On Monday, July 15, Judge Porter and the County Commissioners held their second meeting of the month, first taking public comments.
Susan Winborne addressed the court with her concerns on the possibility of the Elections Administrator’s position being abolished after the individual who had been named the new EA quit the same day she started, forcing the previous EA, Randa Hiett, back into the office to help with the upcoming election in November.
“I just want you all to consider not abolishing the Elections Administrator position. We’ve had that position for 16 years. I don’t think any of you were here in the court when Gaye Whitehead and I fought to get that position and it was a fight. But I do think that it has served Gray County very well for the last 16 years. I feel like that if we abolish that position, we’re taking a step backwards. We’re putting a real burden on the City of Lefors and Lefors ISD, the City of Pampa and Pampa ISD, and the City of McLean and McLean ISD. You’re asking those secretaries to now do their own elections and elections are very complicated and very legislative. I think each year they get more complicated-each year the legislation meets, they change the laws and you have to keep up with it. And so you’re asking these entities who haven’t had to keep up with the law now to do that and they’re going to have to know 16 years of law. And that’s a generation in an office. I don’t think that either one of the elected officials are really in favor of it coming back to their office and I think the decision should stay more with them. I respect you gentlemen greatly, but I think you need to consider their opinion on this. There’s a lot of work that goes into it.”
Next to speak was Gray County Republican Chair, Ann Franklin.
“First of all, I want to commend Randa. She has been my right arm in everything that I do for the party. She keeps me on track and up to date. I feel like if you abolish that office, it’s going to put a greater burden on not just the parties, but each entity that we’ll be taking over because it is a lot of responsibility. Like Susan said, laws and rules and everything changes year to year, so we’re kept abreast to that, yes, but if you spread that out over several people, you’re going to lose the effect of it. I feel like it needs to be kept in one office with one person that would be responsible for it. Thank you very much.”
Before Judge Porter and the commissioners addressed the concerns, they first went through the items on the agenda that was scheduled before the consideration of the issue.
Those items were considering the minutes of the previous meeting, paying the bills as presented by the County Auditor, considering any line-item transfers, accepting the County Treasurer’s Monthly and Quarterly Reports, and accepting the County Clerk’s Monthly Report; all were approved.
Next was the discussion of the abolishment of the Elections Administrator position.
Judge Porter told the court that about two years ago, Randa had come to him and said she was ready to resign, which prompted the Judge and commissioners to finding a smooth exit strategy to fill that position.
After putting the word out that they were in need of a new EA and no one seemed interested in the job, Randa stayed on until the position would be filled. Last spring, the judge and commissioners came together and talked about hiring an EA Assistant so that someone could come in and learn the job to where Randa would be able to leave comfortably.
The new assistant started in October of last year, but the individual did not work out and Randa found herself stuck once again.
Earlier this year, they held interviews for the Elections Administrator job where they had four applicants. Tax Accessor, Christy Johnson, County Clerk Jeanne Horton, Judge Porter and Ann Franklin interviewed the four candidates and hired who they thought would be best suited for that position. Unfortunately, she stayed in the office for two hours and resigned.
“Where we’re at is, I think we all understand the importance of our elections just off of this last weekend,” Judge Porter said. “To me, the elections and the preservation of the elections in our county is the most important thing.”
“The Elections Administrator job is very complicated and very legislative, so I can’t just put anybody in there and expect there to not be any problems. There have been a couple of Elections Administrators that did not do a good job. It’s even more critical now because we’re under such a microscope. I think that’s part of Randa’s burnout, she’s tired of being everybody’s lightning rod.”
“This is a failure on my part as far as I’m concerned and I hate to lose worse than when I want to win and that’s a huge statement. Because I have talked to a number of people about being the Elections Administrator, this was not a knee-jerk decision. I’m just not sure where else to go. That’s why we have these four men up here to help make those decisions.”
“With that being said, my recommendation to the commissioners court is that we abolish the job and that we put both positions into the Clerk’s office and that way it’s all under one group of eyes and that way when people come to the courthouse to vote, it’s all in one office.”
Tax Accessor, Christy Johnson then addressed the court.
“I’m here to ask the court to not abolish the Elections Administrator’s office. Transferring those jobs to current office holders who already have employees to maintain and other priorities does not seem beneficial. Following the departure of the original individual that was hired, the County Clerk and myself hoped the position would be offered to the next qualified candidate. The creation of this office brought in voter registration and elections into a central location and is allowed one office to provide documentation for citizens, candidates, entities, the Secretary of State and all of the Republican and Democratic parties. Last fall, when I was preparing to run for the first time for office, the EA answered multiple questions, provided needed forms and directed me to my party chair. I know as stewards of the county tax dollars, you are expected to consider all ways money can be saved, but we must also consider what is in the best interest of the citizens, the local entities and the integrity of the election process. Having this office allows time to be devoted to registration and voting. Since its creating, election laws have changed dramatically in the past 16 years. In the times we are now in, scrutiny is high and accountability is more important than ever. Thank you for your time.”
County Clerk, Jeanne Horton then addressed the court.
“I’m against this because I believe the EA plays a valuable and important role in our county. Gray County’s first joint elections administrator was hired in 2008. Since that time, Gray County has had three other EAs. We’ve had four in 16 years. The EA serves all Gray County tax-payers by conducting county elections and all the elections of the local entities in our county. I think that Pampa is the second largest city in the Panhandle, so if this position is abolished, all entities will go back to conducting their own elections. All entities will then need proper training, money in their budgets to conduct their own elections. I feel like if the court wants to move in that direction with a new EA, we could plan for the future for a smooth transition for it to take place.”
“We could possibly hire a new EA and try again and maybe work towards the future in the making the transition process easy for our entities because they are tax payers also.”
After further discussion of the cons of abolishing the Elections Administrator’s office, all four commissioners agreed that they should try to hire another EA instead of getting rid of it entirely.
Next on the agenda was to discuss and consider the Gray County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Compensation Payment and Policy, where JC Skinner informed the court that they were needing deputies and had no applicants for the position. So the court agreed to allow Skinner to hire three part-time deputies.
Next on the agenda was to discuss and consider the Gray County Personnel Policy Manual Updates and Changes, but it was postponed for a future date.
Next was the discussion and consideration of the Gray County Nuisance Abatement Regulations, where the finalized document was approved by the court.
Next was the acceptance of resignation of Gray County Clerk Jeanne Horton effective November 6, 2024 and the acceptance of retirement of the Honorable Karen Goodman, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1&3 effective November 6, 2024; both were approved.
The last items on the agenda was to declare the Gray County Sheriff’s Office 2019 Ford Explorer as surplus for donation to the Perry Lefors Airport as a pilot and passenger transport vehicle, to declare Precinct 2 1988 Mack Parts and Engine as surplus for auction, and to declare the Gray County Sheriff’s Office’s 2019 Dodge Charger as surplus for auction; all were approved.
The meeting was then adjourned.
