McLane begins new role as elections administrator

McLane begins new role as elections administrator News Staff Tue, 06/25/2024 - 4:43 pm Jared McLane officially started Monday, June 17 as the new Stephens County Elections Administrator. Photo/Mike Williams By Mike Williams news@breckenridgeamerican.com Newly hired Jared McLane started a new role created by the county last week. McLane, who was previously a coach and teacher at Breckenridge ISD was hired and officially began his role Monday, June 17 as Stephens County Elections Administrator. The role was created to take work load from the tax assessor-collector’s office which was previously assigned the duties of running county elections. The office will still provide assistance during elections.The new position is responsible for running elections and legal reporting responsibilities with the Texas Secretary of State’s office. A committee made up of Stephens County Judge Michael Roach, outgoing Tax Assessor-Collector Christie Latham, Stephens County Clerk Jackie Ensey, Democratic Party Chair Tommy Thompson and incoming Republican Party Chair Scott Harris. County commissioners also took part in the interview process. Roach said the committee looked at five applications and had the pool of candidates narrowed down to two. It was McLane’s information technology background and his local roots that made him stand out for the hire.According to Roach, McLane’s background will help him excel as elections become more technologically involved. “We were looking for someone who had local roots because you can … hire them from other counties. It’s a salary race and then they move around a whole lot,” Roach said. “We wanted someone local and then elections have become so digitized, so software heavy, … that his IT background really set him apart. We felt that was what was really defining for him.” Roach said this role has transitioned into a full-time job with increasing legislation and increasing Freedom of Information Act requests in recent years. “We are really excited to have Jared on board,” Roach said. “I think he’s going to make a positive impact on elections moving forward in Stephens County. … This is a move that in the long term will bring stability and some needed personal just to that role. … I just want folks to know elections locally, they are safe (and) they are secure. They are accurate and they will continue to make sure that happens by having Jared in this department dedicated to that cause.” News