Bennett in primary for tax job, voter registrar
In the summer of 2018, Harris County voters could have used a bulldog. That’s when the Harris County tax assessor-collector and voter registrar, Ann Harris Bennett, mistakenly placed more than 1,700 voters on a suspension list after a local Republican party operative challenged the registrations of 4,000 voters.
Bennett was criticized for confusing voters and not following the law, which allowed voters time to respond before they were placed on any suspension list. Bennett quickly corrected the problem, and she told the Editorial Board during a candidate screening that the two employees who generated the erroneous notices are no longer with her office.
Her Democratic challenger, Jolanda Jones, says that’s not good enough. Being a criminal defense lawyer, Jones says she has the knowledge to make sure the office follows the law. Being a bulldog, the former Houston city councilwoman and “Survivor” contestant says she’d fight for voters, and for taxpayers, to protect their rights and their hard-earned dollars.
We have to admit, Jones made such an appealing case that we were almost willing to overlook her tumultuous political career, including her contributions to a fractious Houston ISD board known for petty squabbles and so much dysfunction that it’s being taken over by the state. Jones points out, correctly, that a Texas Education Agency investigation into wrongdoing on the board did not take issue with her.
“I’m going to use the same vigor, even when it’s not popular, like I did on the school board to fight for taxpayers,” Jones told us. “I’m going to be a taxpayer warrior.”
We love her spirit. We’re just not sure that the tax office, which oversees billions of dollars in property tax collections and processes millions of vehicle registrations and title transfers every year, needs a fighter as much as a diligent public servant. While Jones’ warrior skills may serve her well in the courtroom, the tax job’s managerial responsibilities require a leader who plays well with others and ensures the office performs the mundane duties required to fund county government.
Bennett, an experienced administrator who previously served 14 years as a district court coordinator, appears to be making some progress, although more is needed. Through Harris County experienced a slight drop in voter registrations last year, registrations have outpaced population growth. Since 2014, Harris County population has grown 4 percent while voter registration has jumped 14 percent.
And we do encourage Bennett, a public official who touts herself as transparent, to walk the walk. That includes answering calls from journalists every now and then and promptly providing public information when requested.
So while we recommend Bennett keep her post in the Democratic primary, we also hope some of her opponent’s warrior passion for helping voters and taxpayers rubbed off during the campaign.