Gregg County Commissioner Ray Bostick, Jr. Completes Advanced Study of County Government

WACO, Texas — Gregg County Precinct 2 Commissioner Ray Bostick, Jr. has completed the Commissioners’ Court Advanced Curriculum (CCAC), a voluntary advanced course of study designed to provide county officials with a comprehensive understanding of county government operations, responsibilities, and stewardship.

Bostick received a Certificate of Achievement from the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT), sponsor of the advanced curriculum program, during the association’s annual conference held October 5–8 in Waco.

Bostick has served as Gregg County Precinct 2 Commissioner since January 1, 2023, and is scheduled to be sworn in again on January 1, 2027, to begin serving his second term.

The Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum provides an in-depth educational experience that goes beyond the continuing education requirements for county officials. The program is designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge of the structure, functions, legal responsibilities, and administrative demands of county government.

As part of his coursework, Bostick studied the operations of county offices and the many responsibilities involved in county government stewardship. The curriculum addressed the interconnected nature of county government, emphasizing the importance of understanding how individual offices function, how their responsibilities relate to one another, and how county resources are managed to serve the public.

This broad perspective is essential to understanding county government as a whole. From financial management and budgeting to public infrastructure, records, public safety, facilities, and administrative operations, county government encompasses numerous functions that must work together to meet the needs of residents and comply with applicable laws. Effective stewardship requires an understanding of those responsibilities, careful oversight of public resources, accountability to taxpayers, and informed decision-making that considers both immediate needs and long-term obligations.

Bostick emphasized the importance of that knowledge in effective public leadership.

“If you don’t know what county government does, you can’t provide effective county government leadership,” Bostick said.

For Bostick, understanding the full scope of county government is fundamental to serving in an elected leadership position. Effective leadership requires more than familiarity with the responsibilities of one office or department. It requires an appreciation of how all county offices operate, how decisions affect countywide services, and how public resources can be responsibly managed in the interest of taxpayers and residents.

A commissioner’s decisions can affect county budgets, roads and bridges, infrastructure, public facilities, and other essential services. Understanding the operations and responsibilities of county government provides important context for evaluating priorities, asking informed questions, working collaboratively with other officials, and making decisions within the authority established by Texas law.

The CCAC curriculum consists of three phases:

• Phase I — Orientation: More than 16 hours of instruction.
• Phase II — Basics: 16 hours of instruction.
• Phase III — Electives: 32 hours of additional coursework.

Together, the three phases represent more than 64 hours of education based on the program’s stated minimum requirements.

The CJCAT is a statewide organization that promotes the interests of county government and provides educational opportunities for county judges and commissioners, including continuing education and professional development programs. The Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum offers officials an opportunity to pursue a deeper understanding of their duties beyond the minimum required education credits.

Bostick’s completion of the program reflects a commitment to expanding his knowledge of county government and the responsibilities entrusted to elected officials. As he prepares to begin his second term representing Gregg County Precinct 2 on January 1, 2027, the advanced coursework reinforces the importance of informed leadership, responsible stewardship, and a comprehensive understanding of the government he serves.

For Commissioner Bostick, the principle is straightforward: effective county government leadership begins with knowing how county government works, understanding the responsibilities it carries, and recognizing that every decision involving public resources ultimately affects the people the government is entrusted to serve.

 

     For more information on this article, please contact Julie Anderson, editor of County Progress Magazine, at julie@countyprogress.com.

 

Gregg County Commissioner Ray Bostick (right) accepts his Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum Certificate of Achievement from Parmer County Commissioner Kirk Frye, 2025-26 President of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas.