“May we all be remembered for serving this Association in these historical times. Going forward into the next 100 years will only be more exciting and challenging for future leaders. Let the legacy live on.”
— CJCAT Association President Rick Bailey
Johnson County Commissioner
Texas County Judges and Commissioners, known for their servant leadership, have joined together for a century to not only educate themselves as required by law, but to also learn and grow from one another’s experiences.
The CJCAT was organized in 1922 with Dallas County Judge Archibald C. Allen serving as the 1922-23 president. The Association’s purpose and vision are described in the CJCAT Constitution as follows:
ARTICLE II — PURPOSE
- Section 1. It shall be the purpose of this Association to create a greater interest in county government and to unite its members to promote better business methods in county government, and to foster the general welfare of county government throughout all counties in the State of Texas.
- Section 2. This Association shall encourage active participation in governmental affairs, particularly pertaining to county government, by all members of Commissioners Courts of Texas.
- Section 3. This Association shall uphold the principles of good government in Texas.
- Section 4. This Association shall sponsor and co-sponsor educational conferences, seminars, and other programs for county officials and county employees to study information relative to county affairs, and assist those officials in need of Continuing Education credits, as required by law.
With 254 counties in Texas, there are 1,270 active members of the Association – four County Commissioners and one County Judge from each county.
Valuable Resource
When newly elected County Judges and Commissioners take their oaths of office, they are immediately ensconced in an array of issues ranging from budgets to bridges and personnel to potholes…not to mention indigent health care, indigent defense, economic development, elections, property tax rate, public safety, public documents, fees and fines, the courthouse and court system, road maintenance…and the list goes on.
When it comes to addressing the wide spectrum of topics, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas is a valuable resource. The CJCAT is divided into three regional associations with several subgroups within the regional organizations. Each Association, from the State Association down to the subregions, provides learning opportunities. Classroom modules are carefully developed to help officials fulfill their statutorily required training and allow for idea sharing and networking.
These educational endeavors and CJCAT-sponsored activities have helped officials sharpen their skills to best serve their citizens.
“I learned very early how important the CJCAT was to County Judges and Commissioners through its educational seminars and collaboration with other officials across the state,” shared CJCAT Past President Don R. Allred, Oldham County Judge. “As our state has matured through the years, the CJCAT has helped develop county leaders who exemplify excellence in local government. It was their vision 100 years ago that advanced county government in this state and it is our responsibility to continue that vision for the next 100 years.”
“In the 24 years that I have been County Commissioner of Washington County, I have relied on the CJCAT and its members to guide me and teach me everything that is important in holding an office. Through the years I have held very dear in my heart all of the many colleagues who are not only friends, but also confidants, teachers, and mentors. The greatest lesson one can learn is through the advice of those who came before you. Always know that there is something new to learn each and every day.
Joy Fuchs
County Commissioner, Washington County
CJCAT Past President Ralph M. Hall
County Judge, Texas Senator, U.S. Congressman
Rockwall County Judge Ralph M. Hall served as President of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas 1958-59.
Upon Hall’s passing in March 2019 at the age of 95, the Republican Party of Texas passed a resolution citing his extraordinary life of service which included the following:
- Hall enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and served during World War II, where he flew Hellcat fighters and earned the rank of lieutenant.
- He served his community and the State of Texas as the County Judge of Rockwall County for 12 years and as the State Senator for the 9th Senate District of the Texas for 10 years.
- Hall served 34 years as the United States Congressman for 4th Congressional District of Texas and, at the age of 91, became the oldest person to cast a vote in the United States House of Representatives and one of the final two World War II veterans to serve in Congress.
As news outlets across the Lone Star State honored Hall, many of them included a most interesting fact about this former County Judge and CJCAT Past President: He claimed to have once sold cigarettes and Coca-Cola to the bank-robbing duo of Bonnie and Clyde!
From the CJCAT President
May 2002
Adlai Stevenson once said, “In America, anyone can grow up to be president… it’s just one of the risks one takes.” I have found that being president of the 
County Judges and Commissioners Association comes at some risk, also.
If you live within the circulation area of the San Antonio Express-News, you may have seen an article dated Feb. 26, 2002, titled “Bandera leaders call for more gas tax.” This article was the result of a Bandera County Commissioners Court Resolution calling for an increase of at least 40 percent in the motor fuel tax, with 10 percent of the levy to be allocated to the Lateral Road Fund for counties.
When contacted by an Express-News staff writer, I stated that, as president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association, I am in favor of the resolution. I also cited similar resolutions from other counties and our own Association.
I told him that while this amount may seem extreme, history has taught us to ask for a lot and expect very little. I informed him that dealing with the Legislature has proven to be tough, seeing as we have struggled with this issue through the last three sessions to no avail.
My comments in the newspaper article facilitated my appearance on a 30-minute live radio talk show.
In relation to history, I informed the interviewer that back in the 1950s, counties received 10 cents per gallon from the gasoline tax. That was re-appropriated so the state could build the entire farm to market road system through the Colson-Briscoe Act. The state built the roads but never restored the counties’ share of the money.
Prior to 1954, the Legislature appropriated $17.5 million to counties, approximately 25 percent of the gasoline tax. Since 1954, a statutory change limited the counties’ share of the gasoline tax to $7.3 million, less than one-half of 1 percent of the gasoline tax.
The state collected more than $2.7 billion in the last fiscal year from the 20 cents-per-gallon tax on diesel and gasoline and 15 cents per gallon on liquefied gas. Of that, more than $2 billion went to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), $676 million went to school funding, and about $50 million went to the state comptroller. The 254 counties split their $7.3 million, as they have since 1954.
According to a TxDOT report, counties bear the burden of maintaining 188,055 lane-miles of the county road system.
I salute the Bandera County Resolution, and it would be my wish that every county would pass a similar resolution. It is past time to relieve the increased burden on our ad valorem taxpayers and pass these maintenance costs on in the form of a user fee.
In other news…
It is an absolute pleasure to announce that Harris County Judge Robert Eckels recently was appointed by the executive board to the position of first vice president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas. Welcome aboard, Judge Eckels. I look forward to serving with you.
As always, be safe, and be happy. I hope to see you in Odessa in September at our State Association meeting.
Skipper Wheeless
Association President