Running For Office To Abolish It

Every election cycle we hear about candidates who are running for the office of County Treasurer in order to abolish it. The latest case is over in Kerr County:

A primary race is shaping up in Kerr County, where one of the contenders does not want the job. In fact, he wants the elected position abolished.

“I’d like to have their vote,” Ed Hamilton said.

Hamilton, 77, is an Air Force veteran and an accomplished real estate broker, and he’s running for Kerr County treasurer, on the unique platform of getting rid of the position.

“I just like more efficient government,” Hamilton said.

To do that, Hamilton believes an efficient county government does not need a treasurer. So that’s his platform. Hamilton wants to let the county auditor and accounting software do the work and save the taxpayers some money, by having the money handled by those who don’t have to mess with politics and running the county like a business.

While a handful of Texas counties have abolished the position of county treasurer, it’s not a good idea in all counties. I’m not familiar with county government in Kerr county enough to know whether this is a good idea there or not, but I suspect not.

In addition, although I can’t track down the statute at the moment, I wonder if Hamilton realizes that, if he advocates for abolishment of the office, he cannot draw a salary of he wins the seat under Texas law. That means he’ll serve two to three years waiting for the legislature to pass legislation and a constitutional amendment to pass to allow for the post to actually be abolished.

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