Tarrant County Election Scandal: Convicted Felon’s Roles Raise Alarm

Tarrant County, Texas, is grappling with a scandal uncovered by Lonestar Election Watch, revealing David Lambertsen, a former mail-in ballot supervisor, as a convicted felon who continues to hold significant influence in local politics. Lambertsen, convicted in 2003 of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, resigned from his ballot board role before the May 2025 election after learning his past would be exposed. Astonishingly, he remains a Tarrant County GOP Area Leader, Precinct Chair, certified Texas Poll Watcher, and head of the political organization Freedom for All, even hosting County Judge Tim O’Hare at a recent event. This revelation has ignited outrage and urgent calls for reform to restore trust in the county’s election system.

A Troubling Past

In United States v. Donald Sims and David Lambertsen (329 F.3d 937, 7th Cir. 2003), Lambertsen, then president of Dealer Direct, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud for defrauding elderly clients by misrepresenting the safety of investments in a failing company. His 60-month prison sentence was enhanced for targeting vulnerable seniors, committing perjury during the trial, and abusing a position of trust, with $1,521,801.30 in restitution ordered. This history of exploiting elders through mail-based fraud is particularly alarming given Lambertsen’s role overseeing Tarrant County’s mail-in ballots for six years until November 2024, managing processes for over 63,000 ballots in the May 2025 election.

Ongoing Influence

Despite his conviction, Lambertsen has maintained prominent roles under Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French. As a GOP Area Leader and Precinct Chair, he mobilizes voters and recruits poll workers. As a certified Texas Poll Watcher, he actively monitored the most recent election. Most notably, Lambertsen heads Freedom for All, a political organization that hosted County Judge Tim O’Hare as a keynote speaker just two weeks after his ballot board resignation, despite his felony being publicly known. O’Hare’s appearance, coupled with French’s silence, has raised questions about the GOP’s oversight and judgment.

Resignation and Transition

Lambertsen stepped down as presiding judge of the ballot board before the May 2025 election, reportedly because he was informed his conviction would soon be exposed. His final election in the role was November 2024. Amie Super, described as highly capable, has since taken over as head of the ballot board, offering hope for improved oversight. However, Super’s appointment alone cannot address the systemic vetting failures that allowed Lambertsen to serve undetected for years and continue in influential roles.

Public Outrage and GOP Silence

The public is furious over Lambertsen’s undetected tenure, last-minute resignation, and ongoing GOP and poll-watching roles. Tarrant County’s election system, already under scrutiny for 2024 vote-flipping allegations dismissed as voter error, faces heightened distrust. Neither county officials nor the GOP, including Bo French, have provided detailed responses. French, in a May 5, 2025, CBS Texas interview, emphasized GOP voter outreach efforts despite local losses, but Lambertsen’s continued involvement undermines these claims. O’Hare’s decision to speak at a Freedom for All event further erodes confidence, suggesting negligence in associating with a known felon.

Calls for Reform

The scandal has prompted urgent demands for reform:

1. Rigorous Vetting: Mandatory background checks for election officials, party leaders, and poll watchers, targeting convictions like mail fraud or perjury.

2. Transparent Processes: Public criteria for electing Precinct Chairs, appointing Area Leaders, certifying poll watchers, and hiring ballot board heads.

3. Independent Oversight: Expanded roles for groups like Lonestar Election Watch to monitor election and party processes.

4. Regular Audits: Third-party reviews to exclude felons from sensitive roles.

These measures aim to prevent future lapses and support capable leaders like Amie Super.

Systemic Failures

Lambertsen’s case exposes profound vetting failures. His conviction, directly relevant to mail-based election processes, went undetected during his six-year tenure as ballot supervisor. His ongoing GOP roles, poll-watching activities, and leadership of Freedom for All, despite a public felony, highlight a lack of accountability. While Tarrant County employs safeguards like pre-numbered ballots, human oversight remains a weak link. No evidence ties Lambertsen to election fraud, but his history of mail fraud and perjury fuels legitimate concerns about vulnerabilities.

Impact on Federal Courts

Lambertsen’s undetected tenure as a mail-in ballot supervisor, given his 2003 conviction for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, exacerbates the strain on federal courts already grappling with SCOTUS activist judges. These judges, accused of issuing ideologically driven rulings, have created a backlog of conflicting mandates that lower courts must navigate. The United States v. Sims and Lambertsen case, with its focus on mail fraud conspiracy and sentencing enhancements, underscores the judiciary’s role in addressing fraud but also highlights vulnerabilities when convicted felons infiltrate sensitive roles. Public distrust, fueled by cases like Lambertsen’s, risks flooding federal courts with election-related litigation, as seen in post-2020 election lawsuits (Post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Wikipedia). This scandal amplifies calls for judicial and electoral reform to ensure integrity and prevent further legal chaos.

A Path Forward

Lonestar Election Watch’s investigation exposed a critical lapse in Tarrant County’s election and GOP systems, forcing Lambertsen’s resignation and sparking reform demands. Amie Super’s leadership offers a fresh start, but rigorous vetting, transparency, and oversight are essential to restore trust. The Tarrant County GOP, under Bo French, must address Lambertsen’s ongoing roles and ties to figures like Tim O’Hare to rebuild credibility. As Tarrant County navigates this scandal, the integrity of its elections—and the federal courts’ ability to manage resulting disputes—hangs in the balance.