COUNTY JUDGE: THE HONORABLE TOM HEAD: 775-1086

The County Judge presides over the Commissioners Court and is also the judge of the County Court. As such, the judge is often thought of as the chief executive officer of the County. The County Judge also is involved with: elections, finance, bonds and sureties, court operations, mental health, special districts and general administration.

Financial responsibilities of the county judge includes implementing tax revenue in the proposed budget, and to prepare the budget with the help of the County Auditor and County Clerk.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT: 775-1335

The Commissioners Court is the governing body of the county. The Texas Constitution specifies that the court consist of a county judge and four county commissioners elected by the citizens of the county. The court divides the county into four precincts, which allows the commissioners to conduct business in their precincts.

The Court follows state administrative and Local Government Code responsibilities which assists the court in the responsibilities of County Government. For example, these responsibilities include financial management, public officers and employees, regulatory matters, property acquisition, buildings and many other areas of county affairs.

A major area of responsibility for the county commissioners court is construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in the county that are not part of the state highway system. More than 50 counties have their own road and bridge acts which control when in conflict with general law. When these acts are silent on a subject, then the general law is effective.

COUNTY AUDITOR:  775-1097

The County Auditor is the caretaker of the county budget that is developed by the Commissioners Court. Once the budget is complete the Auditor administers the budget and oversees all of the financial books and records of expenditures of all county officers.

The position of the County Auditor working with the Commissioners Court establishes a checks and balance system within the county, which gives the auditor the responsibility of budget officer and the adviser of financial decisions that the court makes.

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COUNTY TREASURER: SHARON GOSSETT: 775-1016

The County Treasurer is the chief custodian of county finances. The treasurer is responsible for receiving and disbursing all money made by or given to the county in a manner that the County Commissioners direct.

All funds received by elected officials during their course of duty are given to the County Treasurer.

DISTRICT CLERK: BARBARA SUCSY: 775-1623

The District Clerk is the key supporter of the district courts. According to the District Clerk Manual,"The clerk acts as a registrar recorder, and custodian of all court pleadings, instruments and papers that are part of any cause of action in any civil or criminal court. The district clerk indexes and secures all court records, collects filing fees, and handles funds held in litigation and money awarded to minors."

The district courts are state offices, but the district clerk provides support at the county level.

TAX ASSESSOR: BARBARA BROOKS: 775-1344

The Tax Assessor is responsible for voter registration. The duties include accepting applications for voter registration, issuing voter certificates, maintaining voter registration records, hearing appeals and challenges on denial of registration, verifying petitions for local option elections and submitting required reports to the Secretary of State's office.

COUNTY CLERK: DORIS RUFF: 775-1043

The office of the County Clerk, who is responsible to both the County and Commissioners Courts, has been in existence since 1836.

The County Clerk has the responsibility of running the county elections, which includes the handling of absentee ballots. The clerk also works closely with the Secretary of State during elections and is responsible for reporting the results of the elections.

Since the County Clerk is the only Ex-Officio member of the Commissioners Court, the clerk is the person who takes the minutes during the Commissioners Court meetings. This position gives the clerk the responsibility to post notices regarding all regular and special meetings of the Court.

The County Clerk holds the position of Recorder. This position requires the recording of all real estate instruments, subdivision maps/plats, financial records, elected officials' monthly reports, federal and state tax liens, abstract judgments, juvenile records, military records and all court records. The recording of these records assists Abstracts and Titles Companies. The clerk also handles school records, probate record, mental/chemical dependency proceeding records, doing business under assumed names and brands. The record manager position gives the Clerk the ability to give permission to destroy records or to have records retained.

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SHERIFF: DAVID GUTIERREZ: 775-1400

The Sheriff is the principle law enforcement officer in the county. This gives the Sheriffs office the jurisdiction of the whole county, but most activity is taken outside of the city limits.

The Sheriff is responsible for investigating crimes, enforcing traffic regulations, serving writs and subpoenas, processing lunacy warrants, operating county jails and seizing property after judgment.

CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION: LES BROWN : 775-1800

The majority of work for the Juvenile Probation Officer deals with investigations and casework with juvenile offenders and family. The Juvenile Probation Officer may take charge of a child before and after a trial and may be present in court to represent the interests of the juvenile when the case is heard. The Juvenile Probation Officer is responsible for complying with the Standards and Code of Ethics prescribed by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. The law allows the juvenile probation officer to have the powers and authority of the police officer or sheriff, with the exception of carrying a fire arm.

DIRECTOR OF ADULT PROBATION:  775-1200

The Adult Probation Officer works with law enforcement officials and the courts. The position is appointed by the district judges and works with adults who have been placed on probation by the district or county courts. The Adult Probation Officer is responsible for counseling probationers and insuring that they comply with the rules and conditions of their probated sentence. In addition, the courts may call on the Adult Probation Officer to conduct pre-sentence investigations.

Most probation departments work cooperatively with the Texas department of Criminal Justice to insure uniformity of standards and quality service.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE:

The Justice of the Peace presides over both Civil and criminal matters.  In criminal cases, the Justice of the Peace handles pre-indictment felony matters, as well as having jurisdiction over class "C" Misdemeanor cases punishable by fine only. These Courts also have Justice Court and Small Claims Court jurisdiction in matters of controversy under $5,000. The position also allows the JP to issue warrants, perform marriages, and conduct driver's license and truancy hearings.

CONSTABLES:

The constable is the first step of county law enforcement. They are the executive officers of the Justice of the Peace Courts since they subpoena witnesses, bailiff, execute judgments and serve papers. The Constable also has the right to do patrol functions and investigations.

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