ALT Commissioner Alisa Simmons with Commissioner Gary Fickes.

ALT Commissioner Alisa Simmons with Commissioner Gary Fickes.

ALT On April 2, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court will consider a dangerous power grab by County Judge Tim O’Hare and extremist leaders aimed at undermining minority voting strength. Disguised as a legal services agreement, this move is the first step toward redrawing precinct boundaries mid-decade—without justification and with clear intent to discriminate against Black, Hispanic, and other minority voters. This racial gerrymandering could eliminate one or both minority-represented precincts, violating the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. Rather than earn minority support, O’Hare and his allies seek to suppress it—using taxpayer dollars to fund a group with a history of racial discrimination. This illegal scheme will lead to costly litigation, forcing Tarrant County to defend blatant voter suppression.

ALT Tim O’Hare has made his intentions clear. He telegraphed them just before his election when he publicly stated, “The reality is, if you are a Republican and you haven’t been called a racist, you probably haven’t done a thing.” The question now is whether his two colleagues, Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez, will stand with him or with the voters of Tarrant County. Will they defend fair elections, or will they join O’Hare in a blatant act of intentional racial discrimination? On Wednesday, we’ll get our answer. The people of Tarrant County are watching, and the federal courts will be waiting.

ALT Slide that says, "Your Vote Counts!"

ALT Commissioner Simmons greeting an attendee of the Town Hall.

ALT Commissioner Alisa Simmons speaking from the podium.

ALT Tarrant County Elections Administrator Clinton Ludwig speaking at the podium.

ALT Audience in attendance near the start of the Commissioners Court.

ALT Photo showing the vote to approve the early voting sites. Commissioner Simmons and Brooks are raising their hand to vote “YES” on zoom.

ALT Advocates cheering in celebration shortly after the vote to approve the early voting locations passed.

ALT Young people speaking to the media shortly after the vote.

ALT The Tarrant County Commissioners Court will soon vote on early election polling sites, and there is a pressing concern that some early voting sites - UTA being one of them - will be eliminated. Keeping early voting sites accessible to our community is vital, and we strongly encourage you to advocate for this important issue by speaking up at the upcoming Commissioners Court meeting or submitting a written comment online. Your participation is crucial to ensure that the UTA polling site, along with other voting locations, remains available to the voters! When? Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 10 AM Where? Tarrant County Administration Building, 100 East Weatherford Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76196, Fifth Floor, Suite 502A Share your perspective and ask the court to reinstate all early polling locations - especially UTA. Share your perspective and ask the court to reinstate ALL early polling locations including UTA.

ALT The Tarrant County Medical Examiner has ruled Anthony Johnson Jr.'s death in the county jail as a homicide, caused by mechanical and chemical asphyxia. My condolences go out to Mr. Johnson’s family during this difficult time. The autopsy result, though saddening, aligns with what was seen in the partial video released. I urge accountability for all involved, including detention officers, supervisors, and medical personnel. Sheriff Bill Waybourn bears ultimate responsibility for this tragedy, and I call for the release of all remaining video footage to the commissioners' court and the public. The key question remains whether this could have been prevented. I will meet with the U.S. Department of Justice next week to discuss potential reviews and improvements for the Tarrant County Jail.