Washington County Judge
Over their four-year term, a county judge is responsible for:Maintaining and having custody of county propertyOverseeing public roads and bridges outside city limitsAdministering county ordinances Presiding over the Quorum Court, where the judge has veto power but not a voteAuthorizing county spending or paying of billsAccepting grants from outside entitiesHiring county employees that don't work for another county officialHearing property tax appeals (this is where that judge title comes in)Meeting with local mayors at least once a year for intergovernmental meetingsIn some counties, judges have assisted with burial costs for indigent people or have created community service programs.https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/ced-blog/posts/2022/april/what-is-a-county-judge.aspx
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Patrick Deakins
(Rep)
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Tim Shepard
(Rep)
Describe in your own words the duties of the office you seek.
Describe in your own words the experience and skills you have that qualifies you for this position.
Describe the first thing you plan to change/improve when you take office and how you will accomplish that goal.
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Campaign Phone
4792871151
Contest
Washington County Judge
The County Judge serves as the chief executive of county government. The role includes managing the county budget, overseeing county departments and road operations, administering county property and contracts, and presiding over the County Court on administrative matters. The Judge works with the Quorum Court, other elected officials, cities, and state partners to deliver services efficiently, maintain infrastructure, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. The job is about execution, coordination, and accountability rather than politics.
I have spent my career managing complex public systems with real consequences. As a police captain and division head, I oversee budgets, personnel, facilities, contracts, and long-term planning. I helped design and implement a grant-funded crisis response program that integrated licensed social workers into first-response operations and required coordination among law enforcement, courts, hospitals, and community providers. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from John Brown University, a master’s degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas, and I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy and PERF’s Senior Management Institute. In 2022, the University of Arkansas recognized my work with an honorary So
The first improvement will be strengthening coordination across county government so departments and partner agencies are working toward shared priorities. I will begin by meeting with department heads, elected officials, and community partners to understand what is working and where processes break down. From there, I will set clear expectations, improve communication, and use data to guide decisions. Having grown up in Washington County and spent my career working across public safety, courts, health services, and local government, I understand how collaboration and clarity lead to better outcomes for residents.
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