Barry Wernick, the Republican nominee challenging Dallas County Commissioner Andy Sommerman (D-District 2), has proposed moving two Dallas County vote centers from a mosque and a church to Richardson ISD facilities.
Wernick’s August 28 proposal calls for moving the Islamic Association of North Texas vote center at 840 Abrams Road to the Arzell Ball Center. It also calls for moving the Ministerios Charisma site at 740 Melrose Drive to the former Greenwood Hills Elementary campus.
The proposal follows Sommerman’s remarks connecting mosque vote centers to Democratic electoral gains, as The Dallas Express reported Monday. Sommerman took credit for opening three mosque vote centers and said voters at the sites helped Democrats and Judge Tina Clinton.
Wernick accused Sommerman of allowing partisan considerations to influence the selection of IANT as a vote center.
“Sommerman selected this building, took public credit for the choice, and then told his supporters what it delivered for his party,” Wernick said. “Voters are entitled to know what the county picked, and to have that decision made against a published standard instead of by a politician whose own name is on the ballot.”
Two proposed relocations
Richardson ISD’s facility directory lists the Arzell Ball Center at 410 S. Greenville Ave. The district said in a 2024 consolidation plan that it would repurpose Greenwood Hills after consolidating the school’s attendance area into neighboring campuses for the 2024-2025 school year.
Wernick’s release describes the two RISD properties as available alternatives. The release and the RISD materials reviewed by The Dallas Express do not establish that the district has agreed to make either property available as a vote center for the November 3 election.
“I am asking for the same thing at a church that I am asking for at a mosque,” Wernick said. “If this principle is right, it is right everywhere, and it does not bend for anyone’s congregation or anyone’s votes.”
Wernick based his proposal on Section 43.031 of the Texas Election Code. The law directs election authorities to designate a public building as a polling place when practicable and permits a private building when a suitable public building is unavailable. It does not categorically prohibit religious facilities from serving as polling places.
“The law already says public buildings come first,” Wernick said. “I am not asking Dallas County to invent a new rule. I am asking it to follow the one that is already on the books.”
Records and policy changes
Wernick called on Dallas County to release its methodology for choosing vote centers, records showing every site added, removed or relocated since August 15, 2023, and the costs associated with private facilities. He also asked the county to identify who requested each change and to release related committee minutes.
“Voters do not want polling locations chosen as political weapons,” Wernick said. “They want locations that are convenient, accessible, and impartial.”
Wernick also proposed changing state law to require counties to issue a written finding that no suitable public building was available before designating a private facility. His proposal calls for a 30-day public comment period, an open meeting and a written county response before officials adopt or change polling-location methodology.
Other critics respond
Retired Air Force Col. Mike Immler, a Republican candidate for Dallas County judge, characterized Sommerman’s alleged conduct as damaging to public confidence in elections.
“The manipulation of elections and voting locations by a sitting elected official is inexcusable. This is an example of why there is less trust in voting integrity. Exposing this kind of behavior is the only way to ensure it’s not allowed to continue,” Immler told The Dallas Express.
Dallas County resident Darrell Barry similarly raised ethical concerns after viewing the Sommerman video.
“I saw the video of Sommerman campaigning and fundraising admitting that he set up the polling locations to ensure his own victory. It’s one thing for a commissioner to set up polling locations for people to vote. That’s his job. But it’s an entirely different thing to set up polling locations for people to vote for him! That brings up some major ethical concerns. How is that not an ethics violation of his oath of office?” Barry told The Dallas Express.
The statements from Wernick, Immler and Barry reflect their interpretations of Sommerman’s remarks. The video connected the mosque sites to Democratic gains, but it did not establish that Sommerman opened the sites to secure his own election or that Dallas County selected the locations for partisan purposes.
Dallas County Commissioners Court meeting minutes from August 18 list two versions of an item approving early-voting and Election Day locations for the November 3 general election. The court pulled one version for two weeks and pulled the other indefinitely. The minutes do not explain the duplication or the reasons for the actions.
The Dallas Express contacted Sommerman for comment about Wernick’s allegations and proposal but did not receive a response before publication.
Provided by Dallas Express
