Travis County Commssioners Court
March 16, 2004
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Item 34
Now, do we need to discuss item 34 in executive session? People asked me about interviewing and I told them I really didn't know, but at this time I知 thinking that we don't want to interview people.
>> I don't need an interview.
>> no.
>> I took it upon myself to send out three questions and I did get the answers back. I shared those with the rest of the court. Is there a motion on 34?
>> I move that we appoint nancy hohengarten to the county court at law 5 spot.
>> second.
>> any discussion?
>> yes. Why would we appoint somebody -- obviously she is the democratic nominee, won the race, but there is the general election race, isn't that right? I mean, in November, there's a person running against her in that? I mean, I -- it really is highly -- it's really unfair of somebody to appoint -- I mean, appoint somebody when she's in a race where she gets to sit there and she is in the general election here in November. I mean, folks,hat's just not right. Maybe it's the -- maybe it's the thing we will do, but the other side I知 sure is not overly happy about it. Is there just no one else that we can have?
>> we have eight months ago before the election process rolls through here, eight months. And we have specific needs of county court at law 5 that it has been -- at least the feedback i've been getting is it's been disruptive to have to have the scheduling, dealing with visiting judges, some consistency over in that court. And we have been able to because of the primary process listen to the two people who are the finalists for this job. And I知 prepared to say I don't need eight months. And quite frankly, when the governor has appointments to benches because of vacancies, we don't wait until the political process. He goes ahead and yiews his power of appointment and puts in the best possible person for that job and then the election process can always solidify that choice or change that choice. And we are doing no different than what the governor does any time a district judge appointment comes up.
>> I feel the same way if it were the governor. I'd feel the same way if it were the president. I mean, right is right and wrong is wrong. But if that's -- if that's the will of the court -- I told the other party, I said if that happens, you ought not spend one nickel on the November election. I mean, it's just giving the deal to the person. But that's -- that's not --
>> and we've had situations, quite frankly, where the governor has made appointments which have been ratified by the voters and we have had situations where the governor has made an appointment where the voters had another thing in mind. And the same thing can continue to happen here. It just that we're the ones that are responsible for making this appointment, not the governor. But the governor doesn't wait until after an election cycle to fill a vacancy. This Commissioners court and the local government code is also given the same authority to fill a vacancy. And eight months is a long time considering that people have -- they've been limping along since last October with this slot being open.
>> well, there were a number of people that were qualified to do this job. There were a lot of people in this race. And -- I mean a lot. And it very easily could be, do you know what, you just appoint somebody that's capable of doing the job which -- I think every one of those people that were running, they're capable of doing it. And I don't see --
>> well, the voters --
>> we had an opportunity to make an appointment way back when, and I think that would have been a better deal. I知 disappointed that we couldn't have done that.
>> well, my reasons have not been given, but I知 supporting the motion. They have had a difficult time covering the office. I frankly have to say it really politics. All in favor of the motion? So Commissioners Gomez, Davis, Sonleitner and yours truly the democrats on the court. Voting against Commissioner Daugherty. That was to appoint ms. Hohengarten to serve through the general election.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 1:40 PM