From the President
It is indeed an honor for me to serve as president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas. I am humbled by the confidence placed in me by our members from across the great State of Texas. This organization has a legacy of outstanding leadership by individuals who have served the State of Texas with commitment and integrity. This statement certainly holds true for our Immediate Past President Ray Meadows. Ray, thanks for your service; you are a great friend, and you will be missed.
My goal is to serve this organization with the same commitment and integrity that we have enjoyed in the past. I also have a goal of encouraging greater participation by county judges and commissioners across the state in our conferences, and increasing our involvement at the state and federal levels in dealing with legislative matters. Our world is changing, as well as our country, and we have the responsibility at the local level to protect, defend, and promote the values that made this country.
Next year promises to be a challenging year to say the least. The present economic condition in our country and our state has heightened our awareness that we must be diligent in our efforts as local government officials to form a united front at home, in Austin, and in Washington, D.C., to serve the best interest of our local communities. As local officials, we are involved in government because of our offices, but I ask that we go beyond being involved and become engaged in the process by becoming active with other officials to promote local government and the concept of local control.
The upcoming legislative session will focus on redistricting and a budget deficit beyond anything we have experienced in this state. Both of these issues demand our complete attention to protect our local tax dollars and our representation. These are just two of the many issues we will face in the upcoming session, and I call on all local officials to become engaged and be ready when called upon. Our general counsel, Jim Allison, does a tremendous job of representing county judges and commissioners and our Association, but he needs our help to be successful. As we prepare to move into the legislative year, please contact Jim Allison or one of your officers with any concerns or issues affecting your county.
The November election brought sweeping changes at all levels of government, and we lost some good friends who have served their counties well. To those officials we send our condolences and pray God’s blessing on your future. To all the new officials out there, let me be the first to welcome you to county government. You will find your job both difficult and rewarding, and I pledge my help in any way possible. One thing you will find is that your peers around you are always willing to lend an ear and assist whenever needed. I encourage you to quickly open up communication with those in adjoining counties as well as your regional and state organizations. The Texas Association of Counties is also a valuable asset that we in county government cannot do without, and I encourage each of you to get acquainted with and utilize their staff.
As we move forward in this year you will hear more from me as I call on you to be both involved and engaged as we serve the citizens of Texas.
Don R. Allred
Association President