2011-09-07 - Tempers flare over top spot at Dallas County Elections Department

by BRETT SHIPP
WFAA
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Updated today at 7:17 PM

DALLAS — Tempers flared at the Dallas County Election Commission Wednesday afternoon.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Republican Party Chairman Wade Emmert clashed over the attempt to offer a permanent job to the interim Dallas County Elections Administrator.

This conflict began brewing last January after long-time and well-respected County Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet was forced from office.

Sherbet said he was pressured to resign by Commissioner John Wiley Price.

For the past eight months, the Dallas County Elections Department has been run by Toni Pippins-Poole, whom Republicans have criticized as being a political ally of Commissioner Price.

On Wednesday, at a meeting of the County Election Commission, Judge Jenkins was prepared to forgo the formal interview process of four other candidates and award the permanent position to Pippins-Poole.

Things became heated when fellow Commission member and Republican County Chairman Wade Emmert objected.

In somewhat of a surprise move, three other Democrats on the Commission sided with Emmert and voted to delay the process and conduct formal interviews with all the candidates.

The Election Commission later voted to formally interview all five candidates and make a decision on a permanent replacement for Bruce Sherbet next week.
Judge Jenkins reluctantly agreed.

E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com

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• jenkins
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