Quorum court panel rejects ordinance to require advance notice of county appointments

The Washington County County Services Committee on a voice and show-of-hands vote rejected an ordinance proposed by Justice J.P. Koger that would have required the county judge to provide advance notice and any available candidate information before the quorum court considers appointments to county boards, commissions or committees.

Justice J.P. Koger, a member of the Washington County Quorum Court, said the measure was intended to give justices time for "appropriate due diligence" and to allow elected officials "to demonstrate accountability to our constituents." Koger introduced the ordinance as item 7 on the committee agenda and moved that it be forwarded as a do-pass resolution to the full court.

Koger cited state law describing the county judge's appointment power and argued the court’s practice of immediate confirmation gives members "no advance notice of the appointment and no information regarding the nominees,…