County Judge Sydney Murphy is announcing her candidacy for re-election.
“To the voters of Polk County: I teasingly call myself a ‘transplant’ to Polk County, but after 50 years it’s obviously permanent! I cannot think of a better place to be … Matt and I have raised our children, worked and played in Polk County, and, the next generation is now flourishing and putting down roots of their own.
“We have accomplished a great deal since I took office in 2015 – made possible by strong partnerships and an exceptional team.
“When I took office in January 2015, Polk County had lost revenue that was included in the adopted budget and was facing a $1.4M deficit. That shortfall impacted every elected official and department. Our immediate goals became: 1) save jobs, 2) preserve employee insurance, 3) protect employee benefits and retirement, and 4) find every possible way to maintain services. We were able to accomplish that and stabilize the budget within two years, consistently presenting a balanced budget and earning the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting each year.
“We have built an incredible team of employees and departments, which has allowed us to improve services in every area. To date, Polk County has secured and managed over $46M in grants benefitting a wide range of programs, including, but not limited to, internet/broadband and communications, water infrastructure, roads and bridges, buildings (courthouse, museum and other county buildings), waste management, and public safety. Every Polk County resident, elected official, and department has been positively impacted.
“Partnerships and engagement with other programs have also led to major success and benefits for our county. We actively engage with the Polk County Historical Commission, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Polk County Recycling and Beautification, Polk County Economic Development Corporation, Polk County Commerce and College Center (TSUS/Lamar Campus), Brazos Transit, Piney Wood Lakes Texas Master Naturalist, Friends of Lake Livingston, and other local programs. We maintain an active presence with TxDOT for transportation needs (I-69, I-14, and 287 committees), Houston Wilderness (eco-tourism development), and DETCOG (multiple areas), just to name a few. These partnerships are embedded in trust and long-term relationships that we have developed.
“It has been my pleasure to be an active resident of Polk County for 50 years, and I would be honored to continue serving as your county judge. I believe my record of leadership, engagement and commitment to our county speaks for itself.”
