Commissioner Johnson serves on the following Tarrant County Boards and Commissions:  The Tarrant County Bail Bond Board as the Commissioners’ Court’s appointee and Chairman of the Board, the Tarrant County Housing Finance Corporation as President and the Industrial Development Corporation as Vice President.

 

As Commissioner, J. D. also serves as the liaison for the Commissioners’ Court to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department, the Tarrant County Emergency Services District Number 1, the Tarrant County 9-1-1 Emergency Assistance District, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Tarrant County Bail Bond Board, the Criminal Justice Council, the District Attorney’s office and the Purchasing Agent Board.   Also serving as liaison for the Commissioners’ Court to the Tarrant County Hospital District, Commissioner Johnson has been active in securing badly needed funds to maintain a good health care delivery system and is committed to ensuring good health care for the medically indigent of Tarrant County.

 

During his tenure as Commissioner of Precinct Four, J. D.’s Precinct crews have worked on the development of Alliance Airport, the Western Currency Plant, the Green Bay Jail Facility, the Tarrant County Corrections Center, the new Tarrant County Law Center, the Tarrant County Vehicle Impound Lot, the La Grave Field parking lots and the Tarrant County Justice Center which houses the new courtroom facilities.  In June of 1998, under Commissioner Johnson’s supervision, a new Northwest Sub-Courthouse Annex was completed to provide additional services to the citizens of Northwest Tarrant County.  This allowed the County Clerk, Public Health Department, Women’s and Infant Care, Juvenile Services, and Community Supervision and Corrections offices to open at the Northwest Sub-Courthouse for the first time!  Then on February 1, 2006 the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office North Patrol Unit was added to the Northwest campus.
 
In 1993, Commissioner Johnson was the first County Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, where he served a six-year term.  He had served as Vice Chairman of the Commission prior to the completion of his term on the Commission in May of 1999.  He is a staunch supporter of law enforcement and the criminal justice system.  This appears to have become a family tradition as his son is currently with the Fort Worth Police Department Mounted Patrol.
 
In 2002, Commissioner Johnson was elected to the position of President of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. This board serves the Commissioners and County Judges for 118 counties across the state from Tarrant County, south to Brewster County, west to the state line and north to include the Panhandle.  He was successful in bringing the association’s Annual Continuing Education Conference to Fort Worth in 2003.  This brought an estimated attendance of 500 Judges, Commissioners, spouses and exhibitors to Tarrant County.  In 2005 Commissioner Johnson received the “Outstanding Elected Official of the Year” award at the annual West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference in Odessa. The award is given every year by the association to recognize officials who have made extraordinary contributions to the group.  

 

In 2008, Commissioner Johnson served as President of the statewide County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas.  The purpose of the statewide organization is to promote the interests of county government through continuing education and active participation in governmental affairs. With 254 counties in Texas, there are 1,270 active members of the Association – four county commissioners and one county judge from each county. 

 

In December of 2007, Commissioner Johnson was elected to a two year term as President of the Texas Association of Counties (TAC). The mission of the Texas Association of Counties is to provide services to Texas counties and assistance to all county officials.  They represent county interests in the legislative process and inform counties of issues that affected them.

 

In April of 2009, Commissioner Johnson was recognized by his peers when he received the “Sam D. Seale Award” at the 80th Annual West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference in Abilene, Texas.  An award created to recognize officials for outstanding service to the Association as exemplified by Sam D. Seale, who had a 35-year career in county government and held many leadership positions.  Commissioner Johnson was presented the award for his service as president of the Texas Association of Counties and immediate past president of both the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association and the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas.  

 

As Commissioner, J. D. has saved the taxpayers of this County hundreds of thousands of dollars by putting work release and minimum security prisoners to work on the roads of Tarrant County.  J. D.’s roots go back to his childhood in rural Falls County, which may account for his taking the responsibility for road maintenance so seriously.  He takes pride in the outstanding caliber of the roadwork done by his Precinct crews and in his responsiveness to the requests of his constituents, be they regarding potholes or predicaments.

 

J.D. is a strong fiscal conservative, as evidenced by his successful efforts to achieve either a tax decrease or no tax increase for a total of eighteen of the past twenty years during his tenure as Commissioner by seeking out and eliminating inefficiency and waste throughout the County.

 

Commissioner Johnson’s civic involvement does not stop with the Commissioners’ Court.  He is active in many community organizations.  He serves as a member of the Stockyards Business Association, the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce and the Azle Chamber of Commerce.  He is a former Board member of the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, the Northwest YMCA and Tarrant Council of Alcohol and Drug Abuse’s “Coalition” which assists communities in the county in the prevention of drug abuse.  In 2002 J. D. and Criminal District Attorney Tim Curry sponsored a free two day seminar on terrorism.  The seminar helped educate over four-hundred local law enforcement personnel on terrorism.

 

Commissioner Johnson began his service in the agricultural community during his childhood as a 4-H member in Lott, Texas.  He was an eight-year rodeo contestant participating in calf roping and team penning events.  He has taken what he learned as a child and applied it to his position as Commissioner and has been a valued member of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show Calf Scramble Committee since 1995, raising over $30,000 for scholarship funds.  In addition, Commissioner Johnson has been a member of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate for sixteen years and frequently rides in the Grand Entry.  He has also recently been elected to the Board of Directors of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.  J.D. is a long time major financial supporter of the Tarrant County Junior Livestock Show Association, benefiting our local 4-H and FFA youth.  He was honored in 2000 by the Tarrant County Junior Livestock Show Association as a “20 Year Contributor” and was presented with a hand-made saddle for his commitment to the youngsters of Tarrant County.  In 2004 Commissioner Johnson was chosen to receive one of three Texas 4-H Alumni Awards from the Texas Cooperative Extension.  This is the highest honor award given to friends of 4-H or former 4-H members in Texas.  He was honored again by the Texas Cooperative Extension in 2006, becoming the inaugural recipient of the “Extension in the City” award, recognizing outstanding support and leadership by an elected official for the Texas Cooperative Extension Urban Program.   J. D. also devotes time to serve on the Windy Ryon Board and has been the benefactor for the North Texas High School Rodeo Association for over 18 years which provides annual scholarships to local high school rodeo contestants.

 

Commissioner Johnson takes great pride in his position as Commissioner for Precinct Four.  But more importantly he takes pride in the citizens of Tarrant County and works hard for them.   J.D. and his staff welcome you to call or come by any time should you have any questions or concerns they can help you with.