JILL S. SKLAR
Position sought: Jackson County Judge Resident of the district/precinct: May 2004 Spouse and children:
spouse, Shane Sklar for 20 years, children, Maggie, John Rhett and Vivian Education: Bachelor’s of science in agriculture development at Texas A&M University at College Station; Law Degree, University of Houston Law Center.
Employment: Jackson County Judge, January 2019 to present; Texas Attorney General’s Office, January 2008 to December 2018; Law office of Bernard Klimist, December 2006 to December 2007; Texas Farm Bureau, January 2001 to August 2003.
Clubs/organization, extra activities: President of the South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association (2022-23), Chair of the County Information Resource Agency, Texas Association of Counties, Vice-Chair of the Crossroads Regional Public Defender’s Office oversight board, vice-chair of the Golden Crescent Rural Transit oversight board, member of the Golden Crescent Re- gional Economic Advisory Committee, member of the Regional Water Planning Group Region P, Chair of the LNRA Community Development Partnership Program Review Committee, Vice-president of Edna Rotary, board member of the United Way of Jackson County, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Edna FFA Booster club, Edna Cheer Booster club.
Previous experience: For nearly 20 years, I’ve practiced law in and out of the courtroom with a strong focus on evidence and procedure, and a deep commitment to the constitutional rights of those in court. As County Judge since 2019, I’ve dealt with a wide range of legal issues that affect our county such as contracts, employment matters, and compliance with state laws. This gives a broad perspective on the challenges facing local individuals, businesses, and organizations. I have fairness and respect for the law guide with each matter I handle.
Beyond the courtroom, I bring real-world leadership experience in working with people, budgets, and taxpayer dollars. Before serving you at the courthouse, I led the Texas Attorney General’s Regional Field Office in Victoria, where our team consistently met goals and earned recognition as one of the top-performing regional offices in our state. In my role as County Judge for the past seven years, I’ve served as the county’s Chief Budget Officer while overseeing a complicated county budget with many moving parts.
I have led the county through some of its most challenging moments in emergency management, including a major cyberattack, the COVID-19 pandemic, the severe winter storm of 2021, and multiple storms, including hurricanes. I bring the training, experience, ability to remain focused and make sound decisions in highly stressful situations, and this leadership was recognized in 2019 by the Texas Military Department. Throughout each crisis, my focus has been on protecting lives, county property, and keeping county operations running.
As a taxpayer, fiscal responsibility guides my decision-making as County Judge. We’ve kept costs and taxes down in Jackson County while planning for the future. We’ve also cut waste, improved efficiency, and worked with trusted partners to support economic growth. Maintaining county financial reserves in case of emergencies or unexpected expenses has been a priority for me. I am committed to making county government efficient, transparent, and accessible so residents continue to receive the services they need now, and in the future.
Reason seeking the position: I’m a wife and mother of three beautiful children. I want to ensure Jackson County is a strong and thriving county for generations to come. I’m seeking a third term as County Judge to continue the progress we’ve already made and tackle the challenges ahead. As head of Emergency Management for our county, I know the importance of preparation. We currently lack adequate facilities for all emergency response partners to coordinate during disasters like hurricanes. With $5,000,000 in funding we’ve received from the state, we’re working to create a modern Emergency Operations Center to ensure Jackson County is ready for any emergency. I am committed to seeing that this project is done right, and done on budget.
Working alongside law enforcement, I know first-hand the importance of keeping public safety a top priority. The Jackson County Jail was built in 1980, and is increasingly expensive to maintain. It unfortunately no longer meets standards for safety or security. While past Commissioners Courts have avoided even discussing this difficult subject, it’s time to start thinking ahead and making realistic longterm plans that balance finances and community needs. With ongoing concerns about election integrity, the time has come to seriously consider creating a professional Elections Administrator position for our county. This will help ensure that our elections locally remain efficient, transparent, and trustworthy.
I’m highly focused on economic development efforts to create jobs here, grow the local economy, and increase opportunities for our residents. I will also continue strengthening partnerships across local government, community organizations, and residents to enhance county services and improve the quality of life for everyone.
Other pertinent information: While it can be easy to talk about leadership, I don’t just talk about it. I work to get things done, and have a record to prove it. I look to see the opportunity in every problem, and search for real solutions. I always keep county finances in mind, and have frequently used sources such as grants for revenue to not burden taxpayers. Working with community partners, we’ve expanded local after- school programs to all three elementary schools, giving kids positive places to learn and grow. After seeing how many veterans struggle to navigate different state or federal programs, I brought in a Veteran Services Officer to give our vets a trusted advocate to help them get the benefits they’ve earned.
I’ve taken on other challenges in our communities as well. Jackson County, Our Next Endeavor (ONE) was developed through countywide collaboration, bringing together law enforcement, healthcare providers, and local organizations to reduce substance abuse. We’re already seeing real success for individuals and families sprouting from those efforts. As the number of local indigent defense attorneys declined, I helped create the Crossroads Regional Public Defender’s Office to safeguard constitutional protections and improve efficiency in our criminal justice system. By partnering with the Victoria County Juvenile Probation Department, we expanded services for juveniles far beyond what our county could provide on its own. Through the Jackson County Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD), we’ve built on lessons learned from Hurricane Harvey as community leaders and myself created a disaster response network that works when it matters most.
I solve problems. I deliver results. I do it through teamwork with Commissioners Court, community partners, and neighbors who make things work. Jackson County deserves leadership that isn’t afraid to lead and get things done…and that’s what I bring every day.
