The belief that voting is a right that every man and woman should exercise has led Frank Phillips to be the man stepping into the role of Denton County elections administrator.

DRC/Al Key

Frank Phillips, who will replace Don Alexander as Denton County elections administrator, stands in front of the Courthouse on the Square on Friday in Denton.

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Phillips, director of administration in Denton County Judge Mary Horn’s office, will replace Don Alexander, who announced his retirement earlier this month.

Phillips’ employment with Denton County began in 1994 when he worked for Constable Jerry Rayburn in Lewisville. In 1997, Phillips became chief administrator for Scott Armey, who served as Precinct 3 county commissioner. Phillips left the position in 1999 and worked in Bosnia and Kosovo for a year apiece.

Working in Bosnia with a U.S. State Department contractor attached to the United Nations, Phillips said, he got an opportunity to see an electoral process in another country.

“It was really encouraging and enlightening to see the process unfold where it is not taken for granted,” he said. “That experience really spurred my interest to someday work in the elections field.”

In pursuit of that goal, Phillips took steps to become certified as an elections/registration administrator in 2008, though he said it was not specifically for the Denton position.

“If it wasn’t something I could use here, it was something I could use elsewhere,” he said of the certification.

Horn praised Phillips, who has worked for her since 2002.

“He did a great job for me, and while I am sad to lose him from this area,” she said, “I am very glad we have such a qualified person in the wings to take over when Don Alexander leaves. He’s going to be difficult to replace.”

Phillips said that while he will miss working for the judge, he is looking forward to moving over to elections and facing new challenges.

“There has been a great foundation left there, thanks to Alexander, and I am sure that will make my transition a smooth one,” he said.

While serving in the judge’s office, Phillips learned details of how county government works.

He said his biggest challenge will be voting machines that will need to be replaced.

“The last decade for elections has been pretty exciting. I don’t anticipate that changing anytime in the future, especially the issue — real or imagined — that exists with voting equipment,” Phillips said.

Phyllis Wolper, Denton County Democratic Party chairwoman, who served on the elections commission that recommended Phillips for the position, said the commission went through dozens of applications.

“I feel confident in our choice. He was by far the most qualified and most experienced as well as having the certifications, and he has the vast interest of the county in his heart,” Wolper said.

At the end of the day, Phillips said, his goal is to provide a service that is professional, honest and aboveboard.

“I want [people] leaving with a good experience having voted,” he said.

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.