I am Byron Ryder, Leon County Judge and your new president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas. I am looking forward to serving you. It is an honor and a privilege to be in this leadership role. With your help, we can shape the future of our counties.
This association provides many educational opportunities for all the county judges and commissioners across Texas. Be sure to get involved in the regional association conferences, where you can get the continuing education hours each year that are required of you. Also, these conferences help you build relationships with other leaders whom you may need to call upon in the future for help or advice. You will find that they are more than willing to help.
In just a few weeks, the 89th Legislature will convene, and you need to be involved in the process. Get to know your representatives and senators and form a relationship with them so you can call them about issues and let them know how those issues may affect your county. Jim Allison, Eric Magee and Rich Thompson are your legislative team at the association, and they will be working hard for you at the Capitol. You may be called upon to share your views on an issue or to contact your representative or senator to express your views.
I have been a county judge for 22 years, president of North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas two times, president of the National Association of Regional Councils in Washington, D.C., and I am very proud and humble to serve as your CJCAT president for the coming year. I am eager to work with each of you. Please do not hesitate to contact me.
Byron Ryder
Leon County Judge
President, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas