Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden took office Jan. 1, 2003.
As you look back on your years of service, what are some of the most valuable lessons you learned?
I learned very quickly that as the County Judge elected by the citizens of your county, you are a public servant responsible for the duties of your office.
Always treat everyone fairly and justly, don’t show favoritism to anyone or any group, and stay above the fray.
It is your duty to handle public funds as wisely as possible to ensure the trust from the people who are paying the taxes to support county government.
In a county as small as ours, the Judge must be accessible to everyone; with that said, don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Remember, you ran for this job, and you should know what is expected of you from the public.
What is the best way for members of Commissioners Court to connect with other officials in the courthouse?
The Commissioners Court needs to communicate with all other elected officials fairly and be open to their ideas and concerns. We have a time set aside during our first court meeting of the month for elected officials and department heads to address the court with a report about their office activities and their needs and concerns.
How do you connect with your constituents?
I use our local radio stations to notify the public of events that affect the county such as giving Commissioners Court reports, disaster declarations, burn bans, or any emergency that might be occurring. We also use our website to post notifications, office phone numbers, and other pertinent information. Everyone knows that they can call me on my cell phone or office phone or come to my office to address issues they feel the Judge could help with. I don’t use Facebook or other social media because I want to be face to face and have personal connections with people.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far, and how did you navigate that challenge?
The biggest challenge I faced in my 20 years as a County Judge was the burning down of our historic courthouse on Feb. 4, 2021. The emotions, disbelief, thoughts of, “Where do we go from here? What do we do now?” These are things that no Judge should have to face. But, with God’s guidance, the wonderful help we received from the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Historical Commission, and the support of our citizens and others, we are rebuilding the courthouse, and it withstands as a monument to the people who did not let go of the idea that it needed to be restored.
In closing, what has been your most rewarding experience?
I will be forever grateful to have been able to serve our citizens as County Judge. Working with the CJCAT, TAC, my fellow County Judges across the state, and Jim Allison and his firm, and walking the halls of the Texas Legislature have all been a blessing to me. I love serving people. I try to be a trustworthy person, and I want people to know that I will always treat them fairly.
County government is the government closest to the people, and I have been blessed to serve Mason County and the State of Texas as a County Judge.