Texas’ Loudest Voter ID Mouthpiece, Harris County Tax Assessor Paul Bettencourt, To Resign

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt, one of the most outspoken advocates for Voter Identification laws in Texas and indeed the nation, announced Friday that he would resign–just over a month after winning a third term in office.

In spite of being a loud shill when it comes to issues of Voter ID, Bettencourt has been fairly mum about his own resignation, telling the Houston Chronicle in a written statement only that he intends to pursue a “private business venture.”

One of a mere handful of Republican elected officials on the ballot to survive the Democratic wave that swept Harris County less than a month ago, Bettencourt has been one of the most controversial county-level officeholders in the state as a result of his outspoken support of Voter ID laws and because of his antics related to voter suppression and voter registration this election cycle.

Although Bettencourt cites a private sector job as the reason for his desire to move out of public service, other factors, as Paul Burka noted at Texas Monthly, probably aided in pushing him out the door.

For one thing, he was already under fire in a civil lawsuit related to the illegal rejection of voter registration applications last year. Although his resignation won’t save him from testifying or going on the record in a deposition in the case (which I suspect will continue to be pursued if a Republican takes Bettencourt’s place), it might save the Harris County Republican Party some embarassment not to have him be a sitting official when he raises his right hand and swears to tell his version of the truth. Too, complaints (formal ones, no less) have been made to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Voting Rights division about the rejected voter registration applications and some other antics in Harris County this year by a number of individuals and organizations. In a U.S. Department of Justice in an Obama administration, it is safe to say that VRA prosecutions will be taken out of the mothballs they’ve seen for the last eight years and Bettencourt may have found himself in serious trouble.

There is some speculation the timing of his resignation also has to do with Kay Bailey Hutchison’s announcement that she’s going to explore a race for Texas Governor. Bettencourt is a favorite of the anti-tax wingnut branch of the Republican Party of Texas and may be moving himself out of way of potential hot water in the hopes of being able to salvage a statewide run in 2010.

The issue now is who will replace Bettencourt. Diane Trautman, who ran against Bettencourt in the general election and earned the endorsement of the Houston Chronicle is a favorite. Groups like Emily’s List are already supporting her:

“We strongly encourage Judge Emmett and the Commissioners Court to appoint Dr. Diane Trautman to fill this unexpected vacancy. She is an extremely accomplished woman who, after being a candidate for the position for over a year, understands the Tax Assessor-Collectors office and has a clear vision of how to move this office forward while removing the air of partisanship that has undermined it in the past” said Annie’s List Political Director Robert E. Jones.

But she is also a Democrat and the Harris County Commissioners Court, which would make the appointment, is split 3-2 in favor of Republicans. It is doubtful, if any of the Republicans on the Court actually value their positions and don’t want to face costly primary challenges, would vote for Trautman or any other Democrat. As much as I’d like to see this happen–and inasmuch as it is the right thing for the Court to do–wishing it won’t make it happen.

Capitol Annex has been informed by sources in Harris County that Bettencourt’s recommendation for the post is Ed Johnson, the Manager for Voter Registration for the office. We’ve written about Johnson before, and needless to say, he’d be a terrible pick. Sources say that one member of the Harris County Commissioner’s Court is, however, willing to make the nomination to elevate him to the post. That, of course, would be a disaster because Johnson is in as much hot watter as Bettencourt when it comes to the registration debacle from this year’s election.

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