The commissioners court serves as the elected governing body of the county. The body includes County Judge Bill McElhaney and four commissioners:

• Bill McElhaney, 627-5743, cojudge@co.wise.tx.us;
• Robert Rankin, precinct 1, 627-5810, comm1@co.wise.tx.us;
• Kevin Burns, precinct 2, 427-4881, comm2@co.wise.tx.us;
• Mikel Richardson, precinct 3, 433-5365, comm3@co.wise.tx.us;
• Terry Ross, precinct 4, 683-4153, comm4@co.wise.tx.us.

Precinct 1 covers the Decatur area and extends south to Rhome; precinct 2 encompasses the Alvord and Chico areas and some areas south; Precinct 3 includes Boyd and south Wise County; and precinct 4 serves Bridgeport, Paradise and Cottondale areas in the west.

Commissioners are elected every two years by voters in their respective precinct. The judge is elected by the entire county and serves as the presiding officer of the commissioners court.

The commissioners oversee a wide range of actions such as the appoinment of numerous county employees; drafting the budget; overseeing of county roads, surface water supplies and sewage; hiring auditors; regulating massage parlors; handling elections; and creating new offices, boards and committees.

Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. on the first Monday on or after the tenth day of the month in the third-floor jury room of the Wise County Courthouse in Decatur.

For agendas or more information regarding commissioners and meetings call (940) 627-5743 or go to http://www.co.wise.tx.us/.