Harris County Election Commission continues search for new administrator

Following the resignation of current Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria, the Harris County Election Commission tasked an executive search firm, Recruiting Source International, with a national search to fill the elections administrator position by June 30.

According to Angelica Luna Kaufman, deputy director of communications for County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Recruiting Source International is in the process of interviewing candidates.

“[RSI] think[s] it’s very optimistic that they will be able to move forward with somebody within the next few weeks,” Kaufman said. "We do have some very good, qualified candidates."

During the April 19 meeting of the commission, the members voted to accept Longoria’s resignation, effective July 1. Cindy Siegel, Harris County Republican Party chair, moved to amend the timeline to specify that the Commissioners Court appoint either a permanent or temporary elections administrator by the June 30 deadline. The amendment passed unanimously.

Five members sit on the commission, which is separate from the Commissioners Court: the county judge, county clerk, county tax assessor-collector and county chairs for the Republican and Democratic parties.

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett said during the meeting that of the 153 applicants from the previous job posting in 2020, the commission had only seriously considered five candidates. RSI is reconsidering the resumes from the previous applicants for the 2022 search process along with new applicants.