Jack County schedules Nov. 4 special election; judge authorized to sign election documents

The Jack County Commissioners Court on Sept. 8 approved a Notice of Special Election and an Order of Special Election calling a special election for Nov. 4, 2025, and appointed presiding and alternate judges for the two‑year term that begins Sept. 1.

Commissioner Henry Birdwell moved to approve the appointments of presiding and alternate judges for the Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2027 term; Commissioner Terry Ward seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The court recorded no discussion beyond the motion and vote.

The court also considered a proposed Joint Election Agreement and Contract for election services that was presented as involving Jack County, Bowie ISD and Perrin‑Whitt CISD. Commissioner Birdwell moved to authorize the County Judge to sign the agreement; Commissioner Gary Oliver seconded. County Judge Brian Keith Umphress amended the motion to authorize signing an agreement only between Jack County and Perrin‑Whitt CISD (removing Bowie ISD from the contract language). Commissioner Ward seconded the amended motion, which passed unanimously.

Separately, the court approved execution of the Notice and Order of Special Election for the Nov. 4 ballot; the motions to authorize signatures and to execute the documents were approved without recorded opposition.

Lynn Casteel, the county’s elections administrator, was listed among staff present for the meeting and will be the county contact for administering the election under the approved contracts and appointments.

Next steps: the County Judge is authorized to sign the county’s Notice and Order of Special Election and the amended joint election agreement with Perrin‑Whitt CISD. The court did not record additional procedural directives or a timeline for publishing election notices in the transcript.