Teamwork Leads to Accomplishment
I am very honored to have been selected to serve the South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association as your president. To the nominating committee, a huge South Texas thank you for your faith in me. To the best commissioners court a judge could have, my commissioners in Brooks County, thank you. To my wife, Norma; my daughter, Crystal Lee; my son, J.M.; and my staff, a sincere thanks for your patience and support. I will embark on a road that will hopefully bring strength and unity from Galveston to the Rio Grande, from San Antonio to Laredo, and to all of our 67 counties as we share in what I consider the best job in the world: working for the betterment of our communities.
We all have the same problems: the economy, jobs, unemployment, housing, roads, etc., but communicating ideas with our colleagues helps us better understand the issues and helps us learn from others.
I had the pleasure of serving eight years as a Brooks County commissioner before being elected as the first county judge from Encino. My dad, Macario Ramirez, a justice of the peace for 24 years, and my mom, Eloisa, the second female to serve on the Brooks County School Board, instilled in my brother, sister, and me the desire to serve our community with hard work and honesty. I have also been blessed with so many friends who have inspired me to excel in my endeavors to improve our communities.
I served two terms on the Brooks County School Board. I am a founding member and chairman of the Southern Brooks Volunteer Fire Department. My community of Falfurrias has honored me with the award of Citizen of the Year and Businessman of the Year. I have served my community on the Falfurrias Housing Authority Board of Directors for 16 years. I am currently serving on the Brooks County Appraisal District and have been since 1991.
When I was a commissioner, I was appointed as the 911 coordinator to establish and create the 911 Department; by securing state-of-the-art equipment for our dispatchers and radios for all emergency personnel, I made the 911 Department a reality.
In my first term as county judge, even with declining oil and gas prices, a sluggish economy, massive wildfires, drought and hurricanes, I continued my efforts by helping with the U.S. 281 Coalition and securing $119 million dollars for U.S. 281 bypass projects. Our commissioners court established our Emergency Operations Center and a $3.1 million airport expansion project to better accommodate tourists coming to South Texas.
I mention this to demonstrate how working together results in accomplishment. This legislative session will be very important to all of us to ensure that outcries from the counties will be heard. I look forward to working for all of you.
In addition, I’d like to thank Rick Avery and Ashley Mathews with the V.G. Young Institute of County Government; Julie Anderson and Becky Frost of County Progress Magazine; the Texas Association of Counties; Jim Allison, our general counsel; and all associated staff. I am especially grateful for my fellow officers and look forward to working with them: First Vice President and Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza; Second Vice President and Calhoun County Commissioner Neil Fritsch; and our wonderful Past President and Calhoun County Commissioner Roger Galvan. Thank you all!
By Brooks County Judge Raul Ramirez, Newly Elected President, South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association