Emergency Management Mapping Tools

Speakers: Joel Aud, Senior Analyst, Texas Department of Emergency Management; Michael Ouimet, HIFLD to the Regions Program Team Lead; Claire DeVaughan, USGS Texas Lisaon; Richard Wade, Texas Natural Resources Information System

Flood and Fire Management 101 for County Officials

Exhibitor Training

Speakers: Rex Hall, Assistant Executive Director, Texas Association of Counties; Evan Gonzales, Counties Project Manager, Texas Association of Counties

Task Force on Indigent Defense Workshop

Roundtable discussions on West Texas Regional Capital Public Defender Expansion, Caprock public defender, and other grant opportunities.

Keynote Speaker

Ben Philpott from KUT News and the Texas Tribune gives us a look at how lawmakers are hoping to deal with a multi-billion dollar state budget hole in the 2011 Legislative session and how cuts could trickle down and affect county governments. He will also cover the Texas governor's race. Philpott will offer up stories from the campaign trail and how this fall's winners could affect just how the state's budget crisis is handled.

Speaker: Ben Philpott, KUT

Ask TAC

Spend time with Executive Director Gene Terry and Assistant Executive Director Rex Hall while they answer questions from the audience. Write your question on the index card provided in your packet; TAC staff will come by and pick it up before the session.

Wargaming a Seminal Election, Staggering Budget Deficit and Redistricting – an Explosive Legislative Session
This presentation examines the current state of the two parties and their leading candidates in the context of the November election. However the election may turn out, bruising battles are the only thing lawmakers have to look forward to. Redistricting in the same session as an estimated budget shortfall means a bloody battle field with lots of hostage taking. To access money from the Rainy Day fund requires 2/3’s of both chambers which means that lawmakers will have to hammer their swords into plowshares…for at least a little while.
Speaker: Harvey Kronberg, The Quorum Report

Sharing Solutions

TAC Associate Meet & Greet (invite only)

TAC Associates will be honored with a meet and greet reception during this year's conference.

Casino Night & Dance

Featuring Music by HeyBale

Legislative General Session

Speakers: Lt. Governor David Dewhurst; Speaker of the House, Rep. Joe Strauss; Rep. Jim Pitts, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations

Nationwide Retirement Solutions

Speaker: William Sawyers, Program Director of South Texas, Nationwide Retirement Solutions

Closing Keynote Address

Hard Calls in History and Tomorrow: 
Secrets of the Founders

What is the true essence of collaboration? What cause is so precious that intelligent risk is worth taking? What characteristics are reflected again and again in the greatest decisions? In the history of America, as well as in the daily progress of Texas County government, the characteristics of great decisions and the best qualities of the decision-makers come together to yield a significant product. This presenta-tion will suggest the key qualities in the best decisions, the mutual characteristics shared by the decision-makers and the unique yet counter-intuitive mindset that sets aside personality, personal feeling and personal gain to suffer a cause greater than one’s self.

Speaker: Mark Warren, Texas Association of Counties