Tarrant County names new elections administrator

Tarrant County has a new elections administrator.

Stephen Vickers — a longtime county worker who has served as acting administrator since Frank Phillips left in December — has formally been named the top elections official in Tarrant County.

“I’m excited and ready to start this new journey,” said Vickers, a 41-year-old Arlington resident. “I look forward to trying to improve Tarrant County any way I can.”

A five-member election committee has been interviewing applicants for the post over the past several months.

Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Ron Wright, who serves on the committee, said Vickers is the right man for the job.

“Stephen proved himself by running two elections as an interim [election administrator]. He has the support of the Elections Commission and the support of the elections staff,” Wright said. “I expect good things from Stephen in the years ahead.”

Vickers will have challenges, as allegations of voter fraud remain under investigation in Tarrant County.

Complaints focused on mail-in ballots, which allow people to vote from their homes without any ID or verification of identity. At issue is how often people assist others — or physically help by witnessing — with filling out applications for mail-in ballots or the ballots themselves.

Local officials say workers with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office gathered paperwork and interviewed potential witnesses in Tarrant County. The attorney general’s office has declined to “confirm or deny investigations” or comment on the situation.

When asked for access to the complaints that started the local investigation, attorney general’s office workers declined to release them, expressing concern that doing so might hamper a criminal investigation.

Vickers, who has worked for the Tarrant County Elections office since 1994, will be the third local elections administrator in 11 years.

“I have a wonderful staff,” he said. “I think together we can step up our game and make Tarrant County shine even brighter than we have before.

“I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”

This story was originally published May 24, 2017 at 12:36 PM with the headline "Tarrant County names new elections administrator."