Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole announced his resignation on Sept. 19, amidst a scandal involving alleged bribery and tax fraud. His resignation is effective Oct. 1.

Now Harris County Judge Ed Emmett must pick a successor to Eversole, a process which his spokesman said is going through a quick, but effective vetting process.

“(There are no specific qualifications) that (Emmett) is looking for other than the person is properly qualified and of the highest integrity,” said Emmett’s communication director Joe Stinebaker. “He would like to have the appointment made by Oct. 1 when (Eversole’s) resignation comes into effect.”

Stinebaker said there are about 60-70 people on the list, which he hopes to have shortened down sometime this week. Precinct 4 is the largest in Harris County with over a million residents and a budget of almost $120 million.

Republican Party insiders speculated to the Tribune that names on that list include State Representative Patricia Harless, Toni Lawrence, a former Houston City Council member, Judge Jack Cagle, State Representative Dwayne Bohac and former University of Houston regent Lynden Rose.

Stinebaker refused to say who was on the list at the moment, but did say that there were many qualified applicants being vetted by two members of Emmett’s staff.

Emmett was conciliatory in a statement released on Sept. 19, after receiving Eversole’s resignation.

“Hopefully he can reflect upon the positive accomplishments of his more than 20 years in office,” Emmett wrote. “The residents of Harris County will benefit for years to come from his roads, parks, libraries and many other improvements in Precinct 4. I know the past three years of federal investigations and media scrutiny have been an ordeal for Commissioner Eversole and his family and I wish them the very best for the future.”

Emmett has also postponed the planned mid-year review and commissioners court meeting on Sept. 27, in hopes of finding a replacement before the rescheduled date of Oct. 1.

Eversole chose to reflect back on the positives, writing in his resignation letter that he was proud of his record.

“I am very proud of all we’ve accomplished for the county and its residents in those many years,” Eversole wrote. “I have met many remarkable people in my time at Commissioners Court. The opportunity to work with, and work for, the citizens of Harris County is something I will always treasure.”

Eversole, who refused to comment, was indicted by federal prosecutors who contend that the commissioner took close to $100,000 in money and gifts from Michael Surface in exchange for sending county contracts to companies that Surface is tied to. Eversole claims that they were loans and gifts from a personal friend and maintained that he did nothing wrong.

A mistrial was declared in an earlier trial following a hung jury and his retrial was scheduled to begin, along with Surface, in October.

Prosecutors have filed documents in federal court that suggest Eversole may plead guilty to one lesser charge in exchange for his resignation.

Eversole has seen legal troubles before, as he was indicted on charges that he committed perjury and unlawful record keeping in 1993. Those charges stemmed from finances related to his campaign committee. An appellate court eventually dismissed the charges.

In 2009 the Texas Ethics Commission handed down a record $75,000 fine to Eversole for campaign finance violations.

Eversole began his career as commissioner in 1991.

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