August 13, 2012 | Comments Off

Elected Officials

Information accurate as of July 2012

COUNTY JUDGE

  • Bill McElhaney
    P.O. Box 393
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 627-5743
    (940) 627-6926 (Fax)
    cojudge@co.wise.tx.us

County Judge Bill McElhaney presides over the four-member commissioners court, which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations. The judge has broad judicial responsibilities and is often the principal source of information and assistance.

His office is located on the first floor of the county courthouse in Decatur.

SHERIFF

Sheriff David Walker is the chief law enforcement offi cer for the county and is responsible for operating the county jail, investigating crimes and maintaining communications with other law enforcement organizations. He has countywide jurisdiction.

The sheriff ‘s office is at 200 Rook Ramsey Dr. in Decatur.

COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO.1

  • Danny White
    P.O. Box 899
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 627-5810
    (940) 627-0735 (Fax)
    comm1@co.wise.tx.us

COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 2

  • Kevin D. Burns
    P.O. Box 899
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 427-4881
    (940) 427-2210 (Fax)
    comm2@co.wise.tx.us

COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 3

  • Harry Lamance
    P.O. Box 899
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 433-5365
    (940) 433-5511 (Fax)
    comm3@co.wise.tx.us

COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 4

The job of the county commissioners calls for hands-on service, as well as the ability to handle policy-making budget decisions.

Four commissioners, each elected from a quarter of the county’s population, serve along with the county judge on the commissioners court. In addition to assuring that county roads are maintained, commissioners vote with the county judge to set the budget for all county departments and adopt a tax rate.

COUNTY CLERK

Wise County Clerk Sherry Lemon keeps records for the county. She is the clerk of the county court and the commissioners court and keeps a record of the proceedings.

She is in charge of the filing and recording of birth and death certifi cates and issuing of marriage licenses. Records of real property are also filed at the county clerk’s office. Her office is at 200 N. Trinity in Decatur.

DISTRICT CLERK

District Clerk Brenda Rowe is called on to assure that the affairs of the district courts are maintained objectively with the full confidence of judicial authorities.

The district clerk’s office handles acts and proceedings in the district court, enters all judgments of the court, administers child support payments and administers trust accounts for minors ordered by the courts. The office also keeps an index of suits filed in the court as well as keeping an account of all funds collected by the office.

Rowe plans to begin issuing passports soon.

TAX ASSESSOR/COLLECTOR

  • Monte Shaw
    404 W. Walnut
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 627-3523 (Tax Office)
    (940) 627-7237 (Fax)
    (940) 627-3304 (Auto Registration)
    wisecotax@co.wise.tx.us

Aside from collecting property taxes for the county, Tax Assessor/Collector Monte Shaw is responsible for motor vehicle registration.

TREASURER

Katherine Hudson, county treasurer, collects all money for the county and disperses money as directed by the commissioners court. She is also responsible for accounting for all funds in the county treasury and submits reports to the commissioners for approval.

Her office maintains records for county employees, including insurance and retirement. Every county office that receives money makes daily deposits to the county treasurer.

COUNTY COURT-AT-LAW NO. 1

  • Melton Cude
    P.O. Box 901
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 627-5005
    (940) 627-4791 (Fax)
    ccl@co.wise.tx.us

COUNTY COURT-AT-LAW NO. 2

  • Stephen Wren
    P. O. Box 250
    Bridgeport, TX 76426
    (940) 683-0268
    (940) 683-0269 (Fax)
    ccl2@co.wise.tx.us

Melton Cude and StephenWren

  • Melton Cude and Stephen Wren hears probate, family, guardianship and other civil cases.
  • The courtroom for County Court at Law No. 1 is on the third floor of the county courthouse in Decatur. The courtroom for County Court at Law No. 2 is located in the Wise County Annex Building at 1007 13th Street, Suite 109 in Bridgeport, Texas, unless the Court instructs otherwise.

COUNTY ATTORNEY

County Attorney James Stainton is the prosecuting officer for the county courts.

He handles criminal misdemeanor cases, as well as civil suits affecting the county and other matters such as juvenile cases, protective orders for family violence, revocation of probation, bond forfeitures and commitment procedures.

His office is at the county courthouse, Suite 300, Decatur, TX 76234, and he can be contacted at (940) 627-3321.

DISTRICT JUDGE (271st Judicial District)

  • John Fostel
    County Courthouse
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 627-3200

The district courtrooom is on the second floor of the county courthouse in Decatur.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Greg Lowery, district attorney, represents the state of Texas and attends the state district court exclusively. The district attorney can assist the attorney general’s office in enforcing the rules and regulations of state agencies and the conduct of state officials.

In Wise County, the district attorney’s duties are focused primarily on prosecution of felony criminal offenses.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. NO. 1

  • Jan Morrow
    P.O. Box 509
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 627-2694
    (940) 627-5417 (Fax)
    jp1@co.wise.tx.us

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. NO. 2

  • Terri Johnson
    200 Rook Ramsey Dr.
    Decatur, TX 76234
    (940) 626-4206
    (940) 626-4243 (Fax)
    jp2@co.wise.tx.us

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. NO. 3

  • Mandy Hays
    P.O. Box 86
    Boyd, TX 76023
    (940) 433-2969
    (940) 433-3062 (Fax)
    jp3@co.wise.tx.us

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. NO. 4

  • Clay Poynor
    1007 13th St.
    Bridgeport, TX 76426
    (940) 683-4244
    (940) 683-3747 (Fax)
    jp4@co.wise.tx.us

The justices of the peace are the legal jurisdiction closest to the average citizen and are officers of justice courts and small claims courts. They have jurisdiction over minor misdemeanor offenses (Class C) and in civil matters where the disputed amount does not exceed $5,000.

A variety of civil processes, as well as arrest and search warrants, can be issued by the justices of the peace. They can preside over hearings pertaining to the suspension of drivers’ licenses and conduct other hearings and inquests.

They can conduct marriage ceremonies and serve as ex officio notary publics for their precincts.

CONSTABLE, PCT NO. 1

CONSTABLE, PCT NO. 2

CONSTABLE, PCT NO. 3

CONSTABLE, PCT NO. 4

County constables are authorized peace officers and the chief process servers of the justice court. They have statewide jurisdiction to execute criminal processes. They can also execute processes issued by some state agencies. Constables subpoena witnesses, act as bailiff and execute judgments.

Constables serve four-year terms.