SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County Elections Commission held interviews and an executive session on Jan. 28 to consider candidates for the county’s elections administrator position but did not select or appoint anyone at the meeting, County Judge Peter Sakai said.

Sakai told the commission and the public that the session’s purpose was “initial interviews with candidates for the positions of elections administrator,” and he emphasized the commission would not make a selection that day. The commission conducted two interviews in closed session and indicated additional candidates may be considered at later meetings.

The commission entered the record a corrected letter noting that Election Administrator Jackie Callanan’s retirement date had been January 24, 2025, and memorializing Callanan’s commitment to remain in the role through the end of February 2025 to help with the transition. Sakai said the commission is aiming to complete interviews and return to a public meeting in early February, tentatively Feb. 10 or Feb. 12, so an administrator can be in place ahead of the May elections.

Members approved the Nov. 21, 2024, minutes by voice vote before public comment and later adjourned by voice vote; those routine actions were the only formal votes recorded in open session that day.

During public comment, speakers urged commissioners to prioritize several operational issues when choosing the next administrator. Susan Corbell said, “This is the most important meeting of the day. It's worth me taking off work,” and urged commissioners to ask candidates how they would select polling sites, determine security needs and manage a complex budget across multiple funding sources. Corbell also called for more aggressive recruiting of polling workers and upgrades to central office equipment and scanners.

Other public speakers asked the commission to consider local candidates familiar with Bexar County, to study best practices from other counties, and to expand voter access (one speaker noted that some other Texas counties have added the county jail as a voting location). Commissioners said they valued public input and thanked staff for maintaining continuity during the transition.

Sakai said the commission allowed certain staff and advisers to remain for the executive session, including Stephanie Cassiano from Bexar County Human Resources and Larry Roberson, chief of the civil section of the district attorney’s office, to provide procedural and legal guidance. The commission described the closed session as personnel matters permitted under state law.

No appointment, compensation decision or start date for a new elections administrator was made on Jan. 28. The commission said it will reconvene for further interviews and continue the selection process with the goal of having an administrator in place before the May elections.

Votes at a glance: approval of Nov. 21, 2024 minutes — approved by voice vote; motion to enter executive session — approved by voice; motion to adjourn — approved by voice.