Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe sworn into office, replacing Sara Eckhardt in interim capacity

Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe took his oath of office May 12 following a meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court, officially replacing Sara Eckhardt on an interim basis.

“I am honored by the responsibility to represent the people of Travis County,” Biscoe said in a county press release. “I look forward to my return to public service and want Travis County residents to know I do not take this responsibility lightly in these challenging times.”

Eckhardt submitted her resignation to the court March 10 with plans to run for the for state Sen. Kirk Watson's vacated seat on the Texas Senate. Biscoe, who served as Travis County judge from 1998-2014, was tapped as Eckhardt's interim replacement shortly after her resignation, but his swearing-in was postponed due to developments with the coronavirus and the related postponement of the special election for Watson's seat. May 12 was the new filing deadline for the election, rescheduled for July 14.

Eckhardt, who has served in Travis County government for 20 years, presided over her last meeting just prior to Biscoe's swearing-in.

“Travis County government has been my home for twenty years and I will cherish every moment I spent here,” Eckhardt said in the release.

Eckhardt is expected to be appointed as an emergency management adviser to Biscoe in the coming days, offering continued support on coronavirus-related matters. While County Executive Charles Brotherton had previously expressed his preference to hire Eckhardt as a deputy emergency management coordinator, Commissioner Brigid Shea emphasized that Eckhardt's new role would be on a volunteer basis in a discussion May 12.