Bexar County’s Election Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen to Retire After 19 Years, Effective January 2025
At a recent press conference, with the members of the Bexar County Elections Commission, it was announced by County Judge Peter Sakai, that Bexar County’s Election Administrator, Jacquelyn Callanen is scheduled to retire, effective as of January 1, 2025.
Members of the Elections Commission present,along side the Judge, included Tax Assessor Albert Uresti, County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark, Democratic Party Chair Monica Alcantara and recently elected Republican Party Chair Kris Coons. Brief comments were made by Ms. Alcantara, regarding the past working relationship, with Ms. Callanen, around elections in the county. County Clerk Adame-Clark also weighed in on Ms.Callanen’s tenure of nineteen years and the great service provided by the outgoing elections administrator. The Tax Assessor also acknowledged the length of service, as provided by Ms. Callanen and that in going forward, the Commission would continue “working to increase the numbers and voter participation.” Good to know after 10 years of the Commission not holding any meetings.
The Commission met earlier, this year, reportedly “the first in a decade”, to discuss a succession plan for the Election Administrator position. At that time, Judge Sakai commented that they “wanted to treat her (Ms. Callanen) with dignity and respect.” Critics have been known to express that “the office needs to do more to expand voting access.”
In the two most recent elections, the general election of 2020 and the 2022 midterms, the County faced legal challenges, in the form of lawsuits, from the Texas Civil Rights Project, where the plaintiff alleged Bexar County Elections had violated the Texas Election Code, by reducing the number of polling locations, which “disproportionately impacted minority voters”, by increasing the distances voters might have to travel to a polling location, making it likely that they would not vote.
Both suits resulted in Bexar County Elections having to add 18 polling sites, in 2020 and in 2022, after over 40 sites were cut, County Commissioners approved 302 polling locations, up from a proposed 359 locations.
Other persons previously questioned why the Election Administrator’s office had no policy for a Volunteer Deputy Registrar to appeal a termination, of their certification, whenever circumstances warranted such.
Upon being asked, Ms. Callanen did state that she wanted “to finish what we started” and to give voters a clean election.
With the vacancy looming on the horizon, Judge Sakai indicated that the Commission will work to locate a qualified replacement, as well as giving consideration to election integrity, security for employees and adequate space for the office. Additional funding, from Commissioner’s Court will also be on the Commission’s agenda.
Hopefully, the Election Commission will do its due diligence and provide what voters seek, from this office, given the importance it holds and the impact it will have on future elections.
If We Want To Change Laws, Change Lawmakers.
If We Want To Change Policies, Change Policymakers.
