SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — The Bexar County Commissioners Court selected five finalists for interviews during a special session Tuesday.

The county said those five are Donald Falcon, Javier Flores, Mary Ruiz, Leticia Vasquez and Debra Zerda.

Those candidates will be vetted by county staff.  They may be disqualified for a variety of reasons, including not living in Precinct 2, have been convicted of a felony or cannot secure a Texas Peace Officer license.

The Commissioners Court will convene in a special session Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Double Height Courtroom in the Bexar County Courthouse to interview and select a final candidate.

Should the court select a candidate Wednesday, that person would not be permitted to take over until a temporary restraining order against the county by the current constable is decided.  A hearing on the temporary injunction will be held October 11.

The search for a replacement and the ensuing lawsuit by Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela started when she told multiple media outlets while her office was being raided by the FBI and Texas Rangers that she was “officially running for [Bexar County] sheriff.”

According to state law, that announcement meant she automatically resigned from her current position.  Barrientes Vela first argued the statement was not official because she was not in uniform.  Her lawyer now says it is technically not an official announcement because a treasurer has not been named to lead the campaign.

A judge will determine how the law interprets her public statements in the October 11 hearing.

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