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While the redistricting maps are up in the air, candidates may not know where they are running. But one of Texas' Railroad Commissioners, Elizabeth Ames Jones, is vying for Bexar County's Senate District 25 currently held by Jeff Wentworth. As Texas Public Radio's Ryan Loyd reports, there is a question over her residency for that office.
January 27, 2012 · As one of three elected Texas Railroad Commissioners, Elizabeth Ames Jones lives in Austin as required by the State Constitution.
The Travis County Property Information website lists her Austin address as the one where she receives her homestead exemption for her permanent residence.
But State Senator Jeff Wentworth, the District 25 incumbent, is having trouble understanding how she can hold one office that requires her to live in Travis County, and run for his seat that requires her to permanently live in Bexar County.
“So she filed on December 8 of last year for State Senator District 25 and swore that the foregoing statements included in my application are in all things true and correct and notarized that she lived in Bexar County and had since early November. Well, you can’t do both. You can’t live in the Capitol and live in Bexar County at the same time.”
Jones could not be reached for comment, but released a statement on her web site. She says “constitutional lawyers disagree. I have a house in Travis County, but my home is in San Antonio.” Jones criticized Wentworth for being quote “deceitful,” because she says he knows she and her family has a long history in the district.
But Wentworth says none of that matters. What does, he says, is that if she wants to run against him, she would have had to step down from her elected position to list her address in Bexar County.
“Unless she’s been able to somehow duplicate herself, she can’t do both. She has to pick one or the other.”
Constitutional attorney Buck Wood agrees and says the Constitution speaks for itself. Whatever she does could be met with resistance, including a lawsuit.
“In fact, I think the Constitution has caused her to step down. Whether she’s actually done it or not I don’t think is relevant.” |
