Howard County JPs defeated a resolution declaring vacancy for County Assessor

The office of Howard County Assessor has again been the topic of discussion for the county’s Quorum Court. Assessor Debbie Teague and husband, State Senator Larry Teague, were in attendance at Monday’s meeting to answer questions from J.P.’s. In regards to a possible resignation, Larry Teague said there are no immediate plans for his wife to resign her position, saying February of 2022 would be the earliest point she would consider resigning. The term she is presently serving ends in December 2022. J.P.’s have been looking at possible options to declare the assessor’s position as vacant since Debbie Teague has been out of the office, for the most part, since suffering a serious medical issue in the spring of 2019. At yesterday’s meeting, county attorney Aaron Brasel presented a resolution, which J.P.’s defeated on a 6 to 2 vote. The resolution sought to declare the position vacant. The vote was taken after Brasel told the court that the county should not expect to win the ruling. After some additional discussion, the court voted to seek an attorney general’s opinion on whether a vacancy can be declared in this situation.
Monday’s meeting was the last for justice Dick Wakefield, who chose to not seek re-election. Wakefield has served the Central District since 2013.