Bastrop County GOP chairman pulls himself from ballot,
Mistake about filing date makes him ineligible for race.
Bastrop County Republican Party Chairman Albert Ellison has been removed as a candidate in his contested bid for re-election, after his opponent challenged his candidacy because he turned in his application before the official filing period began.
The change forces the local elections office to destroy and reprint the 20,000 ballots for the Republican primary less than two weeks before early voting, elections officials said.
Ellison, who as party chairman serves as the filing authority for local offices, submitted his candidate application to himself two days before the Nov. 14 filing period started for public office and party chairs. The county elections office does not receive filing applications from candidates.
Jeanne Raley, Ellison’s opponent, challenged his candidacy this week and called on Ellison to withdraw from the race. Raley could not be reached for comment Friday.
Ellison officially rejected his own candidate application Friday, after confirming with the Texas Secretary of State’s office that his application was ineligible and required the reprinting of ballots.
Ellison said he mistakenly believed the start of the filing period for party chairs was the same as precinct chairs, which began Sept. 15.
“I have to own my own error and accept the consequences that it caused,” Ellison said in an interview. “I deeply regret the disappointment it’s going to bring to my donors, supporters and party base.”
Destroying and reprinting the 20,000 Republican Party ballots will cost the county’s election office at least $12,400, which will be reimbursed by the state, said Bridgette Escobedo, county elections administrator.
The elections office will soon be mailing new vote-by-mail ballots to residents who requested and received them.