The legislative districts in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate have been drawn to produce predictable results according to party affiliation. Using computer modeling, the boundaries are manipulated to ensure a “safe” district for either a Republican or Democratic candidate. Consequently, the district representation is determined by the March primary, not … [Read more...] about Strengthening Legislative Relationships
CJCAT
Better Together
In this month’s sneak peek of NACo’s County Government Month, I couldn’t help but appreciate their theme: ForwardTogether. It’s akin to TAC’s mantra, #254Strong. But what does this really mean? How does this play out? How are we Better Together? Well, not to overcomplicate the message, but aren’t we all better together when we are standing strong and united, moving forward … [Read more...] about Better Together
Team Building During the Off-Season
Earl Weaver was a well-known manager for the Baltimore Orioles, an author, a broadcaster, and an inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. One of his great quotes was, “You win pennants in the off-season when you build your teams with trades and free agents.” County officials should be team building during the off-season. While we are in between legislative sessions, we need … [Read more...] about Team Building During the Off-Season
Elections in a Democratic Republic
Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of our system of government. Every two years, the voters have an opportunity to express their will and select their leaders. Required biennial elections are not common in other countries, even in democracies. The framers of our constitution ensured that our leaders would be required to undergo frequent review by the voters. The two-year … [Read more...] about Elections in a Democratic Republic
West Texas Association 2024 Conference
Budgeting, interlocal agreements, flood prevention, and road and bridge maintenance are among the many topics to be covered at the West Texas Association 2024 Conference April 23-26 in Potter County. Commissioners who attend every class will receive 14 continuing education hours; an additional four credit hours will be offered on Tuesday morning during the early bird … [Read more...] about West Texas Association 2024 Conference