If you didn’t know senators Barack Obama and John McCain were running for president, you can stop reading this now.
If you did, you still may not know who was running for Harris County Precinct 1 Constable or for Brazoria County District 14 Railroad Commissioner. Many people don’t even know what a constable or a railroad commissioner does.
Yet, when a voter goes to check the box next to their favorite presidential candidate, they are also faced with a vast number of state elections they must vote on as well.
We hope you didn’t just put a check next to the name that you thought rolled off your tongue the best. These people are in charge of a whole lot more than you may think. Here is a rundown of a few of them.
According to the Railroad Commission of Texas’ Web site, the Railroad Commission has primary regulatory jurisdiction over oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry and coal and uranium surface mining operations.
Kind of a big deal, huh?
A constable is an elected officer who can interfere without warrant, to prevent and suppress crime within his or her precincts and other precincts within the county; arrest offenders without warrant in order that they may be taken without delay to a Magistrate or proper court for examination or trial; and is the only law enforcement mandated by the Texas Constitution according to the Midland County Web site.
This is not a position you want to just slip through the cracks.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, the county tax assessor has the duty of collecting property taxes, assessing taxes on each property in the county and collection of that tax as established by the Constitution and the State Property Tax Code.
Add in the numerous justice of the peace, district judge, court of appeals and Texas state Representative positions and you have a whole crew of people with a lot of authority over things that could affect you.
It may be too late this year, but it is important to keep these positions on your radar and take stock in what they are doing, or not doing, for the district, county or state.
We have the right to vote so we can decide who takes office. Not paying attention to who could be elected and to what office is abusing your power.
