On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the Hays Free Press reported that Hays County Democratic Party chairman John Hatch had filed a complaint against Republican judicial candidate Wood Updegrove with the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

The complaint centers around allegations that Updegrove, who is running for the Hays County Court at Law #3 judgeship in the upcoming November general election, has intentionally misled voters about his identity. Updegrove shares the same first and last name as his father, Robert Earl Updegrove, who previously served 12 years as a judge for Hays County Court at Law.

Hatch claims Updegrove is using this similarity to confuse voters into believing it is actually his father who is running for the position rather than Wood Updegrove himself. Updegrove is said to have used his father’s name and information on campaign finance reports, leading the Hays County Elections Office to combine their filings. Additionally, Updegrove has allegedly reused his father’s old campaign signs but replaced the court number.

The complaint further alleges Updegrove has not been using his middle name, which is Robert Elwood, making it appear to voters as though he is Robert E. Updegrove. Hatch also states the Hays County Republican Party website misrepresents who the current candidate is. There is also said to be limited information about Updegrove online and few public campaign appearances.

Moreover, the complaint argues Updegrove is not eligible to run for the Hays County Court at Law #3 judgeship as he has resided in Guadalupe County, not Hays County, for over two years prior to the election, violating a state requirement that candidates live in the county for at least two years preceding the election.

In closing comments to the Hays Free Press, Hatch emphasized the importance of transparency and clarity regarding a judicial candidate’s identity, though he acknowledged it is not inherently an issue for Updegrove to share a name with his father. However, Hatch contends Updegrove’s alleged actions to purposely confuse voters into believing his father and not himself is the candidate amounts to behavior that is neither transparent nor trustworthy. The complaint now awaits review by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

 

 

Source: Hays Free Press