By Lubbock County Commissioner Bill McCay, Newly Elected Director, West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
My commitment to public service started early. I was raised in a county jail helping my mom serve meals to inmates. We lived on the first floor of the Comanche County Jail where my dad served as a deputy, and my mom cooked for the inmates. My dad’s law enforcement career eventually led us to Abilene where we lived in a real house!
After graduating from Texas Tech University, I spent 24 years as a marketing representative for IBM, Kodak, and AT&T calling on businesses and counties throughout West Texas. I have always been active in the community serving on numerous boards and commissions and with various organizations. In 2004, I dedicated myself to public service full time and was elected Lubbock County commissioner. Thankfully, I have been re-elected twice.
Karin, my wife of 35 years, is a co-anchor/medical reporter for the NBC affiliate in Lubbock. Our son, Jacob, is attending Tarleton State University. Morgan and Daniel Olivier, our daughter and son-in-law, live in Lubbock and have a son, Retief, and daughter, Leizyl.
In the April issue of County Progress, CJCAT President and Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon wrote about the importance of teamwork. Working together with a “can-do attitude” is how our commissioners court, other elected officials, and department directors in Lubbock County have accomplished so many successes.
It has been exciting for me to help lead the efforts to develop a Lubbock County Strategic Plan; we now better utilize limited funding via consolidation of our road maintenance departments, and implementation of an online attorney access program and auto jury pay. The Texas Association of Counties has recognized our team efforts over the years and awarded Lubbock County “Best Practice Awards” for Super Precinct Vote Centers, CourTools Justice Accountability System, Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases, and the Special Needs Mental Health Private Defenders Office. But we’re not done. We continue to work on finding new ways to do more with less in a county that has both urban and rural challenges.
Like many counties across the state, we are facing some tough times in West Texas. But just like the county judges and commissioners who served before us, I am confident that we will persevere. After all, teamwork with a can-do attitude is what has helped make the great State of Texas.
It’s a privilege to work for the citizens of Lubbock County and an honor to serve as a Board member of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. I look forward to being a part of this great team.