Story updated 4/17/23 at 5:55 p.m.
Tarrant County Elections Administrator Heider Garcia is leaving his job after a meeting with County Judge Tim O鈥橦are revealed their difference in values, Garcia wrote in his resignation letter.
Garcia鈥檚 last day on the job will be June 23, according to the , dated April 16. He addressed the letter to County Administrator G.K. Maenius and O'Hare.
鈥淛udge O鈥橦are, my formula to 鈥榓dminister a quality transparent election鈥� stands on respect and zero politics; compromising on these values is not an option for me,鈥� Garcia wrote in the letter. 鈥淵ou made it clear in our last meeting that your formula is different, thus, my decision to leave. I wish you the best; Tarrant County deserves that you find success.鈥�
Garcia has been elections administrator since 2018, and O鈥橦are started as county judge in January. Early in his tenure, O鈥橦are announced the creation of an Election Integrity Task Force, which is designed to prosecute election crimes, even though those crimes are rare and Garcia鈥檚 office has gotten for its quality and transparency.
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill E. Waybourn, District Attorney Phil Sorrells and O鈥橦are said they did not consult Garcia about the task force.
This month, O'Hare told a crowd at a True Texas Project meeting that he planned to after the upcoming May 6 election, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
After the 2020 elections, Garcia due to far-right conspiracy theories about him.
Since then, his fight against election misinformation has gained national attention. He has been notably transparent with voter fraud activists, tracking new conspiracy theories online to anticipate questions, giving tours to skeptics and offering in-person meetings, . His patience with these questions was also featured on
His job performance and O鈥橦are鈥檚 predecessor, former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley.
四虎影院 emailed Garcia and O鈥橦are鈥檚 office for comment.
O'Hare's office responded with a statement: "As County Judge and Chair of the Tarrant County Election Commission, I want nothing more than quality, transparent elections in Tarrant County. Supporting the creation of an Election Integrity Task Force was all about quality, transparent elections. Mr. Garcia voluntarily resigned his position, and I wish him well in his future endeavors. I will be calling a meeting of the County Election Commission in the coming days to discuss the hiring of a new Elections Administrator."
Got a tip? Email Miranda Suarez at msuarez@kera.org. You can follow Miranda on Twitter @MirandaRSuarez.
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