Non-Judicial Countywide Officials
The Non-Judicial Countywide Officials includes: County Clerk, District Clerk, Sheriff, Tax Assessor-Collector, and Criminal District Attorney. Scroll down to read more about the positions, qualifications, elections, and who represents you in various elected positions in Tarrant County.
IMPORTANT NOTE: These positions are countywide and will be on every Tarrant County resident’s ballot when up for re-election.
Criminal District Attorney
“The district attorney analyzes and gathers evidence to determine if there are grounds for criminal prosecution of cases within their districts and presents cases at trial.” – Texas Association of Counties
The Proposed Annual Maximum Salary for Criminal District Attorney as of Oct 1, 2021, is $242,999.78
Duties
A district attorney in Texas has the following duties:
- Represents the state in prosecuting felony criminal cases
- Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases
- Presents cases to the grand jury
- Represents victims of violence in protective orders and represents the state in removing children from abusive households
Learn More
- WATCH:The Role of the Prosecutor
- READ: 2018 GUIDE TO TEXAS LAWS FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS
- READ: Explained: The Role of the District Attorney
- READ: Local Politics 101: The Role of a District Attorney
- TARRANT COUNTY WEBSITE:CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Sheriff
“The sheriff acts as a conservator of the peace and the executive officer of the county and district courts, serve writs and processes of the courts, seizes property after judgment, enforce traffic laws on county roads and supervises the county jail and prisoners.” – Texas Association of Counties
The Proposed Annual Maximum Salary for Sheriff as of Oct 1, 2021, is $198,475.94.
Duties
A sheriff in Texas has the following duties:
- Serves as a licensed peace officer and is responsible for enforcing the criminal laws of the state
- Manages and operates the county jail
- Provides security for the courts
- Serves warrants and civil papers
- Regulates bail bondsmen in counties with no bail bond board
County Clerk
“The main duties of the county clerk are to serve as clerk of the county court and the county commissioners court, act as recorder of deeds and other instruments, issue marriage licenses and take depositions. The clerk is also responsible for conducting countywide special and general elections and for handling absentee voting.” – Texas Association of Counties
The Proposed Annual Maximum Salary for County Clerk as of Oct 1, 2021, is $188,475.82
Duties
What Does a County Clerk Do in Texas?
- Serves as clerk and custodian of records for the commissioners court, constitutional county court and statutory county courts
- Acts as a recorder and custodian of important public records, including all bonds, deeds, birth and death certificates, assumed names and livestock brands, ensuring that records are maintained in a secure, archival manner
- Issues marriage licenses
- Serves as chief elections officer in most counties
Learn More
- WATCH: What does your Texas county clerk do?
- READ: 2018 GUIDE TO TEXAS LAWS FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS
- READ: What does a county clerk do?
- TARRANT COUNTY WEBSITE: District Clerk
District Clerk
“The district clerk performs the duties assigned by the Texas Constitution as registrar, recorder and custodian of all court pleadings, instruments and papers that are part of any legal cause of action in the district courts.” – Texas Association of Counties
The Proposed Annual Maximum Salary for County Clerk as of Oct 1, 2021, is $188,475.82
Duties
What Does a District Clerk Do in Texas?
- Serves as clerk and custodian of all records for the District Courts
- Indexes and secures all court records, collects filing fees, and handles funds held in litigation and money awarded to minors
- Coordinates the jury panel selection process
- May process passport applications
- Manages court registry funds
Learn More
- READ: 2018 GUIDE TO TEXAS LAWS FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS
- TARRANT COUNTY WEBSITE: DISTRICT CLERK
Tax Assessor-Collector
“The tax assessor-collector calculates property tax rates for the county, collects taxes for the county (and sometimes for additional local taxing entities) and collects various other fees for the state and county.” – Texas Association of Counties
The Proposed Annual Maximum Salary for Tax Assessor-Collector as of Oct 1, 2021, is $188,475.82
Duties
A tax assessor-collector in Texas has the following duties:
- Calculates property tax rates for the county
- Collects property taxes for the county
- May collect taxes for cities, schools and other local taxing entities
- Processes motor vehicle title transfers
- Issues motor vehicle registration and licenses
- May process boat titles and registrations
- Registers voters and may conduct elections
- Collects various other fees for the state and county
Learn More
- TARRANT COUNTY WEBSITE:TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR
- READ: 2018 GUIDE TO TEXAS LAWS FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS
- WATCH: Tax Assessor-Collector
- READ: What does a tax assessor-collector do?
- READ: What Does the County Tax Assessor-Collector Do?
Qualifications
Here are the qualifications for what it takes to run for County Clerk, District Clerk, Sheriff, Tax Assessor-Collector, and Criminal District Attorney.
*Note – to be Criminal District Attorney you must be a practicing Lawyer and Judge.
Resident of Texas
for at least 12 consecutive months
Resident of the precinct
for at least six consecutive months
Registered to vote
in the commissioners precinct
Not convicted of a felony
from which they have not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities
Not have been determined by a court
with probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote
District Courts
Learn more about the District Courts in Tarrant County!
County Courts
Learn more about the County Courts in Tarrant County!
Justice of the Peace
Learn more about the Justice of the Peace!
Constables
Learn more about the Constables!
Connect
Are you looking to get connected in your community? Check out our Connect page to learn more about what organizations/nonprofits are in your community in Tarrant!
Collaborate
Are you an Organizer or looking to become an Organizer in Tarrant County? Check out our Collaborate page to learn how you can join a Collaborate team with other organizers in Tarrant!