Three months after the launch of a national search for the next elections chief, the Bexar County Elections Commission has hired Michele Carew.
Carew, who will start her new job on March 1, oversaw elections in Hood and Aransas counties throughout her 14-year career.
She’s held roles as an officer in the Texas Association of Elections Administrators from 2017 to 2021, and served as president from 2020 to 2021.
When Carew managed Hood County’s elections, she was accused by hard-line Trump supporters for allegedly harboring a secret liberal agenda and of violating a decades-old elections law, despite assurances from the Texas Secretary of State that she was complying with Texas election rules, the Texas Tribune reported. She resigned in November 2021, still working with election offices across the country.
The Bexar County Elections Commission, chaired by Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark, County Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti, Democratic Party County Chair Michelle LoweSolis and Republican County Party Chair Kris Coons made the announcement on Thursday, months after they were tasked to look for a new elections administrator.
Jacque Callanen submitted her resignation in June after serving 22 years and agreed to stay on through the end of the month to help with the transition.
More than 200 people applied and 46 were interviewed, according to the Robert Half Executive Search. Carew was one of five finalists who came to San Antonio for in-person interviews over the past two weeks.
“We emerged with a consensus that Ms. Carew would be the best person to lead Bexar County forward in this critically important position,” Sakai said in a public written statement.
The upcoming election includes the election of a new San Antonio mayor.
“Her extensive experience overseeing more than 120 elections, her deep knowledge of election law and her commitment to impartiality made her the ideal candidate,” he said.
San Antonio’s municipal election begins May 3. Early voting begins April 22.
