Commissioners Court move to terminate the DeWitt County elections administrator

CUERO, Texas - Members of the DeWitt County Commissioners Court met in a specially called meeting held Monday morning to consider the decision of the DeWitt County Elections Commission to terminate the employment of Melissa Alcazar, the county’s election administrator.

Alcazar has held the position since she was appointed by the Elections Commission in April 2018.

The Elections Commission met in an executive/closed session on March 1 to consider the resignation letter submitted by Alcazar in the previous week.

Commission members encouraged Alcazar to work through the March 4 Primary Election because there was no one in line to replace her ahead of the highly contested election.

The elections administrator contracts with the political parties to conduct a joint primary election in even-numbered years.

She withdrew her letter of resignation, so no action was taken at the time.

The Elections Commission met on April 29 and May 6 to review complaints that had been received regarding a chronic lack of communication and other election-related matters; and to deliberate the employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of Alcazar.

No action was taken on April 29.

The meeting held on May 6 resulted in a 4/5ths vote in favor of the immediate termination of Alcazar for good cause as provided for in Texas Elections Code section 31.037.

According to the statute, the Commissioners Court must vote on the recommendation of the Elections Commission and a vote to suspend or terminate must pass by a majority vote.

Commissioner James Kaiser was present, but abstained from voting.

The remaining members of the Commissioners Court voted in favor of ratifying the Election Commission recommendation by a vote of 4-0.

Alcazar’s termination was effective immediately.

The conduct of elections will default to the County Clerk and voter registrar duties will default to the Tax Assessor until the vacancy is filled according to office staff in the Elections Division of the Texas Secretary of State.

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