County Government 101

New Officials Conference Tackles Challenges of Leadership
“Don’t lose what got inside you to do this,” advised Wichita County Judge Woodrow Gossom Jr., as he helped prepare new judges and commissioners for the challenge of leadership in county government.
A total of 158 officials gathered in Austin Jan. 18-21 to attend the Seminar for Newly Elected County Judges & Commissioners, sponsored by the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, in cooperation with the Texas Association of Counties.
The conference, offered every other year following commissioners court elections, is designed to help educate new county officials about the responsibilities of their offices. But much of the advice from veteran county officials and other experts in county government could be a good reminder for any county official.
The short course was packed full of tips for handling the day-to-day responsibilities of county government. Topics ranged from open records and records management to subdivision regulations and county roads to technology to personnel to budgeting.
Woven into the educational sessions were recommendations from those who have traveled the path. Again and again, presenters spoke of the rewards of serving in county government and of the importance of listening to constituents and networking with other county officials across the state.
“There’s not one problem someone hasn’t seen before,” said Gene Terry, education staff attorney for the Texas Association of Counties and a former Marion County judge. “Knowing how to find the answer is often more important than the answer,” he continued.
Jim Allison, general counsel of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, walked the new judges and commissioners through the constitutional basis of county government from the early days of Texas statehood to the present.
“Without a doubt, county government is the most decentralized form of government in this country,” he said.
Allison went on to talk about the partnership of county and state government, describing the state as the senior partner in the relationship.
“Every two years they meet to change our responsibilities,” he said.
Because of the Texas Legislature’s role in prescribing duties for county governments, Allison urged participation in the legislative process – especially in the fight against unfunded mandates.
He said county officials must oppose any legislation that calls for unfunded mandates. In fact, a constitutional amendment prohibiting unfunded mandates has been filed; Allison said he hopes the decision will be left to the voters, as it has been in other states.
“Don’t miss the opportunity to talk with your legislators. Your business will be their business,” Allison said.
As new judges and commissioners step into their roles, Allison advised them to add a couple of things to their “to-do” lists: reviewing subdivision regulations, which are subject to revision, and reviewing interlocal agreements, which may need to be renewed annually.
Carrying on that “to-do” list idea, Bell County Commissioner Richard Cortese recommended that new officials visit other elected officials. The visits offer a chance to hear concerns, better understand various roles in county government, learn from one another’s experiences, and the like.
This early contact can help new officials “make a lot of headway” as they take office, said Cortese, president of the North & East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association.
Cortese urged new officials to be responsive to voters and, if unable to help with their concerns, direct them to the folks who can help them fix their problems.
He also suggested judges and commissioners watch for needs/issues that arise because of changing demographics.
Speaking to county judges, Terry said the official often is viewed as the parent authority.
“Everyone in the county assumes you are the chief elected official,” he added.
The best way to govern and lead, Terry said, is by building coalitions.
Gossom echoed that idea in his discussion about the challenge of leadership, “a process of getting things done through people.”
He said the county judge and commissioners should “work together as the five managing partners of county government.”
As new judges and commissioners step into courthouse leadership, Gossom said, “The reality is that almost everyone has been in their job longer than you.
“Be a student of duty,” he went on.
Gossom concluded by identifying some basic steps to help new judges and commissioners on this journey:
1. Read county policies and update, as needed.
2. Walk through all buildings the county owns – maintaining these is part of the officials’ responsibilities.
3. Determine fiscal and financial policies.
4. Understand job/duties.
5. Study other offices; visit with elected officials and department heads.
6. Be on guard for the status quo, or the familiar response: “We’ve always done it this way.” Handle by walking softly and talking a lot with others to see if things can be done more effectively. H – By Tammy Wishard
Tammy Wishard