'LL KIND OF GO BACK AND, UH, REMIND OURSELVES OF HOW WE HANDLED THE FIRST DAY OF INTERVIEWS, UH, AND TRY TO FOLLOW SCRIPT. I THOUGHT WE, EVERYBODY HAD A QUESTION. AND, UM, I'LL PROBABLY NEED STAFF NEEDS TO REMIND ME, WHAT QUESTION I ASKED. UH, BUT IF YOU COULD REMIND YOURSELVES OF THAT, OR WE CAN OBVIOUSLY, UH, ASK DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. UM, I WANNA REMIND THE PUBLIC ONCE AGAIN, TODAY WE WILL NOT BE DECIDING, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE THE FINAL ROUND OF INTERVIEWS. I BELIEVE, UH, WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION, AN EXECUTIVE AS TO THE NEXT, UM, MEETING WE DID IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH, UH, OPEN MEETINGS. WE DO HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 12TH, I BELIEVE AT 1:30 PM UH, WE HAVE IT SCHEDULED THAT IF WE'RE PREPARED, AND THAT'S A BIG, IF, IF WE'RE PREPARED, WE COULD MAKE A DECISION, UH, ON THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR ON THAT DAY. BUT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION INTERNALLY, AND THEN WE CAN THEN REPORT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS APPROPRIATE, UH, FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS PURSUANT TO STATE LAW. [I. Call to Order] SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL CALL THE ORDER THE ELECTION, BEX COUNTY ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETING, AND LET US NOW I'LL CALL ROLL, UH, COUNTY CLERK LUCY DOMINIC CLARK. PRESENT PUBLICAN CHAIR. CHRIS KOTZ, PRESENT DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, MICHELLE LOSIS, PRESENT TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR ESTE HERE AND COUNTY JUDGE PETER SHAKI IS ALSO PRESENT. UH, I'LL [II. Approval of meeting minutes from January 28, 2025 meeting] ASK THAT Y'ALL REVIEW THE MEETING MINUTES THAT I BELIEVE ARE PART OF YOUR PACKAGE FROM THE JANUARY 28TH, 2025 MEETING UPON REVIEW, COMPLETION REVIEW. I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND BY LUCIA ADAM CLARK. MOTION BY, UH, LOS OISE, SECOND BY ADAM CLARK. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. MINUTES APPROVED. ALRIGHT. [III. Public comment ] AT THIS TIME, WE WILL PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP, AND KATHY VALE, YOU MAY PROCEED TO THE PODIUM AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR COMING. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MEMBERS. UM, I WANNA GET RIGHT TO, UM, THE REASON WHY I MADE THE EFFORT TO COME DOWN HERE TODAY, WHICH IS TO ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR INCREASED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. UM, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE CLOSE TO, UH, YOUR FINAL CANDIDATES AND, UM, MY ASK IS THAT YOU CONSIDER HOLDING A PUBLIC FORUM TO PRESENT THE FINALISTS FOR THIS VERY CONSEQUENTIAL POSITION TO THE PUBLIC, UH, IN AN OPEN FORUM ON A SATURDAY MORNING AT A LOCATION THAT HAS AMPLE FREE PARKING AND EASY ACCESS. I WOULD LIKE THE FINALISTS TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO THE COMMUNITY, TALK ABOUT WHY THEY WANT TO BE THE BEAR ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR, AND TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. AND IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, GIVEN THE, UH, THE STATUS OF WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR DECISION MAKING, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER IMMEDIATELY UPON DECIDING AND SELECTING SOMEONE TO HOLD A PUBLIC FORUM WITH THAT PERSON. INTRODUCE THAT PERSON TO THE COMMUNITY ON A SATURDAY MORNING, AND LET'S GET THIS INFORMATION AND GET THE SELECTION OUT THERE AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. I AM A BEAR COUNTY PROPERTY OWNER. [00:05:01] UH, I LIVE IN PRECINCT TWO IN THE RIDGEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN A 1952 CASITA ON MY CHILDHOOD STREET. I'M A BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION WORKER. I AM A CERTIFIED VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR. I SPENT THE MORNING DROPPING OFF MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO ABOUT 18 INDIVIDUALS IN MY PRECINCT TO OUR COMPELLED TO REAPPLY AGAIN TO VOTE BY MAIL IN 2025. AND I AM ONE OF MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION JUDGES, ELECTION WORKERS, VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INVESTED IN ELECTIONS IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROCESS BE A CATALYST FOR PEOPLE TO GET EVEN MORE INVOLVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KEVIN, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. UH, I'LL JUST SAY THIS. I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR COMMENTS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME DOWN HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT AND BEING A, YOU SAID A VOLUNTEER REGISTRAR. MM-HMM . YOU'RE OUT THERE WORKING MM-HMM . AND BEING A PART OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, UH, YOUR COMMENTS ARE VERY APPROPRIATE NOW. I THINK WE'LL HAVE, WE WILL HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. TO EACH OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE. IF I MAY, YES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MS. VAIL FOR COMING OUT HERE. I KNOW MS. VAIL, SHE'S THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE SENATOR BOB VAIL, AND SHE IS VERY INVOLVED WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN THE, YOU KNOW, ELECTION SYSTEM. UH, THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT ARE AS INVOLVED AS SHE IS. SO, MS. VAIL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHTY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME [IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION] I'LL TAKE UP, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PERSONAL MATTERS REGARDING THE INTERVIEW OF A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE, FOR THE POSITIONS OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. UH, THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION WILL NOW CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACTED UPON IF APPROPRIATE IN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.074, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING INTERVIEW OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. UH, ALSO WANT TO ASK THE COMMISSION'S PERMISSION THAT WE HAVE CERTAIN PERSONNEL TO REMAIN IN THE COURT. I'LL ASK THAT MY STAFF PERSON, NOAH BARHOP, BE PERMITTED TO JOIN AS HE WAS LAST TIME. LARRY ROBERSON FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ALSO, UH, AS AN ASSISTANT DA IN THE CIVIL SECTION, ARE HERE. AND MS. STEPHANIE CASTANO, ALSO FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. UH, I THINK THEY WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN ASSISTING THE COMMISSION AND TO PROVIDE THEIR EXPERTISE TO THE COMMISSION. SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, THAT TIME IS NOW ONE FOUR. JUDGE. YES, JUDGE. I, I MAY I HAVE PRISCILLA, MY CHIEF DEPUTY PRISCILLA HERNANDEZ. YES. AND SHE WAS ALLOWED TO STAY AND THAT PERMISSION GRANTED. AND THEN MR. STE, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE STAFFER, BUT SHE HAS ACTUALLY GOT AN OFFICIAL ROLE. SHE IS THE SECRETARY FOR THE COMMISSION, I BELIEVE, OR SHE'S RECORDING, UM, AND TAKING MINUTES. SHE WANTED TO HIRE TITLE AND THAT'S HER. OKAY. SO, I DON'T KNOW. SO WE'LL, WE'LL LET JERRY, I'LL WORK ON THAT. IT'LL STAY, STAY IN THE STAY IN THE MEETING. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT IS PRESENT? ALRIGHT, THE TIME IS NOW 1 30 40 3:00 PM THE PUBLIC SESSION PART OF THIS MEETING IS CLOSED. AND WE'LL NOW REOPEN WITH EXECUTIVE SESSION. ARE WE PREPARED MR. NOAH TO PROCEED WITH THE INTERVIEWS? THE, UH, CANDIDATE IS HERE. I'LL, I'LL, UH, TEXT THAT SHE BE BROUGHT IN IF EVERYBODY'S READY. LET, LET'S, UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S MICHELLE CARU. YES, SIR. I BELIEVE Y'ALL HAVE HER HAVE HER. IS IT RESUME OR THE REPORT PREPARED BY ROBERT? HALF? UH, I THINK WHAT WE DID TOO, I THINK, UH, MS. SLOES, WE STARTED WITH YOU. AND WHAT WAS THE, REMEMBER THE QUE ARE YOU GONNA ASK, TELL US HOW MANY ELECTIONS WHERE YOU WERE THE OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE AND WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST ISSUES? MS. AD CLARK, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS? YES. IF THEY HAVE THE CA CERTIFICATION AND, UH, FIGURE YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT. MS. DUR TI WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? I DON'T REMEMBER. I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. JERRY, DO YOU, CAN YOU REMIND YOUR BOSS WHAT THIS QUESTION ARE? ? I'M GONNA ASK, I'M GONNA ASK MY STAFF TO REMIND YOU HOW MEDICAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT'S WHAT QUESTION, JERRY, DO YOU QUESTION MS. KONS? WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? UH, MINE WOULD BE ABOUT EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT. SCHOOLER. OH, IMPARTIALITY. YEAH. AND I BELIEVE MR. RUSTY HAD ASKED ABOUT, UH, REGISTRATION EFFORTS. OH, REGISTRATION. OH, YOU [00:10:01] FOCUS ON REGISTRATION. OKAY. MINE WAS SCHOOL DISTRICT. RIGHT? HOW WAS SHE GONNA WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT? ALRIGHT. AND THEN AS I CALL, WE HAVE ONE HOUR, NOAH, YOU'LL BE TIMEKEEPER. UH, WE'LL GO AROUND FOR THAT ONE QUESTION AND THEN WE'LL ALLOW FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND THEN, UH, WE'LL ALLOW HER ABOUT FIF FROM 50 MINUTES OUT TO, UM, ASK QUESTIONS OR RESPOND. AND THEN I THINK WE GAVE, WE'LL GIVE 'EM FIVE MINUTE CLO WRAP UP FOR ANYTHING THEY WISH TO STATE IN CLOSING. SO WITH THAT FORMAT, LET'S CALL, UH, MR. UH, LEKO. IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, LET'S CALL HIM MS. CARU. AND I PRESUME WE WILL HAVE HER STAND AT THE PODIUM OR SHE, SHE CAN PULL UP A CHAIR IF SHE WHATEVER'S MOST COMFORTABLE. OKAY. SO WE NEED TO TURN OFF, DO WE NEED TO TURN OFF OUR, OKAY. SO TURN OFF WEDNESDAY AT 1:30 PM IN THE DOUBLE HEIGHTS COURTROOM AS PROPERLY AGENDIZED. SEE THEN IS, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I CLARK. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. MOTION BY LUCY DIAMOND CLARK. SECOND BY MS. CHRIS C***S. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED ANY MEETING, ADJOURN. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.