Thursday, May 25, 2023 11:42 p.m
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Harris County’s attorney has vowed to sue the state when the governor signs two bills that would give him more of a voice only in the county’s election process.
“We don’t want our legislators going to Austin with their personal vendettas,” said County Attorney Christian Menefee.
Senate Bill 1750 would eliminate Harris County’s election trustees and transfer power to two elected county officials. About half of Texas counties have an election administrator, but the bill would eliminate only Harris County.
Senate Bill 1933 makes it easier for the Secretary of State’s office to remove these officials and gives them more oversight of the county election process.
“The Texas Constitution is clear. The legislature cannot pass laws targeting a specific city or a specific county,” Menefee said.
Dr. Mark Jones, professor of political science at Rice University, says the statement is “false.”
“Yes. Under the Texas constitution, a specific county cannot be distinguished by its name. But it can be distinguished by other specific attributes, such as population,” he explained.
The legislation indicated the county with population. Something Jones believes Democrats set out to do when they created the election administrator position in what he called a “hyper-partisan” way.
“By trying so hard and failing to get some buy-in from local Republicans, Democrats set themselves up for a partisan backlash from Austin,” he said.
Despite the polarized political climate, Jones told ABC13 the average voter will see little difference with or without the legislation.
“Elections will be made the same way they have always been made,” he said.
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