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• What is the Conference of Urban Counties?
• What does the Conference of Urban Counties do?
• Who are the current members?
• Where can I learn more about
membership?
• When was the Urban Counties formed?
• Who are the officers?
• Who is in charge of the day to day operations?
• Who is eligible to join?
• How does an eligible county join?
• What Continuing Education Credit is available?
• Where can I learn more?
 What is the Conference of Urban Counties?
The Texas Conference of Urban Counties is a non-profit organization composed of 35 member counties. Member counties represent nearly 80% of the population of Texas. The Urban Counties supports and coordinates communications among member counties, studies policies and programs of the State of Texas that affect urban counties, advocates county issues, primarily at the state level, and provides training and education programs appropriate for urban county officials. All services and activities are pursued for benefit of the people of Texas.
What does the Conference of Urban Counties do?
Analysis and Legislative Representation
The Urban Counties provides analysis of legislation, state agency rulemaking and attorney general opinions to urban county officials. The Urban Counties represents the collected interests of Texas urban counties in working with the state agencies and the legislature.
Who are the current members?
| Bell County |
El Paso County |
Hunt County |
San Patricio County |
| Bexar County |
Ellis County |
Jefferson County |
Tarrant County |
| Brazoria County |
Fort Bend County |
Johnson County |
Travis County |
| Brazos County |
Galveston County |
Kaufman County |
Williamson County |
| Cameron County |
Grayson County |
Lubbock County |
Wise County |
| Chambers County |
Gregg County |
McLennan County |
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| Collin County |
Guadalupe County |
Midland County |
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| Comal County |
Harris County |
Nueces County |
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| Dallas County |
Hays County |
Randall County |
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| Denton County |
Hidalgo County |
Rockwall County |
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When was the Urban Counties formed?
The Texas Conference of Urban Counties was formed in 1974 by the six most populous counties in Texas: Harris, Dallas, Bexar, Tarrant, El Paso, and Travis. The purpose was to provide a forum for urban county commissioners court members to discuss county government issues in urban Texas and to forge a united front with state officials on urban issues. Because Texas has 254 counties, with only a relative handful that have urban issues, it was difficult for the statewide county associations to address or devote significant resources to the specific needs of urban county officials. Since its inception, it has been focus of the Urban Counties to advance the unique interests of urban counties in the state policy making process.
Over the years, other urban counties and urbanizing counties have recognized the benefit of belonging to the Conference of Urban Counties. Today there are 35 member counties representing roughly 80% of the population of the state of Texas.
Who are the officers?
Urban Counties Board of Directors (CY 2010-2012)
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Chairman |
Dallas County Commissioner Mike Cantrell |
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Chairman Elect |
Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia |
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Immediate Past Chairman |
Midland County Judge Mike Bradford |
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Vice Chairman Member Services |
Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson |
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Vice Chairman Finance |
San Patricio County Commissioner Fred Nardini |
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Vice Chairman Policy |
Williamson County Judge Dan Gattis |
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Vice Chairman Administration |
Jefferson County Commissioner Eddie Arnold |
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Vice Chairman Education |
Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell |
Urban Counties officers are elected in the fall of odd numbered years by
the membership of the Urban Counties. Officers assume office following
the elections and serve for two years. Except for the chairman-elect, there is no automatic assumption of offices from one term to the next.
Who is in charge of the day to day operations?
Urban Counties Staff
| Executive Director |
Donald Lee |
| Program Manager |
Michael Vasquez |
| Program Manager |
Veronica Trevino |
Who is eligible to join?
Under the Urban Counties Constitution and Bylaws, a county is eligible for membership if it:
• Has a population of 100,000 or more in the last Census; or
• Is one of two adjacent counties that form one MSA with a total population greater than 100,000.
A county may also apply for membership in the Urban Counties if it:
• Is contiguous to a member county and within the same Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as determined by the US Census Bureau.
• Applications for membership are considered at the next business meeting of the Urban Counties and are approved upon a majority vote of the members present.
Urban Counties Bylaws
How does an eligible county join?
Interested counties may contact either Donald Lee or Michael Vasquez at the Urban Counties offices for assistance in joining the Urban Counties. A county joins (or makes application) by adopting a minute order authorizing the county to become a member of the association and authorizing the necessary expenditures for membership dues.
What Continuing Education Credit is available?
Odd numbered years: The Urban Counties sponsors the Legislative Update Series of luncheons during the legislative session. Each two-hour luncheon is eligible for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for county commissioners.
Education and Policy Conference: In the
fall the Urban Counties hosts a two day Education and Policy Conference for urban county officials, offering over ten hours of continuing education credit for the commissioners attending. The Education and Policy Conference is consistently rated as one of the best educational events available to county officials.
Recurring events: The Urban Counties sponsors two hour continuing education workshops and executive roundtables on issues of importance to urban county officials.
In May through November of the even-numbered years the legislative preparations intensify so there are fewer educational events scheduled.
Where can I learn more about the Urban Counties?
You may contact Michael Vasquez, Urban Counties Program Manager, by
email or by calling the Urban Counties offices at (512) 476-6174.
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