Lewis v. Drake

GUITTARD, Chief Justice.

In this original mandamus proceeding we are asked to declare that Jim Jackson, the elected county commissioner of precinct number one of Dallas County, vacated that office when he announced his candidacy for another office. 1 Relator Ben Lewis, candidate for the unexpired term of the commissioner, asserts that Jackson vacated the office because article 16, section 65, of the Texas Constitution provides that an announcement by certain officers for another office “shall constitute an automatic resignation of the office they hold.” Jackson replies that at the time of his…