Candidate’s kinfolk not on election judge roster

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GONZALES — After other news media reported yesterday that a voting violation was going to occur because an alternate election judge and a district clerk candidate were related, Eddie Escobar, the Gonzales County Democratic Party Chairman refuted the information, saying there were no plans to use the individual related to the candidate.

County Clerk Lee Riedel said Thursday she received a complaint regarding the naming of Rachel Trevino as the alternate presiding judge in Pct. 12, the box located at JB Wells Arena, on Election Day. Trevino is the mother of Democrat District Clerk candidate Bonnie San Miguel, and state law prohibits an immediate relative of a candidate from serving as an election judge or alternate.

Yesterday’s story said the reporter had attempted to contact Escobar on Tuesday, but couldn’t do so because he was in court. Escobar added that there had been no attempts made to contact him on Wednesday, however, and that Trevino was not going to be used as a judge regardless.

“It has always been understood that being that Rachel Trevino’s daughter is currently seeking election as the new Gonzales County District Clerk, Ms. Trevino’s involvement as an alternate election judge this November was not going to occur and someone else would be selected by me and appointed as temporary election judge this November,” Escobar said. “This issue has long been realized and the Democratic Party of Gonzales County would in no way, shape or form promote even the slightest appearance of impropriety on any election day.  If there [have] been complaints regarding this issue, they are unfounded.  I was not once contacted regarding clarity on this issue from anyone and I feel there was a lot of assumption going on along with political tactics to smear the good name of the best-qualified candidate for the District Clerk position.  We as a party know what the rules are and we have always and will continue to follow them.”

For her part, Riedel says Gonzales County has had a hard time getting help on election day the last several years, and mentioned that during the 2012 elections, the local Democratic party failed to provide precinct judges, leading to the appointments of Republican volunteers in their absence.

“I’ve been doing this for 16 years, and every year it gets worse,” she said.

Escobar has worked to fill the vacancies since he took over local party leadership this summer. Election workers for either party receive training and are paid for their time.

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