“There shall be a clerk for the district court of each county, who shall be elected by the qualified voters and who shall hold his office for four years, subject to removal by information, or by indictment of a grand jury, and conviction of a petit jury. In case of vacancy, the judge of the district court shall have the power to appoint a clerk, who shall hold until the office can be filled by election.” The Texas Constitution
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
We have been corrected.
The replacement of Cameron County District Clerk is not within the power of the Commissioners Court, but rather, by the eight district judges of the county.
And not only that, we are told, but the choice must be by a unanimous vote, or any proposed appointment will not go through.
The district judges - 103rd District Judge Janet L. Leal, 107th District Judge Benjamin Euresti Jr., 138th District Judge Arturo Cisneros Nelson, 197th District Judge Adolfo E. Cordova Jr., 357th District Judge Juan A. Magallanes, 404th District Judge Elia C. Lopez, 444th District Judge David Sanchez, and 445th District Judge Gloria Rincones - will meet today to discuss the appointment after Garza announced last week that he is a candidate for Cameron County Sheriff.
The judges have said that they would not appoint someone who will run for the office during the March primaries so as not to give the individual an unfair advantage of incumbency over other potential candidates.
That would seem to leave out current County Court-At-Law # 3 administrator Laura P. Perez-Reyes - who is also a Brownsville Independent School District board member - as well as BISD Records Manager Martin Arambula who have expressed a desire to run for the office.
Judges could imply opt to appoint Ricardo Cornejo, now the District Clerk Chief Deputy under Garza. If the judges cannot reach a unanimous decision, they will be required to notify Gov. Greg Abbott, who is then empowered to make the appointment.
Until then, Garza remains in office under the "holdover" provision of the Texas Election Code.
The new appointee will hold office until a new district clerk is elected. Since, so far, there has not been a Republican candidate who has announced for the office, the district judges could conceivably appoint the Democrat primary winner to the position before the general election in November.
On the other hand, some local wags say that if Cornejo is appointed to replace Garza, he could very well hire his former boss as his chief assistant and Garza would have a job and benefits while he runs for office against Sheriff Omar Lucio. Will they dare?
On the other hand, some local wags say that if Cornejo is appointed to replace Garza, he could very well hire his former boss as his chief assistant and Garza would have a job and benefits while he runs for office against Sheriff Omar Lucio. Will they dare?