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Hide inspector laments abolishment of officeDALLAS (AP)--Jeff McMeans didn't do much in his unpaid role as Fort Bend County's hide and animal inspector, but he was still sad to see Texas voters remove the position from the state constitution. Much has changed since the office was established in 1871 to help prevent cattle theft. The inspectors were charged with checking hides and animals shipped out of the county for sale, according to The Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online. On Nov. 6, about 77 percent of voters approved abolishing the office. The measure was considered a housekeeping item, because the Texas Legislature stripped the position of its powers in 2003. "It was an antiquated office, but it's part of our history that could be enjoyed," said McMeans, who was first elected in 1990. "It was an appreciation of an era gone by. It's a changing of the guard." Also opposed to the office's elimination was a government class at Austin Community College. The class championed a vote against the proposition, holding a rally at the Capitol and forming a website, www.votenoprop10.org. Cathy Setzer, an adjunct government instructor, said the class wanted to draw attention to propositions and they're importance. "These special elections don't draw enough attention," she said. "When (fewer than 10 percent) of Texans are making decisions for the entire state, that's not a democratic process." McMeans, a Richmond attorney, said he had zero duties as inspector, but he thought the office might build his profile should he choose to run for another office. Few counties continued to have hide inspectors in the 1990s. Only a third of Texas counties had an inspector as of 1945, the state handbook said. McMeans said the best part of his office was inclusion in the county fair parade each year. "It was the perfect political office," he said. "No pay, no office, no responsibility, no nothing." Date: 11/21/07
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