July 28, 2021 Hood County Election Commission Meeting

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The Hood County Elections Commission held a specially called meeting on July 28, 2021, to address personnel matters regarding the elections administrator, during which the commission discussed its legal authority under HB 1678 and obligations under the Open Meetings Act. Three letters of support for the administrator were entered into the record, and the commission received extensive public comment from citizens, election professionals, and local officials regarding the administrator's performance and qualifications. Commission members delivered prepared remarks on the matter, and a motion to terminate the elections administrator was voted on and rejected 3–2, followed by a failed motion to suspend the administrator without pay for two weeks.

• Call to order and meeting setupThe Hood County Elections Commission held a specially called meeting on July 28, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. in the County Justice Center to address personnel matters regarding the elections administrator.
• Executive session and public participation proceduresThe commission moved into executive session to discuss allegations, then returned to establish procedures for public comment on agenda items.
• Letters of support for elections administratorThree letters from officials in jurisdictions served by the elections administrator were read into the record, commending her professional work and dedication.
• Legal authority and agenda item limitationsThe county attorney and commission members discussed legal constraints on the commission's authority under HB 1678, determining that only agenda item seven constituted a legitimate action item.
• Open meetings act and public participation rightsCommission members discussed legal obligations under the Open Meetings Act to allow citizens to address the body without violating election law.
• Motion to adjourn and procedural voteCommissioner Adrian Martin moved to adjourn the meeting based on lack of legal authority; after county attorney guidance and chair concern about public participation rights, a vote was taken and failed.
• Commission members' statements on the matterCommission members delivered prepared remarks on the personnel issues, elections integrity, and the commission's legal authority and role.
• Public comment: Daniel PetersFirst public speaker criticized the meeting as driving away civil servants and expressed concerns about fascism and election integrity.
• Public comment: Shirley LedfordSecond speaker questioned why officials with already dominant electoral support would threaten an independent elections administrator with a strong statewide reputation.
• Public comment: Deborah SaganThird speaker addressed working relationships and governance issues, distinguishing between election fraud and interpersonal conflicts affecting election administration.
• Public comment: Trudy Hancock (TAEA representative)Speaker representing the Texas Association of Elections Administrators testified to the elections administrator's professional standing and peer respect.
• Public comment: Pat BergmanFourth speaker, a longtime election worker and former judge, testified to the quality of the new voting system and warned against reverting to county clerk administration.
• Public comment: Jean McNeelyFinal speaker, a retired banker and 13-year election volunteer, testified to the quality of elections under the current administrator and the importance of working relationships.
• Citizen speaker on county clerk information requests and election proceduresA citizen raised questions about the county clerk's information requests related to election administration duties and whether procedures followed Secretary of State rules.
• Citizen speaker on legal authority and accountability for election administratorA citizen argued that the commission's decisions must be based on statutory law rather than opinions from the Secretary of State's office, and emphasized that all government employees must be held accountable.
• Judge speaker on election administration expertise and prior administratorA judge with background in labor law, investigations, and elections spoke about the circumstances under which the county hired the current election administrator and defended her performance.
• Citizen speaker on election integrity and Republican Party concernsA citizen self-identified as a socialist and addressed Republican voter concerns about election integrity and the administrator's working relationship with the Republican Party.
• Citizen speaker on legal authority and statutory options for the commissionA citizen addressed the legal basis for the meeting and outlined statutory provisions governing the commission's authority to suspend or terminate the election administrator.
• Citizen speaker with election experience defending administrator performanceA citizen with experience as election judge, precinct chair, deputy registrar, and other election roles defended the current administrator's work and criticized selective legal interpretation.
• Citizen speaker from Aransas County on administrator's prior performanceA citizen who recently moved from Aransas County and served as Republican party chairman described the current administrator's strong reputation in her prior county.
• Character reference speaker on administrator's professionalismA speaker who has known the administrator for approximately 10–12 years provided a personal reference emphasizing her professional and nonpartisan approach.
• Citizen speaker on election code compliance and administrator correspondenceA citizen who served as a deputy voter registrar and worked early voting in 2020 raised concerns about the administrator's compliance with election code sections governing county clerk and administrator duties.
• Election administrator response to public commentsThe election administrator provided a brief statement responding to the public comments.
• Commission motion and vote to terminate election administratorThe commission chair made a motion to terminate the election administrator, which was seconded and voted on, resulting in a 3–2 rejection.
• Commission motion and vote on suspension without payA commission member made a motion to suspend the election administrator without pay for two weeks, which failed for lack of a second.