BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – A key position within Bexar County’s Elections Department is coming open just months before the 2024 general election.
Jacquelyn Callanen, the county’s Elections Administrator, submitted her resignation Friday, which the Bexar County Elections Department has accepted.
“You always seem to go back and forth after an election wraps up. Are you ready to walk away?” KSAT asked Callanen.
“Yes, yes. I’m very very proud of the record,” Callanen said.
The county said Callanen will continue to serve as Bexar County Election Administrator through the November election.
During a public comment portion of Friday afternoon’s Bexar County Election Commission meeting, 10 people came up to the microphone and criticized Callanen due, in part, to a perceived lack of transparency in her role.
“Enough is enough, and it’s time for the administrator to step aside and let a new leader reform Bexar County elections,” said one woman during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Following public comment, the commission went into a 45-minute executive session period. When the commission returned, its members announced that Callanen had resigned.
Callanen has served the county in this role for 19 years.
“I’m very, very proud of what we’ve had,” Callanen said during a Friday news conference. “This year is going to be contentious, as we’ve seen just from the national media. ... It would be a blessing to be able to complete this, and give the citizens of Bexar County a clean election like we’ve always done.”
“Jacque has served Bexar County tirelessly for the past two decades,” Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said in a statement. “She has been a beacon of integrity amid an extremely challenging political environment.”
County officials said a national search will be conducted to find Callanen’s replacement before she is expected to step aside on Jan. 1, 2025.
“Somebody that will maintain election integrity, somebody that has depth and knowledge of elections laws,” Sakai said. “Need to find a person with the extraordinary ability to communicate.”
When asked what role Callanen might have in future elections, she had a short response.
“A voter,” Callanen said, which drew laughter in the room.
