J.D. Salinas, III

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Personal Information

Juan de Dios “J.D.” Salinas III was elected to the office of Hidalgo County Judge in 2006 and took over as county administrator on January 1, 2007. With his colleagues on the Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court, Judge Salinas’ priorities include promoting increased economic development while building a better future for our small businesses and communities, expanding affordable health care and educational opportunities for families and children, and improving transportation infrastructure.

As Hidalgo County Judge, Salinas is a leader of one of the fastest growing and most dynamic areas of the state and the nation. The “front door” to the United States, Hidalgo County is a center of medical research, agricultural production, and recreational diversity, as well as an important NAFTA trade corridor. Hidalgo County is emerging as a regional power with a global vision, and Judge Salinas realizes the great challenges that lie ahead to educate and motivate the next generation of leaders. He has been a facilitator, working to connect educators with businesses and students with teachers to improve the skills and wages of this young, diversifying community.

Judge Salinas has led the effort along with our veterans for the construction of a Veterans’ Administration hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. He has also worked tirelessly as an advocate for levee improvements and is a vocal opponent of the federal government’s plan to build a border fence. Judge Salinas’ cooperative spirit and his creative problem-solving skills have earned Hidalgo County international recognition as the only county along the southwest border that has been able to put forth a viable alternative to fencing — an alternative that respects business interests, private property rights and the environment.

Judge Salinas has earned the respect of the homeland security and emergency preparedness community in Texas for the leadership roles he played during the threat of Hurricane Dean and the wildfires of South Texas. He has been appointed to the first Texas Engineering Extension Service Advisory Council. TEEX is an internationally recognized leader in the delivery of emergency response and workforce technical training. The health care community has also recognized Judge Salinas as an “extraordinary leader” by presenting him with appreciation award for his mission and vision of improving access to and quality of health care for the Rio Grande Valley.

Judge Salinas is an active member of several organizations: He is a policy committee member of the Conference of Urban Counties, a board member of the I-69 Alliance, part of the nominating committee of the South Texas County Judges’ and Commissioners’ Association, a member of the Texas Association of Counties and the TAC Charter Leadership Class, the U.S. Mexico Border Counties Coalition and part of the Texas Lyceum board of directors. He also serves on a Texas Commission of Environmental Quality bi-national committee, responsible for monitoring and providing feedback on environmental issues affecting the border region.

BACKGROUND

At the age of 29, Salinas was elected as Hidalgo County Clerk in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002 where he earned statewide recognition for his innovation and vision by using the latest technology to bring the office into the modern era. Under his leadership, the County Clerk’s Office was praised for its efficiency and openness. As clerk, Salinas created the Hidalgo County Clerk Collections Department, which collected $13 million in court costs and fines in the last four years and was recognized by the state in 2005 for its effectiveness. Additionally, he implemented the Random Automated Assignment System, allowing court cases to be assigned randomly, and he worked to pass a groundbreaking resolution on unfunded mandates. In 2004, he was honored by his peers as Texas County Clerk of the Year. Salinas also served as secretary of the County and District Clerk's Association of Texas and as well as chairman of the legislative committee of the County and District Clerk's Association of Texas.

Prior to his election as County Clerk, Salinas was the chief South Texas liaison for former State Comptroller John Sharp, heading up economic development projects and helping Sharp's office win the first-ever Texas Quality Award given to a government agency.

From 1991 to 1996, Salinas served as administrative assistant to the Hidalgo County Judge, where he learned the inner workings of the office he now directs. He has also worked as a municipal judge for the city of La Joya.

A graduate of La Joya High School, Salinas earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Texas-Pan American.

Judge Salinas and his wife, Janie, live in McAllen with their five children. They are active members of Our Lady of the Lourdes Catholic Church in Madero and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Edinburg and are involved in a variety of community activities.