Democratic candidate Moira Zinn drops out of County Commissioner race
Sierra Martin | Managing Editor
HAYS COUNTY – Moira Zinn, who ran her campaign as a “new Democratic centrist candidate,” announced she has dropped out of the race against incumbent Walt Smith for Hays County Commissioner, Precinct 4.
After announcing her campaign for County Commissioner Precinct 4 to media on December 9, Zinn publicly withdrew from the race on December 14, the day after all official campaign filing was due.
Zinn, Dripping Springs Resident, filed her initial candidacy paperwork under her home address which- due to redistricting maps approved just last month- was no longer in Precinct 4. In the new redistricting maps, Zinn lived in Precinct 3 and was no longer eligible to run for the position.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, to qualify as a commissioner, the person must be a “resident of the precinct for at least six consecutive months.”
In her official candidate filing, Zinn had changed her address to reside in the new borders of Precinct 4 but ultimately withdrew from the race.
Zinn thanked her supporters on her campaign Facebook page, which has since been deleted along with her campaign website.
“Thank you so much for your outreach and support,” Zinn said. After meeting with council, I have learned I do not meet all Voter Registration eligibility requirements for this election. Rather than have my integrity in question, I have withdrawn my name from the election.”
Zinn also said any money donated to her campaign is in the process of being refunded.
Commissioner Smith, incumbent to the Precinct 4 position, is now running against candidate Joe Bateman in the 2022 Republican Primary. Susan Cook is also running for Commissioner of Precinct 4 as an Independent candidate in the 2022 November election.
Corridor News was unable to speak with Zinn after multiple attempts.
A correction was made to this article to include information about Republican candidate Joe Bateman and Independent candidate Susan Cook.
Will the Democratic Party get a chance to have someone from the New Precinct 4 file to run?
Use your passion for politics to get involved in the issues. Please consider speaking at public hearings, attending the meetings, writing letters to the editor, and mobilizing your supporters for issues that are of importance to you. Most voters think all the change happens on Facebook. Sorry to break it to the public, Facebook is not public record. File open records to let the officials know you are watching. For example, is the public aware Melani Howard Habitat Conservation Plan Manager makes well over 100K just in the city end of the salary? Enjoy the fences….I have hundreds of pages of open records on how this boondoggle HPC has gone up per year. She refuses to answer questions in the public form. She wants elected officials to have off-camera meetings to answer their concerns. Pretty NOT transparent.