Commissioner delays Tarrant redistricting vote, wants answers from law firm
In a filibuster-style speech on Tuesday afternoon, Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons demanded the redistricting advisers answer her questions in front of the commissioners courtroom.
After Republicans Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez made a motion to approve a map of new commissioners’ precincts, but before the court voted, Simmons requested that the three representatives from Public Interest Legal Foundation come in front of the dais to answer questions about the maps.
County Judge Tim O’Hare said Simmons does not have “subpoena power” to make them come into the room. He said he was told by them that they would only answer questions in executive session.
County Administrator Chandler Merritt told Simmons that the representatives were told of her request but said they would not enter the courtroom.
“They have got to answer to the taxpayers who are paying this bill, and they are going to answer to me out here in public,” Simmons said.
Her precinct would likely be flipped to Republican in any of the proposed maps.
Simmons sent Precinct 2 Administrator Gerald Hodges to find them. He said no one knew where they were.
O’Hare cut her comments short to go into executive session. He said after the fact that the commissioners did not go into executive session as they could not solely to clarify legislative procedure.
O’Hare said after the break that Simmons’s comments needed to stay within 10 minutes and stay on topic of the redistricting. After returning, O’Hare gave Simmons five additional minutes and offered time to the other commissioners for comments.
Simmons used her time to show a precinct map not presented by Public Interest Legal Foundation that would likely create three Democrat seats and one Republican seat on the court. She also spoke about the 2021 redistricting process, when the Republican-majority court elected to keep the current map.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM.