Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo had sharp words in response to a lawsuit Mattress Mack filed over the 2022 county elections. 'In Harris County, we're not only enduring the pillow guy, but we've got to deal with the mattress guy, too,' Hidalgo said.
Among Dolcefino's requests was a detailed phone record for Elections Administrator Cliff Tatum, including text and phone messages. He also sought Tatum's emails on Election Day, all email communications between Tatum and Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis's office, maintenance records for voting machines, information about ballot paper allotment and communications on Election Day between the elections office and the election judges presiding over polling locations.
Bill Aleshire, an Austin attorney who works with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, said the lawsuit is a good example of why the Texas Legislature should repeal the"litigation exception" provision in state law that offers public offices an option to withhold records during litigation."There is no justification for denying the public information about a controversy just because it involves litigation," Aleshire said.
The elections office responded in a statement saying it has followed the law, staff has responded to requests that do not require documents subject to the litigation, and the office has sought an opinion from the attorney general on those that do.other GOP state officials calling for Harris County to redo its election because of claims that voters were turned away due to alleged paper ballot shortages, though acknowledging he had no idea how many voters were actually disenfranchised, if any.
"I'd also ask Judge Hidalgo two questions: what has she ever accomplished in her life and has she ever had to sweat making payroll?" McIngvale said."The lawsuit stands on its own merits," McIngvale said."We're just asking for the records of the election officials. And the election officials, I would remind them, they work for the citizens of Harris County. We don't work for them.
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