TAC Blog

NEW ORLEANS — The Texas Association of Counties’ Communications Services department won 10 national awards this month from the National Association of County Information Officers. The honors recognize excellence in storytelling, member communications and creative content.

The awards were announced July 20 during the 2026 National Association of Counties Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans. TAC received first-place awards for video production, podcasting, writing, graphic design, public relations, and printed and digital communications.

This year’s competition used a new format. In the past, NACIO gave awards at four levels: meritorious, excellence, superior and best of category. This year, entries were grouped by county population, with state associations competing in their own division. Only one first-place award was given in each category and division, making TAC’s 10 awards especially notable among 253 entries from across the country.

For the fourth year in a row, Texas County Voice earned top honors for podcasting. In the winning episode, Wise County Judge J.D. Clark talks about his path to public service, the power of storytelling and his deep-rooted passion for county government.

As NACo president for the past year, Clark encouraged counties across the nation to share their stories. That message inspired TAC’s Texas County Storytellers campaign, which won four first-place awards for medium-length video, public relations, website and logo design.

The awards reflect the Communications Services department’s commitment to creating content that informs, supports and celebrates Texas county government. Through County magazine, the TAC Blog, Texas County Voice, digital campaigns and multimedia storytelling, the team connects county officials and the public with stories that highlight the important work counties do every day.

TAC’s 2026 NACIO Award Winners

• Audiovisual (Medium-Length Video, 1-5 minutes): Texas County Storytellers Music Video, edited by Nia Russell and Michael Gray.
• Campaigns – Public Relations: Texas County Storytellers, created by Communications Services.
• Electronic Communications – Website: Texas County Storytellers, created by Communications Services.
• Graphic Design – Logo: Texas County Storytellers, designed by David Garcia.
• Graphic Design – Special Graphics: “It Only Takes One,” from County magazine, Spring 2025, designed by Miranda Baker.
• Podcast Episode: "Leading With Story: Wise County Judge and NACo President J.D. Clark," produced and hosted by Jody Seaborn.
• Multipage Printed Publication: County magazine, Summer 2025, led by managing editor Mary Huber with contributions from the Communications Services staff.
• Printed Publications – Short One-Page Trifold: How to Address County Officials, written by Erica Macioge and designed by David Garcia.
• Writing – Short Article: "How Wurstfest Preserves the History and Communities in Comal County," by Elissa Regulski.
• Writing – Long Article: “Judge. Leader. Storyteller. J.D. Clark serves with voice, vision and roots,” by Jody Seaborn.