Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is Wednesday Program

 Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is the county’s chief executive and director of Harris County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Judge Emmett is the presiding officer of the county’s governing body, Commissioners Court, and is a voting member. The court comprises Judge Emmett and four commissioners. The county judge is elected countywide, and each commissioner is elected by precinct.

Commissioners Court’s main functions are: conducting annual budget hearings; setting the county tax rates; adopting the county budget; the supervision and control of county courthouses and jails; appointment and employment of county personnel; appointment of members to numerous boards and commissions; filling of vacancies in elected and appointed positions; establishing voting precinct boundaries; calling of county bond elections; letting of contracts in the name of the county; building and maintenance of county roads, bridges, parks and libraries.

Commissioners Court also develops and implements capital improvement projects, mobility and transportation plans, and county health care facilities. And, as an agent of the state, Judge Emmett’s office conducts beer and wine license protest hearings.

Judge Emmett represents Harris County on numerous boards and committees, including acting as chairman of the Harris County Juvenile Board and the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Executive Steering Committee. He also is a board member of: the Joint City-County Commission on Children; the Tejano Center for Community Concerns; the Houston-Galveston Area Council; the Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council; and the American Society of Transportation and Logistics.