Editing Jeff Davis County, Texas (section)

==Government==
[[File:Jeff Davis Co TX Voting Precincts.svg|thumb|right|Map of Jeff Davis County, Texas with numbered voting precincts and colored commissioners court precincts]]

===County offices===
The [[Constitution of Texas|Texas Constitution]] requires that Jeff Davis and all other Texas counties, regardless of area or population, be governed by an elected five-member [[commissioners court]]. It exercises power and jurisdiction over all county business. The court is composed of the county judge as presiding officer, and four county commissioners elected to four-year terms from [[single-member districts|single-member precincts]].<ref name="TC 5.18">{{cite constitution|article=5|section=18|country=Texas|ratified=February 15, 1876|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.5.htm#5.18|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref>

The county judge under the state's constitution is elected to a four-year term and is designated as a conservator of the peace. The judge need not be an attorney, but is constitutionally required to be well informed in the law of the state.<ref name="TC 5.15">{{cite constitution|article=5|section=15|country=Texas|ratified=February 15, 1876|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.5.htm#5.15|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> The judge serves as the budget officer for the commissioners court, and with the assistance of the county clerk, prepares the annual budget proposal.<ref name="LG4.111.002">Title 4, Subtitle B, Chapter 111, Subchapter A, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.111.htm#111.002 Section 111.002], ''Texas Local Government Code''. Retrieved on April 9, 2015.</ref><ref name="LG4.111.003">Title 4, Subtitle B, Chapter 111, Subchapter A, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.111.htm#111.003 Section 111.003], ''Texas Local Government Code''. Retrieved on April 9, 2015.</ref> In addition to presiding over meetings of the Commissioners Court, the County Judge officiates the County Court.<ref name="TC 5.16">{{cite constitution|article=5|section=16|country=Texas|ratified=February 15, 1876|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.5.htm#5.16|access-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> The County Judge has jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses in which the fine may exceed $500<ref name="CR4.4.4.07">Title 1, Chapter 4, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CR/htm/CR.4.htm#4.07 Article 4.07], ''Texas Code of Criminal Procedure''. Retrieved on April 4, 2015.</ref> or in which confinement or imprisonment may be imposed.<ref name="CR4.4.4.11">Title 1, Chapter 4, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CR/htm/CR.4.htm#4.11 Article 4.11], ''Texas Code of Criminal Procedure''. Retrieved on April 4, 2015.</ref>

The current Jeff Davis county judge is Curtis Evans, a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref name="CJElection">{{cite news|url=http://www.co.jeff-davis.tx.us/page/jeffdavis.County.Judge|title=Jeff Davis County|location=Fort Davis, Texas|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>

The state constitution calls for the election of [[Justice of the peace#Texas|justices of the peace]] and [[Texas constable|constables]] from individual precincts. Because Jeff Davis County has a population of fewer than 18,000 persons, it is permitted to have a single county-wide precinct for the election of these offices.<ref name="TC 5.18"/> The justice court in criminal cases has original jurisdiction in matters punishable by a fine only. In civil matters, the court has exclusive jurisdiction in all disputes involving $200 or less.<ref name="TC 5.19">{{cite constitution|article=5|section=19|country=Texas|ratified=February 15, 1876|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.5.htm#5.19|access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref>

The constable executes and returns processes, warrants, and precepts as directed, including eviction notices, and is expressly authorized to perform acts and services including the serving civil or criminal processes, citations, notices, warrants, subpoenas, and writs, and may do so anywhere within the county. Additionally, the constable may serve civil processes in all contiguous counties. The constable is also expected to attend sessions of the justice court.<ref name="LG86.021">Title 3, Subtitle B, Chapter 86, Subchapter C, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.86.htm#86.021 Section 86.021], ''Texas Local Government Code''. Retrieved on April 8, 2015.</ref>

The [[Sheriffs in the United States#Texas|sheriff]] is elected to a four-year term.<ref name="TC 5.23">{{cite constitution|article=5|section=23|country=Texas|ratified=February 15, 1876|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.5.htm#5.23|access-date=April 8, 2015}}</ref> Because the county has a population of fewer than 10,000, the sheriff also serves as the assessor-collector of taxes.<ref name="TC 8.14">{{cite constitution|article=8|section=14|country=Texas|ratified=February 15, 1876|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.8.htm#8.14|access-date=April 8, 2015}}</ref> <!-- The sheriff has the authority to employ deputies<ref name="LG85.003">Title 3, Subtitle B, Chapter 85, Subchapter A, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.85.htm#85.003 Section 85.003], ''Texas Local Government Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> and is responsible for executing all processes and precepts as directed by legal authority and their return to the proper court,<ref name="LG85.021">Title 3, Subtitle B, Chapter 85, Subchapter B, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.85.htm#85.021 Section 85.021], ''Texas Local Government Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> including the execution of subpoenas and other processes authorized by leaders of the [[Texas Legislature]].<ref name="LG85.022">Title 3, Subtitle B, Chapter 85, Subchapter B, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.85.htm#85.022 Section 85.022], ''Texas Local Government Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> The Sheriff is a conservator of the peace, and has the power to arrest offenders of the law.<ref name="CR2.17">Title 1, Chapter 2, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CR/htm/CR.2.htm#2.17 Article 2.17], ''Texas Code of Criminal Procedure''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> The sheriff has charge and control of the county courthouse as regulated by the commissioners court.<ref name="LG291.003">Title 9, Subtitle B, Chapter 291, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.291.htm#291.003 Section 291.003], ''Texas Local Government Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> The sheriff is responsible for delivering prisoners to jail.<ref name="CR2.18">Title 1, Chapter 2, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CR/htm/CR.2.htm#2.18 Article 2.18], ''Texas Code of Criminal Procedure''. Retrieved on April 26, 2015.</ref> County prisoners are incarcerated outside the county since the closure of the Jeff Davis County Jail in 1978.<ref name="Jail">{{cite web|publisher=[[Texas Historical Commission]]|title=Jeff Davis County Jail|url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=5507016485&site_name=Jeff+Davis+County+Jail&class=5000|access-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref> The sheriff, while serving in the role of tax assessor-collector, assesses and collects property taxes on behalf of the county.<ref name="TX6.23">Title 1, Subtitle B, Chapter 6, Subchapter B, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TX/htm/TX.6.htm#6.23 Section 6.23], ''Texas Tax Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> The tax assessor-collector also collects on behalf of the state taxes on lands subject to the [[Permanent University Fund]] for the [[Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts]]<ref name="TX31.01">Title 1, Subtitle E, Chapter 31, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TX/htm/TX.31.htm#31.01 Section 31.01], ''Texas Tax Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> and vehicle registration fees for the [[Texas Department of Transportation]].<ref name="TN502.191">Title 7, Subtitle A, Chapter 502, Subchapter E, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TN/htm/TN.502.htm#502.191 Section 502.191], ''Texas Transportation Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref> The assessor-collector also serves as the county's voter registrar.<ref name="EL12.001">Title 2, Chapter 12, Subchapter A, [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.12.htm#12.001 Section 12.001], ''Texas Election Code''. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.</ref>
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The county is served by Sheriff [[Rick McIvor]], a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] first elected in 2008, and now serving his second term.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/319/former-longhorn-qb-mcivor-running-for-sheriff|title=Former Longhorn QB McIvor running for sheriff|first=Tim|last=Griffin|date=September 2, 2008|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=April 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://bigbendnow.com/2012/11/same-sheriff-new-county-attorney-in-jeff-davis-county/|title=Same sheriff, new county attorney in Jeff Davis County|first=Alberto Tomas|last=Halpern|newspaper=The Big Bend Sentinel|date=November 6, 2012|location=Marfa, Texas|access-date=April 8, 2014|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114254/http://bigbendnow.com/2012/11/same-sheriff-new-county-attorney-in-jeff-davis-county/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The county clerk holds a four-year elected term and serves as clerk to both commissioners court and county court, and acts as recorder for the county. Because Jeff Davis County has fewer than 8,000 residents, the county clerk also serves as the district clerk.<ref name="TC 5.20">{{cite constitution|article=5|section=20|country=Texas|ratified=February 15, 1876|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.5.htm#5.20|link=no|access-date=April 18, 2015}}</ref>

===District offices===
Jeff Davis County is within the [[Texas's 23rd congressional district|23rd congressional district]]; it is represented in the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] by Rep. [[Tony Gonzales]], a Republican.

The county is represented in the Texas Legislature by state Senator [[Cesar Blanco]], a Democrat of the 29th senatorial district, and State Representative [[Eddie Morales]], a Democrat of the 74th legislative district.

Martha M. Dominguez, a Democrat, represents the county from District 1 on the [[Texas Education Agency#State Board of Education|State Board of Education]].<ref name="SBOE member">{{cite web|url=http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Leadership/State_Board_of_Education/Board_Members/SBOE_Member_District__1/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117204503/http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Leadership/State_Board_of_Education/Board_Members/SBOE_Member_District__1/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 17, 2014|title=SBOE Member District 1|author=Staff|publisher=[[Texas Education Agency]]|access-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref>

===Politics===
Sparsely populated and having a significant Latino minority, Jeff Davis leans conservative, and has joined the state in voting Republican after 1976.{{PresHead|place=Jeff Davis County, Texas|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|699|450|20|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|784|501|20|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|695|422|74|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|719|440|33|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|749|468|19|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|764|378|25|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|708|283|69|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|482|370|111|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|360|321|195|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|524|325|21|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|511|299|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|409|300|20|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|288|309|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|382|202|11|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|191|239|66|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|174|304|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|182|195|4|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|239|165|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|306|183|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|75|309|18|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|51|331|35|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|50|374|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|33|291|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|46|252|4|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|157|112|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|49|117|18|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|41|91|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|74|234|3|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|62|129|14|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Jeff Davis County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|671|447|37|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}