Tatum: 'I look forward to serving voters in Harris County'

Clifford Tatum was sworn in Wednesday as Harris County's second elections administrator, according to a report from Houston NBC affiliate KPRC.

Tatum succeeds Isabel Longoria, the inaugural officeholder who came under fire for the county’s handling of ballots in last March’s Texas party primaries. KPRC reported that Tatum comes into the position with nearly 20 years of election experience.

The report said that Tatum called his new job an honor, adding that he’s confident his office is prepared for the November midterms.

“I am reviewing and assessing the current election processes and procedures and I am pleased to say that we are on track for a successful November election,” he said, the station reported. “I look forward to serving voters in Harris County and working alongside a very dedicated and professional team to ensure the Nov. 8 election runs smoothly.”

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the county’s elections commission voted 4-1 to name Tatum as Longoria’s successor.

According to KHOU, the lone dissenter was Harris County Republican Party chair Cindy Siegel, who took issue with Tatum’s handling of previous elections.

“I’m just wanting to avoid what we had before, which was the fiasco we had back in March," Siegel told the station.

Longoria, who was appointed to the position by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo before the 2020 presidential election, announced her resignation in the spring and officially vacated the office on July 1.

KPRC reported that the Harris County Commissioners Court went over the elections administrator’s office’s list of early voting and Election Day polling locations.

Election equipment and ballots will undergo a logic and accuracy test next month, in addition to NRG Arena being prepped to serve as the epicenter for the office’s operations during the voting cycle.