Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt’s resignation became effective Monday but she will stick around for up to eight more months to help lead the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she told the American-Statesman.
Eckhardt, the county’s top government official and a key decision maker in the area’s efforts to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, announced two weeks ago she was stepping down to run for a seat on the Texas Senate that opened unexpectedly when Austin Democrat Kirk Watson resigned. Former County Judge Sam Biscoe agreed to take over for Eckhardt until voters picked a permanent replacement in November.
But as the public health crisis intensified and positive cases for the coronavirus began popping up in the Austin area, Eckhardt decided not to leave her responsibilities with the county just now. As of last count Sunday, there were 79 known cases in Travis County.
“It’s a pandemic and on the 10th of March things looked different than they do today on the 23rd,” Eckhardt said.
Eckhardt will assist Biscoe in a holdover role — and continue to hold all of the powers of a county judge — until Biscoe takes an oath of office around the May 13 deadline for the Senate race. Biscoe then will appoint Eckhardt to an emergency management position that she will keep until the November general election. She might leave earlier if the county commissioners decide her help no longer is needed.
Travis County and Austin, in a decision announced Monday by Eckhardt and Mayor Steve Adler, will soon move to shelter in place to reduce unnecessary outdoor activity that can lead to the spreading of the disease.
The Senate election, originally slated for early May, was moved to July 14 over concerns about the outbreak.
State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, is also campaigning for the Senate vacancy.
Local attorney Adam Loewy, who is considering running, has been critical of the timing of Eckhardt’s resignation, which came four days after Austin canceled South by Southwest and two days before the county canceled Rodeo Austin.
“She never should have quit in the middle of a crisis,” Loewy said Monday. “I am very curious what her holdover role actually means and whether this impacts her ability to legally run for Texas Senate. I’ll be looking into it.”
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