A Glimpse in the Life of a Texas County Judge
Every so often, County Progress asks our distinguished Judges and Commissioners to allow us a glimpse into their public lives, giving us a fresh appreciation for the myriad of roles and responsibilities they shoulder every day. Our thanks to Glasscock County Judge Kim Halfmann for taking the time to visit with us.
Glasscock County Judge Kim Halfmann
History:
I ran unopposed in the 2010 primary and was then appointed to the position on April 1, 2010. I sought re-election in 2014 and ran unopposed. Prior to becoming County Judge, I taught first grade in Garden City and Sterling City. During that time, I also worked as a contract public relations representative for the government of New Zealand. I continued to substitute teach up until the time I took office.
Is It What You Expected?
I don’t think anyone takes office knowing fully their role or the responsibilities nor the expectations of their constituents. I certainly did not. It seems this role is fluid and changes daily. Whatever fire is burning brightest is what I focus on when I walk in the office each morning. I end the day by making a to-do list for the next day in an attempt to keep myself on task. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about the job – you never know what the day will hold. In a typical day, I will hear criminal cases, probates or guardianship cases while taking care of the many administrative duties required. When I first took office, I was also the emergency management coordinator (EMC). Luckily, we now have a full-time EMC who also oversees all emergency services offered by a strictly volunteer base of EMTs and firemen. Perhaps one of the most unusual jobs I’m tasked with is the selling of cemetery plots. I work with families to show them which plots are available and prepare the deeds; when a loved one passes away, it’s my job to mark the graves for the grave digger. It is a very old cemetery, and as those who have old county cemeteries will tell you, it’s not laid out very well and the records were not accurate back a long time ago. We also have areas of solid rock that create issues for digging. I learned my lesson early on and had test holes dug throughout the cemetery so I would be sure not to sell plots in those rocky areas.
I also take care of the landfill and the quarterly and annual reports sent in to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. We are currently beginning the process of opening a new landfill, which is a daunting and time-consuming task. We hope to have it ready for use sometime in 2017.
Everyone in the courthouse and the tax office recently moved out of their offices to begin renovation of the courthouse, repurposing of the jail for emergency services, and the building of a new annex that will house the district/county clerk, treasurer and tax assessor-collector. The continued increase due to the oil activity in our area didn’t leave a question on moving forward with our plans to add more space. I am extremely pleased with these projects, especially the courthouse. Our courthouse was built in 1910, and while we kept applying for Texas Historical Commission grants, we didn’t seem to be making much progress. It was decided to take on the project ourselves. We just completed selective demolition and have already uncovered some hidden gems. While I wasn’t born and raised in Glasscock County, I take great pride in the old buildings, their history and the legacy they hold for future generations.
Challenges:
Local challenges are part of what I like most about this job. I want to make sure my constituents are heard. One of my favorite stories happened right after I took office. I looked out my window to see a woman coming up the sidewalk dragging a six-foot-long tree branch. It seems her apricot tree was not thriving as it had in the past and she believed because she lived on one of the county’s unpaved roads, the caliche dust was the cause of tree’s reduction in fruit and areas of yellowing and dying branches and leaves. While there wasn’t much I could do about the dust caused from such an increase in oilfield traffic and a drought, I could listen to her story and make a phone call to her Commissioner about getting some water on her road. Really all she needed from me was to truly listen to her concerns and give her affirmation. I kept that branch in my office for several months as a reminder of what my constituents expect from me, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
Like all of us across the state, unfunded mandates are always a challenge. I can’t stress enough how important it is to be active during the legislative sessions to ensure counties aren’t burdened with what seems to our legislators to be inconsequential bills. As Judges and Commissioners, we have to educate our representatives and senators on how these bills could adversely affect our counties. When you are asked to give testimony, try to go to Austin. Otherwise, build relationships with your legislators and their staff when they aren’t in session so that you feel comfortable picking up the phone or sending them an email when we get alerts about bills that could cost the county money.
Favorite Part:
I enjoy the craziness and chaos that comes with the job; it suits my personality well, and it keeps things fresh for me. I never want to be bored, and this position doesn’t allow for much downtime. Having the chance to use my mind to troubleshoot is always fun. I feel responsible for providing the Commissioners Court with the best and most correct information I possibly can to ensure we have what we need to make the best decisions we can for the county. Being able to serve my community while forging friendships across the state with others involved in county government is the icing on the cake.