The Harrison County Commissioners Court has 46 years of collective experience, with three Commissioners having served together for a decade. When asked to share their advice on effective governing, a common thread ran through each one of their answers: Building Relationships.
Harrison County Judge Chad Sims – 8 Years
“Really work on developing good relationships with not only the other elected officials, but also with other leaders in the community.”
I’ve served as Harrison County Judge for almost six years. My goals when I ran for office were to support law enforcement, promote economic development, support the Commissioners as they serve their precincts, and be efficient with taxpayer dollars. Those have been good daily anchors, but I quickly realized the need for one more priority: relationships. Really work on developing good relationships with not only the other elected officials, but also with other leaders in the community. Since I’ve taken office, we’ve started a group called Synergy. The group includes me and leaders from our school, economic development, the city, the hospital, and our four colleges. We gather monthly for a luncheon to discuss what we are doing individually and how we might work together on projects. Relationship-building has been invaluable when there is a need or the unexpected pops up.
There are two primary things, in my opinion, that will help you to govern or manage well. First is having a great staff. Surrounding yourself with experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate people will really help your office to run well and have the desired impact. Second, you need to be a good listener. Citizens come to my office with a problem or need. Whether I’m able to fix the problem or not, they always know that they have been heard.
Working in local government does have its challenges. We aren’t exempt from listening to problems at the grocery store or after church. Because our impacts are local, we do often get a thank you from those we’ve been able to help. Knowing that you’re helping people, doing some good in communities across your county and making progress, helps keep you going.
Please share a bit of history and what led you to run for office: I was born in Carthage, Texas, and I was raised in Elysian Fields, Texas. I attended Elysian Fields schools and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 1993. My first job was with Texas A&M at a research site in Nacogdoches. We exposed pine trees to ozone and acid rain to measure their effects. Next, I spent 21 years in the oilfield service industry working in East Texas. My wife, Jana, and I live near the Elysian Fields area where she is a high school teacher. We have two children. Grant is a sophomore at the University of Houston, and Cara is a junior at Elysian Fields High School.
I serve as chairman of the 1st Responders Prayer Force, and I am a current board member of the Tri-County Community Action Agency, the Marshall Public Facilities Corporation, and the Turney Foundation. I am a former board member of the Marshall Economic Development Corporation.
I became interested in politics in the mid-1990s and served as precinct chair and later chairman of the Republican Party of Harrison County. I had worked with all of the Republican candidates during that time and got to know them personally. Our former County Judge was doing a great job, and I wanted to see the progress continue. I received several confirming comments suggesting that I might be a good fit for the office, so I decided to run. I’m a firm believer in being involved in the community and serving others. Being a County Judge allows all that and more!
Pct. 1 Commissioner William Hatfield – 12 Years
“Get out and meet your constituents and the county employees. Be involved in their lives and learn what matters to their families and those you serve.”
When it comes to effective governing, be sure and familiarize yourself with local ordinances including road and bridge law – subdivision regulations, building and zoning requirements, and floodplain regulations, just to name a few. Get out and meet your constituents, and meet the county employees. Be involved in their lives and learn what matters to their families and those you serve. Show up for your community and support its events. Be a voice for those who aren’t or can’t be heard.
Be disciplined and work closely and effectively with your fellow Commissioners. Keep the best interests of all those you serve paramount.
Be a leader as you grow in your Commissioner position. Help the future generations as well as new and upcoming officials. Teach and encourage those who are unfamiliar with their local government, who are unsure about what it does and can do for them each and every day.
Be a warrior and fight for your constituents and their best interests. Make it a top priority to get $1.10 out of every $1.00 in taxes and fees that are collected by your organization.
I aspire to make good things happen around me. During my terms, I have worked closely with the grant facilitator for Harrison County and have helped to secure more than $2 million dollars in local, state, and federal grants. I seek to make a difference constantly by promoting and expanding opportunities and surroundings for my community and all of East Texas.
Please share a bit of history and what led you to run for office: I was born in Marshall, Texas, about 1 mile from the county seat. I was raised here and graduated from Marshall High School. After graduation, I worked for a while as an electrician and went on to start an office equipment business in 1987. This was the beginning of my relationship with Harrison County; I worked alongside many county departments in the next 20 years. I raised my family in Marshall, and I have a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren.
In 2012, I was encouraged to run for office. I was elected and took office in 2013. On Jan. 1, 2025, I will begin my fourth term.
I became familiar with the innerworkings of Harrison County and local government as my office equipment business continued to provide products to the county. I was friends with a parting County Commissioner who encouraged me to give back to my community and the area and run for Commissioner. He was a major influence in my first campaign and election.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Zephaniah Timmins – 10 Years
“Get to know your Commissioners Court. Also, speak with other department heads and listen to their needs, and they will tell you the what, why, when, and where.”
I ran for office thinking I could change the world and quickly found out that there are protocols, and the main one is to be able to work well with others.
The Harrison County Commissioners work under the Unit System, which I prefer to describe as centralized management.
It is important to get to know your Commissioners Court members. They may have served longer than you, so do all you can to get to know them individually. Sit down with each of them in a one-on-one, getting-to-know-you session. When things come up that you don’t understand, or they just need to know what, why, when, and where, talk to them. Change it up and talk to the judge and auditor. Speak with other department heads and listen to their needs, and they will tell you the what, why, when, and where. Above all, listen to your constituents, and you will find satisfaction in your job.
Please share a bit of history and what led you to run for office: I was born and raised in Marshall, Harrison County, and I earned an associate’s degree from Kilgore Jr. College. My first job was working for The Marshall News Messenger as a paperboy, and from there I worked for the American Red Cross and MISD processing books. I am retired from the American National Life Insurance Company.
From May 2007 to June 2014, I served my community as commissioner of District 2 and mayor pro-tem for the city of Marshall. I was elected as Harrison County Commissioner, and I have served for 10 years. I am an alumni of the Commissioners Court Leadership Academy, Class VII, 2017-2018.
My wife, Glenda, and I have been married for 39 years, and we have three children and six grandchildren.
Pct. 3 Commissioner Phillip Mauldin – 8 Years
“Be able to move on when there are different opinions. Don’t let it interfere with the mission of making your county a better and safer place to live and work.”
It has been a privilege and honor to serve the people of Harrison County alongside such a dedicated group of men that make up our Commissioners Court.
Keys to effective governing include the following: Make sure you meet and visit with all department heads and elected officials as soon as possible. They will be glad to share their thoughts and needs for their department and the county. Make sure that you prepare for court meetings so that you are confident on how you will vote on each agenda item. Be able to move on when there are different opinions and disagreements. Don’t let it interfere with the mission of making your county a better and safer place to live and work.
Please share a bit of history and what led you to run for office: I was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and I lived there until I was 11 years old. In 1963, my family moved to Texas and settled in Hallsville, a small town in Harrison County with a population of 612 at that time. I didn’t realize what a great impact that move and that small town would make in my life. I have called Hallsville home now for 60 years.
My first job was working as a salesman with a life insurance company. In 1978, I went to work for the Longview Fire Department and had a great career there for 25 years. I served in several positions with a majority of my years spent in the fire marshal’s office as a fire and arson investigator. This position required me to go to the Police Academy to earn my peace officer license.
After my retirement from the fire department, I ran successfully for election as constable, an office I held for three terms. During those 12 years while serving as bailiff, I became interested in the Commissioners Court. I am now in my eighth year as County Commissioner and will be retiring at the end of December.
Pct. 4 Commissioner Jay Ebarb – 10 Years
“For our Commissioners Court it has always been that regardless of what side wins, we have pulled together when the majority has spoken and said, ‘Let’s make it work!’ ”
Being a part of the Commissioners Court that has 46 years of combined service has been very rewarding, serving with a great group of guys who are very conscious of doing what’s RIGHT!
It is important to always do your homework on issues that affect everyone in the county. For me, it’s about voting what you feel is right. Sometimes you are on the winning side, and sometimes you’re not. In the end, we always pull together.
When it comes to an effective court, I would say RESPECT your other Commissioners Court members and listen to them. We may be on different sides of an issue. We need to avoid taking comments as a personal attack, for we all process and have ideas coming from different backgrounds. Second, listen to your people out in the county and your precinct, and always take the time to return calls and emails. Most people want to know that you listen to them and value what they have to say.
I have experienced highs and lows since taking office in 2015, but the biggest challenge has been to give the people what they need and what they pay for. Budgeting has been one of the hardest challenges for me at times. We currently have over 350 employees in our county, and making sure that we are being fair and taking care of our employees is very important to us as the Harrison County Commissioners Court.
I don’t know if you are ever able to pay people what it takes to survive in today’s environment, but we must be competitive in order to compete and retain our employees. At the end of every budget year and when we start a new year, I ask myself if we have moved our county forward and not become complacent and satisfied with the status quo.
Please share a bit of history and what led you to run for office: I was born in Louisiana and raised in Elysian Fields, Texas. I graduated from Elysian Fields High School in 1973 and began college at Panola Junior College, finishing my Bachelor of Arts in Teaching at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville in 1977. I moved back to East Texas to start my first career as a teacher/coach in 1978 in Harleton ISD.
Judith and I married in January 1979. I began working with the U.S. Post Office in 1981 as a city carrier and spent the next 23 years in this position. In 1982 Chadd was born, and then in 1984 Chance was born. Our family spent the next 20 years chasing our boys and watching them compete in athletics.
In 2004, I left the post office and bought a business that my youngest son and I ran together for 10 years. I was elected Commissioner in 2015, and my son continues to run the business. My oldest son works in the oil field and has spent the last 15 years in different lines of work in the oil patch. Judith is a now a retired school teacher from Harleton ISD, and we are PROUD grandparents of six grands! In January we will have been married for 46 years, and I am proud to have had a great partner for all these years!
I always liked being involved in the decision-making process and have always been active and involved in our community. I was president of our local Dixie League summer baseball for over 15 years. I was then elected to the school board and spent the next 16 years serving and being a part of our great school and community. When the Commissioner of our precinct decided not to seek re-election, I began looking at the possibility of becoming a little more involved in our county politics. I was elected and took office in January 2015. I’m still active in our community serving on our cemetery board and our local water supply board along with serving as our council chair of Smyrna Methodist Church.
