Official completes session for leadership academy

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas— Bowie County Precinct 2 Commissioner Tom Whitten became one of 16 county officials from throughout Texas to recently complete the second session of the state’s Commissioners Court Leadership Academy.

The academy, hosted by the V.G Young Institute of County Government, is a two-year program consisting of four sessions held at various locations in Texas and Washington D.C. These sessions help Commissioners Court members gain knowledge of county government, develop communications skills and enhance their ability to serve as an advocate for their county.

Session two focused on building better relationships through clear communication.

“As a community leader, it is important to seek education to increase effectiveness in support of our county,” Whitten said in a prepared statement. “This academy has taught me ways to enhance my communication skills and I look forward to using those skills in my role as a commissioner for Bowie County.”

The V.G.Young Institute is part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Part of its goals are to meet the education needs of county officials and the public by anticipating, identifying and addressing the challenges faced by Texas county government such as service demands, emerging technologies, limited resources and changing demographics.