State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd) provides a
legislative update as guest speaker at this year's
conference of the North and East County Judges
and Commissioners Association. (Credit: Katy Estrada)
The North and East County Judges and Commissioners Association held its annual conference in Galveston County from June 17 to June 20, with a record number of attendees this year. The legislative panel featured Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd), who encouraged collaboration between locally elected officials and their state legislators.
Bailes reminded the audience that very few legislators understand how county business works, stating that he does and that is why he is in the Legislature. He went into detail about the differences between the Texas Senate and the House of Representatives, stating that he makes decisions with the impact on his district at the forefront.
Additionally, new officers were sworn in. They are as follows:
- Judge Wade McKinney, Henderson County – President
- Commissioner Larry Wooley, Johnson County – First Vice President
- Judge Jim Lovell, Houston County – Second Vice President
- Commissioner Chris Kirkendall, Hardin County – Secretary Treasurer
- Commissioner Kelly Traylor, Cherokee County – Immediate Past President
TAC congratulates the North and East County Judges and Commissioners Association's newly elected board members.
Additional information presented at the conference included a broadband update and panel discussion highlighting some successful models for collaboration with local partners, an update on the grant process for Sen. Drew Springer's (R-Muenster) Senate Bill 22 and a policy update on the recent special legislative session, during which the House and Senate agreed on property tax relief.
For more information about this article, please contact Katy Estrada.