A slideshow with information about Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia's support for law enforcement funding has been removed from early voting locations in East Harris County following a complaint that it promoted Garcia's candidacy.
Garcia is running for reelection against former Commissioner Jack Morman.
The complaint first was reported Wednesday in a tweet by The Texan reporter Holly Hansen.
"To be clear, the county does not believe the video constitutes electioneering. We requested that the video be taken down simply to avoid any appearance of impropriety in response to your request," First Assistant County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne said in an email to the Harris County GOP.
The Texas Election Code defines electioneering as "the posting, use, or distribution of political signs or literature," which is prohibited within 100 feet of the entrance to a building in which a polling place is located.
The slideshow was spotted at one of eight Precinct 2 facilities serving as early voting locations. It has been removed from the locations and the screens now display only the time of day, according to Garcia's office.
The facilities began displaying the slideshow in early August to clear up misinformation about defunding law enforcement, Garcia's office said.
According to the photograph tweeted by Hansen, the slideshow contained information about Garcia's support for constables offices, saying he voted in favor of $21.7 million in new funding for constable precincts between 2019 and 2022, and that amounted to an average increase of $2.7 million for each precinct per year.
Jen Rice
Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government.
A native Houstonian, Jen graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and earned a master's degree from University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now.
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