Speaker Joe Straus appointed Representative Will Hartnett (R-Dallas) as the master of discovery in the matter of the contest of the election for state representative, District 48. Rep. Harnett served as the master of discovery for the Texas House of Representatives in three election contests in 2004-05.
Republican candidate Dan Neil, who lost the November election by 12 votes after a recount, to incumbent Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, filed with the Texas Secretary of State for a House-appointed special “Master of Discovery,” claiming mistakes were made by the Travis County Elections Office in the recount.
Hartnett will be charged with “supervise discovery proceedings, issue any necessary process, receive and report evidence, and perform any other assigned duties in assisting the committee to which the contest is referred and the house of representatives in disposing of the contest in accordance with Chapters 221 and 241, Election Code,” according to the order issued by Speaker Straus’ office. In the past, the discovery process has taken place in the last few weeks of January after the session begins.
“Rep. Will Hartnett is widely respected both as an attorney and a member of the legislature,” said Speaker Straus. “I thank him for taking on this responsibility which may involve a significant portion of his time, and I have full confidence that he’ll complete the task at hand.”