Hays County Elections Commission Discuss Performance Criteria, Review Process For Elections Administrator

On Tuesday, September 3, the Hays County Elections Commission held a special meeting to discuss and consider possible action on developing performance criteria and a review process for the Hays County Elections Administrator.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra called the meeting on August 30 inviting residents to attend and give their comments.

Several commissioners expressed concerns that they were slated to discuss and consider action of something that they were not charged to do.

The Hays County Elections Commission’s official charges are the appointment and hiring of the Elections Administrator, the firing or suspension of the Elections Administrator based on the Commissioners’ Court recommendation and the acceptance of the Elections Administrator’s resignation.

While the appointment and suspension or firing of the Elections Administrator are determined by the Hays County Elections Commission, the Elections Administrator is not an elected official and serves as a department head in the county.

The Hays County Commissioners Court is in charge of reviewing county department heads; these reviews are done behind closed door as a matter of personnel.

“Before we get into the comments, I’ll explain the potential leap in some ideas,” Becerra said. “If we’re going to appoint someone if we’re going to hire someone, and also in there to recommend suspend, fire someone, it is I feel necessary to convey a unit with which to measure by because my hope is…we’re making a lot of wonderful strides in the Elections department.”

Becerra continued to say he felt the creation of performance criteria and a review process for the elections administrator would allow the county to focus on other things; the commission and commissioners’ court would be able to review the items and would be able to respond to those insisting the administrator should be fired, for whatever reason, that they were doing their job.

“My hope is to calm the waters on this front and say ‘no more, here’s what we agreed are good fundamental basic principles and guidelines,’” Becerra said.

Before public comments were opened, Commissioner Russell Hayter made a motion to adjourn the meeting because what Becerra described was not within the scope of the statue the commission was authorized to operate under.

“What you described, as admirable as it might be, is not within the scope of the statue that we’re charged under,” Hayter said. “So, therefore, we should not be meeting to do something that is not allowed by this commission under the statue.”

Becerra said he believed the commission was acting within the commission’s charges set down through the elections code.

However, the motion failed with Hayter voting for.

Commissioner and Hays County Clerk, Dr. Elaine Cardenas, read the working document of a goal and criteria for the Hays County Elections Administrator.

• Sample Goal
  • Fair Elections with high participation by all sectors of Hays County
• Sample Criteria
  • Establishment of a management system to provide necessary structure and controls, to ensure fulfillment of statutory requirements and national standards for data security.
  • Demonstrate transparency by posting publically all elections information and plans fully with ample time for consideration
  • Engage residents of the county in elections county
  • Ensure well-trained elections judges and poll workers
  • Provide written reports and oral briefing to elections commissions and commissioners court quarterly
  • Make information for and about candidates available readily online…

Hayter made a motion to have the criteria and review process “vetted by the Hays County General Counsel and approved by the Hays County Commissioners Court before the Commission went any further with it.”

Dr. Cardenas said she felt the commission should develop the document completely before it was presented to the commissioners’ court, so they have all the information.  

Shari Miller, the Hays County Human Resources Director, said the Hays County Personnel evaluation is a general document that covers all county employees.

The motion to postpone the item and have it reviewed by General Counsel and approved by the Commissioners Court passed 3-2 with Dr. Cardenas and Becerra voting against.

Watch the full meeting below.