In 2006, there was a constable in McLennan County who was serving out the term of office for which he was elected. It was discovered in true public servant fashion, he had additionally been successfully elected to the local city council. This constable had an early Attorney General opinion indicating no conflict existed between the two positions because no compensation was provided for the position of alderman.
The issue was raised of both positions were “positions of trust.”
The question was brought to the McLennan County District Attorney who opined both offices were positions of trust and as such the resigned to run provision applied. The District Attorney wrote that the court was under no obligation to remove the constable and could simply allow him to complete the term of office to which the voters had elected him.
Jim Lewis voted with Wendell Crunk and Ray Meadows to ignore the will of the voters and remove the constable.
The constable campaigned for the opponent of the County Judge.
In 2007, even though the voters went to the polls and elected a new Justice of the Peace, even though the Commissioners’ Court canvassed the election results and declared a winner in the race, Jim Lewis refused to issue a certificate of election. Disenfranchising the voters a second time.
In 2009, the Justice of the Peace in the new combined precinct retired. Even though the previously elected Justice resided in the the precinct, Jim Lewis voted to appoint a person who had not been vetted and for the third time ignored the will of the voters.
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