IssuesJudicialLocal NewsAbbott Appoints Former GOP Commissioner J.J. Koch to Dallas County Criminal Court
Hayden SparksJanuary 4, 2023
Democratic Commissioner Andrew Sommerman defeated Koch when Democrats swept Dallas County elections in November.
HomeTagJ.J. Koch | The Texan
Criminal JusticeElections 2022IssuesLocal NewsRepublicans Trounced in Dallas County as Voters Elect All-Democrat Commissioners Court
Hayden SparksNovember 14, 2022
The only Republican on the court, Commissioner J.J. Koch (R-District 2), lost his seat to Democrat Andrew Sommerman.
HealthcareJudicialLocal NewsTaxes & SpendingDallas County Approves $250,000 in Taxpayer Spending on Jenkins’ Mask Lawsuit Against Abbott
Hayden SparksApril 19, 2022
Commissioners asserted that the lawsuit is a matter of public interest and that Jenkins was acting according to his official duties.
IssuesLocal NewsTaxes & SpendingDallas County Commissioners Table Motion to Spend COVID-19 Donations on Jenkins’ Suit Against Abbott
Hayden SparksApril 11, 2022
Democratic County Judge Clay Jenkins sued Governor Greg Abbott last year over the governor’s ban on local mask mandates.
2022 Primary Election RESULTSElections 2022State SenateRepublican Phil King Secures Nomination to Challenge Democrat Sen. Beverly Powell in GOP-Leaning District
Hayden SparksMarch 2, 2022
Powell narrowly won the seat in 2018 and her reelection is unlikely after the Texas Legislature redrew the district to favor the GOP.
Civil SocietyElections 2022IssuesLocal NewsDallas County Republicans Vying to Challenge Clay Jenkins in His First General Election Since Pandemic
Hayden SparksJanuary 14, 2022
Clay Jenkins will be facing voters for the first time since he implemented sweeping restrictions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Civil SocietyHealthcareIssuesLocal NewsAs Dallas County Judge Claims Temporary Victory in Mask Lawsuit, Paxton Warns Him to End Mandate
Hayden SparksAugust 10, 2021
Local officials seeking to exert mask mandates on their constituents are clashing with Governor Greg Abbott in court.
HealthcareIssuesLocal NewsDallas County Judge Jenkins Asks Court to Block Abbott’s Order Prohibiting Government Mask Mandates
Hayden SparksAugust 10, 2021
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is asking for more power to impose mandates he believes will reduce coronavirus infections.
Civil SocietyHealthcareIssuesLocal NewsDallas County Judge Sued by GOP Commissioner He Ejected From Courtroom Over Mask Mandate
Hayden SparksAugust 3, 2021
County Judge Clay Jenkins had removed Commissioner J.J. Koch from a commissioners court meeting for his decision to go without a mask.
87th LegislatureLocal NewsStudy Suggests Negative Economic Impacts of Election Integrity Reforms, Criticized by Dallas Commissioner
Kim RobertsMay 5, 2021
Expert testimony before North Texas county commissioners asserted that proposed state election reforms will have a detrimental economic impact.
FederalImmigration & BorderIssuesFEMA Leases Dallas Convention Center to House 3,000 Unaccompanied Minors
Hayden SparksMarch 15, 2021
The federal government has activated FEMA to help meet the needs of the soaring number of unaccompanied minors entering the U.S.
Local NewsState Orders Dallas County to Change Vaccine Plan That Prioritized Certain Zip Codes
Hayden SparksJanuary 22, 2021
Dallas County Commissioners rescinded a portion of the county’s vaccine distribution plan following a directive from state health officials.