DALLAS COUNTY, Texas — A familiar face is joining the Dallas County Elections Commission as its new administrator.
Heider Garcia, a longtime election official who recently resigned as elections commissioner in Tarrant County has been appointed in Dallas.
The Dallas County Elections Commission began the search for a new leader after elections administrator Michael Scarpello announced his retirement.
The commission met on Oct. 18 and after interviewing and vetting two candidates, including Garcia, they decided to vote for him.
“I am honored by the decision of the Dallas County Elections Commission to offer me the position of Elections Administrator. I will be very humble in my new role and work really hard to follow in Michael’s footsteps,” Garcia said in a news release. “Dallas County deserves the best and I intend to work with that goal in mind.”
Many are saying this is a good move for Dallas County.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who serves as the chair of the Dallas commission, said they chose Garcia because of his “proven track record of running excellent elections in several places, most recently Tarrant County. Elected officials of both parties and former Texas secretaries of state praise Heider for his thoroughness, fairness, and leadership abilities.”
Garcia announced his retirement from Tarrant County in April 2023 and cited political pressure from Republican county Judge Tim O’Hare as the reason behind leaving his post. He served in the role for five years.
“Mr. Garcia’s experience and reputation as an elections administrator in a large county will aid in his success as the Dallas County Elections Administrator,” Tax Assessor John R. Ames said. He serves as secretary of the Dallas Commission. “I’m excited about his ideas to improve voter registration and voter turnout in Dallas County.”
Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Kardal Coleman added, “Based on his experience, skills, and innovative track record, we are confident that Mr. Garcia will make a hard-working, successful Dallas County Elections Department even better.”
Former Texas Secretary of State John Scott said, "I think that's a huge, huge homerun for the citizens of Dallas County." He calls Garcia "rare".
Scott said, "Heider Garcia is one of the really talented individuals in elections, not just in Texas, but in our nation. [...] I think the citizens of Tarrant County, those that look at it objectively, see nothing but success in his rearview mirror."
As Garcia makes the headlines for his new role, it's the same day Sidney Powell is making headlines too, facing six years total of probation for six counts of conspiracy to commit election interference in Georgia.
"He's gotten a new job, and on the same day, somebody who caused him quite a lot of grief has pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors," said Jessica Huseman, the editorial director of Votebeat.
Huseman said, "When she was a big name, going on television every day, one of the people that she picked as a villain was Heider Garcia." Powell made false accusations about voter fraud in the 2020 Tarrant County elections, leaving Garcia with death threats.
"A day like this where someone who has been fighting the good fight is elevated, and someone who has been causing the country grief gets some justice served to them are few and far between," said Huseman.
Garcia is ready to move forward and will take the reigns in Dallas on Dec. 20, 2023. He hopes to increase transparency, improve voter registration and turnout, and he plans to listen to the people he will serve.