(Seguin) – There’s a new person in charge of overseeing local elections. The Guadalupe County Election Committee has appointed Cristian “Cris” Pérez García as the county’s new Elections Administrator.
Pérez García was recently sworn into the role and will lead the Guadalupe County Elections Administration Office, where officials say she will be responsible for maintaining accurate, secure, and transparent voting processes across the county.
With six years of experience in election administration in both Texas and Oregon, Pérez García says her focus is rooted in expanding access while also safeguarding the integrity of elections.
“My goal is simple: remove barriers, provide access, and make sure every eligible voter in Guadalupe County can participate,” said Pérez García. “I am truly honored to serve the residents of Guadalupe County as Elections Administrator and look forward to working alongside this community. Election administration is more than a profession to me; it’s work I care deeply about. Over the past six years working in elections across Oregon and Texas, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication voters bring to the process, and that passion is what fuels the work I do every day.”
She says this commitment includes ensuring all voting methods are handled correctly — especially mail-in ballots, an area of expertise thanks to her time working in Oregon.
“I have hands-on experience now both in in-person voting and also voting by mail. So, one of the things that I’d like to focus on is ensuring that the ballots by mail get handled correctly. I think that because Texas is an in-person state, I wonder if there is enough focus being placed on the ballots by mail part of it, because it’s not the only way that Texas votes, of course, and it’s a federal process and needs to be correct and that’s my expertise in having handled ballots by mail in a large-scale operation. So, it’s one of the things I want to focus on,” said Pérez Garcia.
She says her leadership approach will include both transparency and consistency.
“Transparency is very important. So that really starts with building consistency, adhering to the law. And I know that Guadalupe County elections already has put themselves out there to the public as trustworthy. So just following the law, our responsibility is to follow established processes carefully so voters can continue to trust the results,” said Pérez Garcia.
A native of Los Angeles, Pérez García says her journey from Oregon to a small North Texas county ultimately shaped her decision to pursue the position in Guadalupe County, a move she describes as both professional and personal.
“First of all, Texas does feel like home to me, and I was really drawn to Guadalupe specifically because, I mean, I had lived previously in the area, at least close enough, so it felt familiar, it felt like home. But it’s also growing, and it’s an engaged community. Having worked in a smaller North Texas county, I’ve seen how important local elections are at the small level. It’s just the right size for me, and I’m just excited to serve a community that values participation. So, I did my research for that as well,” said Pérez-Garcia.
Her appointment follows a selection process conducted by the county’s election committee. Committee members include Kyle Kutscher, Teresa Kiel, Daryl John, Glenda Henry, and Karen Hale.
County Clerk Teresa Kiel says Pérez García stood out among applicants for her expertise and approach to voter engagement.
“She stood out the most with her knowledge of the election laws, and she had this quiet confidence and security about herself, but she knew the Election Code book backwards and forwards. She was confident, and her communication skills were great. And she has a passion for outreach, trying to get more residents involved in the voting (process),” said Kiel.
Kiel says that outreach will be especially important as the county looks to improve voter turnout.
“I just think that outreach is going to be great. She’s going to get more people involved in voting, which we need. We’re not having great turnout for voting, so that would be very helpful,” said Kiel.
Pérez García says she is grateful for the opportunity and ready to build on the work already established within the office.
“I am grateful to the Elections Commission for their confidence in me and honored to follow a leader who made a lasting impact in this office. I look forward to working with the talented staff of the Guadalupe County Elections Administration Office to serve this county,” said Perez Garcia.
She replaces former Elections Administrator Lisa Hayes.
Residents seeking more information about upcoming elections can contact the office at (830) 303-6363 or visit the county’s website, GuadalupeTX.gov/page/elections.home.