County Elections

Objective Each of you will be a candidate for a Harris County official position. Today you will be writing a speech for the 2016 county/class elections. Tomorrow you will each give a campaign speech in class to persuade your classmates to vote for you. Tomorrow the class will fill out a secret ballot and elect the officials.

Grading Final copy of speech due Friday. (Formative) – Create a political sign/slogan for speech. (+10 Bonus) Speech on Friday. (Completion) – Speech must be 2 minutes and on topic. Students who are elected will receive +3 points on their next test. (Next Wed 4/6)

County Election Speech: R.A.F.T. Role: County Official Audience: Voters Format: Speech Topic: County Elections Include: – Who: Explain who you are, your background – What: What county position are you running for? – Why: Why are you running for the county position you selected? – Why: Why are you qualified to hold this office? – Political Promises: List two promises you are going to make to the voters

Include in your Speech: – Who: Explain who you are, your background. – What: What county position are you running for? – Why: Why are you running for the county position you selected? – Why: Why are you qualified to hold this office? – Political Promises: List two promises you are going to make to the voters.

County Judge/Commissioner County Judge: – Spokesperson and ceremonial head of county government. – Director of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. – Personality Traits: Charismatic, Outgoing, Persuasive, Comfortable as a leader. Commissioner: – Directly responsible for administration of parks, community centers, and road and bridge programs within their precincts. – Supervision of the county courthouses and jails, county personnel, county tax rates, county budget. – Personality Traits: Responsible, Delegating, Administration, Long term planner

Administration of Justice County Attorney: – Represents the State of Texas, Harris County, and their officers and employees in all civil matters before the courts. – Personality Traits: Negotiating/Arguing, Charismatic. District Attorney: – Represents the State of Texas in criminal cases pending in those courts, and all inferior courts of the county. – Advise police and citizens on criminal matters. – Personality Traits: Negotiating/Arguing, Charismatic, Giving advice.

Administration of Justice cont. County Clerk: – Keep public records of the county affecting real property titles such as deeds, mortgages; – Maintain birth and death certificates, marriage licenses and assumed name records. – Personality Traits: Organized, Responsible, Detail oriented. District Clerk: – Summon prospective jurors for civil, criminal, and probate courts. – Provide customer service regarding child support issues to parents in Harris County. – Personality Traits: Organized, Responsible, Detail Oriented, Tough Skinned, Persuasive. Sheriff: – Principal law enforcement officer, conservator of the peace, maintain custody of persons committed to jail by various courts in the county. – Personality Traits: Responsible, Good with Authority, Charismatic, Leader, Tough Skinned.

Fiscal Services Tax Assessor-Collector: – Assess and collect property taxes for Harris County, processing motor vehicle title transfers and registrations; and registering voters. – Personality Traits: Math, Organized, Detail oriented. County Treasurer: – As the chief custodian of county funds, the treasurer receives county monies and disburses county funds, with the approval and direction of commissioners curt. – Personality Traits: Math, Trustworthy, Planning ahead.