REST EASY: DISTRICT CLERK APPOINTMENT NEXT WEDNESDAY

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

It might be Wednesday next week that the eight Cameron County district judges will decide who will be appointed interim department head of the Cameron County District Clerk pending an election.

Yesterday six of the eight judges met and postponed the decision because state law requires a unanimous vote for the temporary replacement. On Tuesday, only six of the eight showed up.

107th District Judge Benjamin Euresti Jr., was reported ill and 444th District Judge David Sanchez, could not attend.

"Even if they had made it, it wont be easy to get eight lawyers to agree on one person," said a court staff member. "But it has to get done or else it will be left up to Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to make the appointment, and no one wants that."

The appointment was made necessary because current District Clerk Eric Garza has announced he is running for Cameron County Sheriff against incumbent Omar Lucio.

The judges say they want to appoint someone who will not run for the office this coming primary in March. So far, there has not been a Republican announcing for the position. Conceivably, if there is no GOP candidate, whoever wins the Democratic Party primary will be placed as department head instead of waiting until November's general election.

Until that appointment is made, Garza will continue in the position under the state's "holdover" provision. There has been speculation in social media that once Garza steps down and his chief deputy takes over, that he will hire Garza as his assistant with a salary and benefits.