William Tecumseh Sherman, when approached about running for the Presidency of the United States in 1884 made a famous reply: "If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve." A man running for the the office of county treasurer in Kerr County, Texas is channeling Sherman. He promises that if he is elected, he will not serve.
SAN ANTONIO – A candidate for Kerr County treasurer is making a single campaign promise: Elect me and I won't serve. Ed Hamilton, 77, is challenging incumbent Treasurer Mindy Williams for the Republican nomination during the March 4 election. No Democrats are seeking the office.
He said the job is redundant and costing the county money it doesn't need to spend. The duties should be assigned to another county office, Hamilton said."I don't plan to do the job," he said. "I won't accept a paycheck."
Hamilton said if elected, he would hand the duties to someone else and petition state officials for a referendum on a constitutional amendment that would allow any county to eliminate the treasurer position if it chooses.
The job pays $46,000 a year. Well, unless Hamilton wins, that is. What isn't clear here is who, precisely, would do the job if Hamilton happens to win.
