Class XI Applications are NOW OPEN!
The Commissioners Court Leadership Academy is a two year program that builds advanced skills and knowledge in pursuit of four objectives:
- To increase knowledge of the origins and varying systems of county government and the interrelationship of local, state and national government systems.
- To develop communication and interpersonal skills to more effectively present ideas and work with community members, colleagues, the media and other elected officials.
- To enhance personal leadership and decision making skills to better represent and lead constituents, counties and associations.
- To improve the ability to serve as an advocate for county issues at all levels of government.
Selection Process
Selection is based on a competitive process in which interested county judges and commissioners apply to participate in the program. Successful candidates for the Academy pay a tuition fee which includes all sessions and out-of-state travel and accommodations. Costs for in-state travel and lodging are borne by the participant.
Expectations
Important expectations of all Academy participants are:
- An open and inquiring mind.
- A willingness to learn.
- A commitment to actively participate in Academy activities and experiences.
- A commitment to greater service for the betterment of Texas county government.
Participation requires a time commitment of sixteen days during the two-year program period. This schedule includes three 3-day sessions and one 7-day session, including travel time to and from meeting locations.
Specific session dates vary from class to class. The typical pattern is as follows:
Session 1: Austin, TX – April 2025
Session 2: Corpus Christi, TX – October 2025
Session 3: Washington, D.C. – May 2026 *May bring ONE guest at participants expense*
Session 4: College Station, TX – August 2026 *Graduation*
Alumni sessions are held annually at the V.G. Young School for County Commissioners Courts. Alumni are listed by class below.
Class I
Click here to view the CCLA Class I Brochure (2005 – 2006)
Don Allred, Oldham County Judge
Kevin Burns, Wise County Commissioner
Richard Easingwood, Jr., Tom Green County Commissioner
Ronald Leck, Lavaca County Judge
Kenny Mallard, Brazos County Commissioner
Alton (Ray) Meadows, McLennan County Commissioner
Harold Player, Leon County Commissioner
Jerry Rowden, Kaufman County Commissioner
Kenneth Schoen, Kaufman County Commissioner
Charles Shofner, Jr., Jasper County Commissioner
Gene Short, Grayson County Commissioner
Bobby Smith, Polk County Commissioner
Frank Summers, Milam County Judge
Nina Trevino, San Patricio County Commissioner
Beth Wisenbaker, Hopkins County Commissioner
Class II
Click here to view the CCLA Class II Brochure (2007 – 2008)
Johnny Belicek, Jackson County Commissioner
Mike Brown, Tom Green County Judge
Jon Burrows, Bell County Judge
Neil E. Fritsch, Calhoun County Commissioner
Roger Galvan, Calhoun County Commissioner
David Magness, Rockwall County Commissioner
Fred Nardini, San Patricio County Commissioner
E. Duane Peters, Brazos County Commissioner
Byron Ryder, Leon County Judge
Charles Simmons, Nacogdoches County Commissioner
Tab Thompson, Erath County Judge
Class III
Click here to view CCLA Class III (2009 – 2010)
Tim Brown, Bell County Commissioner
Wayne Bubela, Jackson County Commissioner
Ray Clark, Kaufman County Commissioner
Lonnie Hunt, Houston County Judge
Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, Hays County Commissioner
Bill McElhaney, Wise County Judge
Bobbie Mitchell, Denton County Commissioner
Alma Moreno, San Patricio County Commissioner
Susan Redford, Ector County Judge
Richard Roan, Hood County Commissioner
John Roth, Parker County Commissioner
Leon Standard, Irion County Judge
Mike Sutherland, Burleson County Judge
Class IV
Click here to view the Class IV Brochure (2011-2012)
Mark Allen, Jasper County Judge
Rick Bailey, Johnson County Commissioner
Danny Bodeker, Hill County Commissioner
Lynn Cartrite, Moore County Commissioner
Irma Cauley, Brazos County Commissioner
Paul Cothren, Cass County Commissioner
David Dubose, Orange County Commissioner
Penny Golightly, Floyd County Judge
Patti Jones, Lubbock County Commissioner
Christopher Kirkendall, Hardin County Commissioner
Jimmie W. Long, Howard County Commissioner
S. Loyd Neal, Nueces County Judge
John Lee Norman, Garza County Judge
James R. Pack, Erath County Commissioner
Roy Parker, Jasper County Commissioner
Jeffrey Thompson, Harrison County Commissioner
Kelly Traylor, Cherokee County Commissioner
Byron Underwood, Cherokee County Commissioner
Larry Wiley, Wilson County Commissioner
Grover “Tiger” Worsham, Trinity County Commissioner
Class V
Click here to view the Class V Brochure (2013-2014)
Jacques Blanchette, Tyler County Judge
Mike DeLoach, Lamb County Judge
Kenneth Dickson, Anderson County Commissioner
Joe Gonzales, Nueces County Commissioner
Joey Hill, Anderson County Commissioner
Kenny Howell, Johnson County Commissioner
Clint Ives, Victoria County Commissioner
Robert Johnston, Anderson County Judge
Bill McCay, Lubbock County Commissioner
Doug Page, Trinity County Judge
AJ Peek, Clay County Commissioner
Luis Sanchez, Midland County Commissioner
Rusty Senac, Chambers County Commissioner
Butch Warren, Navarro County Commissioner
Lloyd Wassermann, Brazos County Commissioner
Class VI
Click here to view the Class VI Brochure (2015-2016)
Jakie Allen, Kaufman County Commissioner
Rick Bacon, Tom Green County Commissioner
Jason Brinkley, Cooke County Judge
Creta Carter II, Fannin County Judge
Jen Crownover, Comal County Commissioner
Susan Fletcher, Collin County Commissioner
Mark Heinrich, Lubbock County Commissioner
Dean Lackey, Fannin County Commissioner
Vern Lyssy, Calhoun County Commissioner
Jerry Magness, Fannin County Commissioner
Martin Nash, Fannin County Commissioner
Class VII
Click here to view the Class VII Brochure (2017-2018)
Clara Beckett, Bastrop County Commissioner
Kevin Brendle, Dickens County Judge
Pat Calhoun, Goliad County Judge
Jaime Canales, Webb County Commissioner
Sammy Catalena, Brazos County Commissioner
David Dobyanski, Grimes County Commissioner
Lee Gilbert, Rockwall County Commissioner
Rashad Mims, Anderson County Commissioner
Kent Pollard, Matagorda County Commissioner
Rowdy Rhoades, Moore County Judge
Bill Schumann, Bell County Commissioner
Tully Shahan, Kinney County Judge
Eddy Shelton, Ector County Commissioner
David Sweet, Rockwall County Judge
Zephaniah Timmins, Harrison County Commissioner
Tom Whitten, Bowie County Commissioner
Larry Woolley, Johnson County Commissioner
Ben Zeller, Victoria County Judge
Class VIII
(2019-2020)
Joe Brown, Erath County Commissioner
C.J. ‘Trey’ Duhon, Waller County Judge
Joe Fauth, Grimes County Judge
G. Kirk Frye, Parmer County Commissioner
Mark M. Gillespie, Atascosa County Commissioner
David E. Hall, Calhoun County Commissioner
Mercy Murguia, Potter County Commissioner
Russell T. Schneider, Bell County Commissioner
Becky A. Wilbanks, Cass County Judge
Jimmy R. Wiley, Young County Commissioner
Class IX
(2021-2022)
Steven Aldrich, Brazos County Commissioner
Nancy Berry, Brazos County Commissioner
Alfonso Campos, Erath County Judge
Kenneth W. Cates, Kaufman County Commissioner
Lucy M Hebron, Wood County Judge
Dan R. Hicks Jr, Scurry County Judge
Cindy G. Irwin, Hutchinson County Judge
Kendric D. Jones, Waller County Commissioner
Merlin ‘Gary’ Martin, Wilson County Commissioner
Roger L. Morris, III, Oldham County Commissioner
Gary D. Reese, Calhoun County Commissioner
Jason M. Snuggs, Cooke County Commissioner
Stevan Sturrock, Tyler County Commissioner
Michael ‘Dee’ Vaugh, Moore County Commissioner
Kenneth Weeks, Newton County Judge
Mike White, Johnson County Commissioner