Jan./Feb. 2015 Vol. 27, No. 1 CountyA Publication of the Texas Association of Counties county.org/magazine HITTING THE ROAD HIGHLIGHTS FROM A TWO-WEEK TEXAS ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE | PG. 46 Straus Speaks Freshmen Legislators WE KNOW COUNTIES Beating Diabetes A message to county A brief introduction | pg. 54 Meet TAC’s Risk Management A healthy spotlight | pg. 10 officials | pg. 16 Consultants | pg. 36 10337_TAC.indd 1 1/19/15 12:20 PM TAC_county_news_fullpg_cmyk_tylertech_120413.pdf 1 12/4/13 10:34 AM Public Access Cloud-Based Solutions Mobile Computing Wherever you’re headed, Tyler is there Texas Association of Counties Mission Statement The mission of the Texas Association of Counties is to unite counties to achieve better solutions. County, a bimonthly magazine, is distributed to every elected county official and county auditor in Texas’ 254 counties. 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Articles in County magazine that refer to issues that could be considered by the Texas Legislature may be interpreted to be “legislative advertising” To learn more, visit tylertech.com or email us at [email protected]. Scan now to review according to Texas Gov’t. Code Ann §305.027. Disclosure of the name and address of the person who contracts with the printer to publish the case studies. legislative advertising in County magazine is required by that law: Gene Terry, 1210 San Antonio, Austin, Texas 78701. 10337_TAC.indd 2 1/15/15 1:30 PM TAC_county_news_fullpg_cmyk_tylertech_120413.pdf 1 12/4/13 10:34 AM Public Access TCPN Helps You Save Cloud-Based Solutions Your Pennies. Overseeing services and infrastructure requires a lot of effort and planning. The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN) helps simplify your steps and reduce your costs. TCPN’s contracts Mobile Computing leverage the purchasing power of over 37,000 actively engaged government entities. 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Other readers include purchasing agents, budget and planning administrators, appointed department heads, state legislators and state agency personnel. Wherever public sector offices are working to serve the public, Tyler is there. We make Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part, is permissible only upon express written it our mission to improve the way local government and schools take care of business, authorization from the publisher and when proper credit, including copyright acknowledgment, is given to Texas Association of Counties’ County Magazine. by increasing efficiency, improving information sharing, and making their jobs easier. ©2000, Texas Association of Counties. Published by the Texas Association of Counties, P.O. Box 2131, Austin, Texas 78768-2131. Telephone: (512) 478-8753, Facsimile: (512) 478-0519. World Wide Web site: http://www.county.org. Public access. Cloud-based solutions. Mobile computing. That’s empowerment. Articles in County magazine that refer to issues that could be considered by the Texas Legislature may be interpreted to be “legislative advertising” To learn more, visit tylertech.com or email us at [email protected]. Scan now to review according to Texas Gov’t. Code Ann §305.027. Disclosure of the name and address of the person who contracts with the printer to publish the case studies. legislative advertising in County magazine is required by that law: Gene Terry, 1210 San Antonio, Austin, Texas 78701. 10337_TAC.indd 1 1/15/15 1:30 PM 21 YEARS When you choose Nationwide® Retirement Solutions for your retirement plan needs, you’re SERVING THE 22 YEARS choosing a company that’s COMMUNITY been dedicated to helping the public sector for nearly 40 years. You’re also putting 80 years of Nationwide strength and stability to work for your employees and their families. A+ rating (A.M. 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NRM-8969M1.1 (09/13) 10337_TAC.indd 2 1/15/15 1:30 PM County Magazine | ★ ContentsJan./Feb. 2015 16 40 26 54 2015 Officers & Board of Directors PRESIDENT Don Allred Oldham County Judge PRESIDENT ELECT Joyce Hudman Brazoria County Clerk VICE PRESIDENT Larry Gallardo Highlights Hidalgo County Constable MEMBERS Lynn Cartrite 26 The History & Power of the #Hashtag Moore County Commissioner How Twitter and #politics mix Renee Couch Comal County Treasurer 34 2015 County Association Leadership and Contact Guide Edward Dion El Paso County Auditor Thank you for serving A.J. Louderback Jackson County Sheriff 36 We Know Counties Laurie English Meet the TAC Risk Management Consultants who provide training and 112th District Attorney education to counties Heather Hawthorne Chambers County Clerk 40 BiblioTech Diane Hoefling How a Texas county created the nation’s first fully digital public library Moore County District Clerk 46 Hitting the Road Jackie Miller, Jr. Ellis County Justice of the Peace Photos from a two-week journey from the state’s northwestern most point to Alma Moreno its southeastern coast. San Patricio County Commissioner 54 A Look at Who’s New in the Texas Legislature Scott Porter Johnson County Tax Assessor-Collector A brief introduction to the new faces in the Texas House and Senate Terry Simpson San Patricio County Judge Michael Truitt Denton County Constable Byron Underwood Departments Cherokee County Commissioner 4 Staff Report | 5 Website Spotlight | 6 Clipboard | 16 MESSAGE FOR YOU | 18 HISTORICAL Grover “Tiger” Worsham Trinity County Commissioner HIGHLIGHTS | 22 VOICES OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT |63 Calendar | 64 County Information EX OFFICIO MEMBERS Program | 66 Newsfeed | 67 WHO TO CALL| 68 One Last Look Mark Hamlin Brazos County District Clerk NACo Representative County Staff Connie Hickman Gene Terry, Executive Director | Leah Mullikin, Communications Director | Maria Sprow, Editor Navarro County Justice of the Peace Liz Carmack and Joel Nihlean, Contributing Writers | Ben Chomiak, Graphic Design Immediate Past President Ron Hickman ABOUT THE NEW DESIGN Harris County Constable NACo Representative County is proud to reveal a more modern, refreshed design for 2015. We hope our readers will enjoy the updated look, created by TAC Graphic Designer David Garcia. Please let us know what you think by emailing County Editor Maria Sprow at [email protected]. Jan/FebJan/Feb 2015 2015