Saddle Up And Lead
*** Click here for the audio version.***
Keynote speaker Clint Swindall kicked off the 92nd Annual South Texas Conference with a leadership challenge: Elevate the Conversation.
Some 270-plus County Judges and Commissioners convened in Bexar County June 15-18 for their education training, where Swindall, an employee engagement specialist, set the tone.
“I believe the work you do matters!” he stated with enthusiasm. “You show up, despite the mandates and the limited resources!”
While most of the conference classes discussed the actual work – roads, records, budgeting, best practices, and more – Swindall addressed the value of a productive work mindset.
“Every day you show up to work you are either adding to or taking away from the culture,” stated Swindall, who has authored three books on leadership. “There is no middle ground.”
“Where do you fall?” he asked the audience. “Your mindset is powerful. It’s where everything starts.”
Swindall gave officials a communicative tool to initiate conversations, whether in one-on-one settings, informal gatherings, or professional occasions.
“Tell Me Somethin’ Good!”
Swindall shared the story of a woman who tried this technique in a work meeting, asking a small group – between five and 10 employees – to go around the room and say one good thing. At first several people passed, but each eventually came up with a positive thought. Now the practice is routine, with employees ready to share something good from the get-go.
Leading the conversation with this approach may set a productive mindset even when the topic at hand is serious. In fact, the following conference presentation was a perfect example. When Dr. T.R. Lansford with the Texas Animal Health Commission took the podium immediately after Swindall to address the latest on the New World Screwworm, LaSalle County Commissioner Erasmo Ramirez light-heartedly called out, “Tell Me Somethin’ Good!” The speaker paused for a moment and then replied, “There were no new cases found in Texas yesterday!”
The theme of “Saddle Up and Lead” was evident throughout the remainder of the week including Host Court Night.
“County government is where public service becomes real with our roads, public safety, health, and the daily services our residents count on,” Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai shared as he kicked off the evening at Pedrotti’s Ranch. “We are facing challenging times. Budgets are tightening, demands are rising, and our communities still expect us to deliver the critical services that protect the community.”
Sakai went on to discuss leadership through regional partnerships and a concentration on what he described as the Three C’s:
- Communicating
- Collaborating
- Coordinating
“The great stateswoman Barbara Jordan reminded us, ‘We as public servants must set an example for the rest of the nation,’ ”Sakai quoted. “Her words call us to lead not only by what we say, but by how we work together for the people we serve.”
The Closing General Session addressed these same Three C’s with CJCAT Legislative Chairman Ben Zeller, Victoria County Judge, focusing on the upcoming session.
The 90th Texas Legislature will convene on Jan. 12, 2027, and adjourn on May 31, 2027. Prefiling of bills begins on Nov. 9., and interim hearings have already started. In fact, on June 23, Zeller provided testimony to members of the Texas House Natural Resources Committee on one of the state’s most important resources: water.
“We need to work together, be vocal, and be a part of the legislative process,” Zeller emphasized. “Every County Judge and County Commissioner has an important role to play in the next session. It is vital that we all show up!”
*** The 93rd Annual South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference will take place June 14-17, 2027, on South Padre Island in Cameron County.***
