Perspectives

Did a swashbuckling swindler slip a certain Texas senator a big wad of cash on Nov. 6, 1960? Four years later, that was the $50,000 question that threatened to sink Ralph Yarborough’s reelection campaign. The swindler was, of course, the infamous Billie Sol Estes, whose specialty was suckering banks into loaning him millions on nonexistent tanks of chemical fertilizer. When his houseof- cards empire collapsed, the pudgy promoter was indicted on a long list of federal charges.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw is fending off calls for his resignation in light of his department’s handling of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde last May, in which 19 students and two teachers died. However, McCraw said “every responding officer needs to be accountable for their actions,” according to the Austin American-Statesman. The Texas Rangers, an arm of the DPS, reportedly are investigating several troopers among the 90 who were on the scene. Sgt. Juan Maldonado was fired recently for his role in the shooting response.

Elections are critical to our democracy and the political process, but they require lots of preparation and coordination. So how do officials ensure the integrity of elections? From election equipment to ballot counting and storage, Texas elections officials follow a long list of laws and procedures to ensure free and fair elections. They are also working increasingly long hours to respond to questions and concerns from members of the public. “I take that very personally, because it’s a reflection on me and my office, and I just am very serious about what I do,” said Trudy Hancock, the Brazos County elections administrator and president of the Texas Association of Elections Administrators.