AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Nearly 35 years after she was first elected to the role, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir says she won't be seeking re-election when her current term comes to an end next year.
DeBeauvoir said Friday she's making the announcement now because the filing period for the 2022 campaign cycle begins Saturday, Nov. 13.
"Because I am not planning to pursue another term as Travis County Clerk, I wanted to announce my plans before the filing period begins," DeBeauvoir said in a release. "I am hopeful that the tradition of professionalism, integrity and a strong commitment to voter access will continue to be the hallmark of this office."
First elected in 1986, DeBeauvoir has led the county clerk's office - which handles elections, property deeds, court records, marriage licenses, and probate matters - through a number of changes and modernizations, especially in how votes are counted each election.
During DeBeauvoir's tenure, the county has shifted from punch cards, to optical scanners, to fully electronic voting, to the current ExpressVote hybrid system that uses touchscreen machines with a paper trail backup.
In making her announcement, DeBeauvoir said she will continue to "participate in efforts locally, nationally, and internationally to preserve, protect, and further develop voter rights and vote security."