Editor: Shannon Cottongame
September 21, 2023
Hill County Judge Justin Lewis was recognized with a statewide award during the Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) annual board meeting held in Austin Friday, September 8.
Lewis received the Wilbur R. Dunk Regional Leadership Award, which is presented to an elected official in the state each year who TARC determines has shown extraordinary dedication to the purposes of and responsibilities for regional cooperation through councils of government.
The 24 regional councils, also known as councils of governments (COGs), are comprised of city, county and special district members. The local COG is the Heart of Texas Council of Governments, which includes Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties.
Lewis is currently an executive board member for HOTCOG and has served as president, vice president and secretary/treasurer in the past.
He is also currently a board member with the Heart of Texas Economic Development District (HOTEDD) and has served as chair, vice chair and secretary/treasurer in the past.
Lewis has the distinction of being the only person to serve as president of TARC twice, he is currently past president and has held roles of president, president-elect, vice president and immediate past president.
The judge is also chair of the Heart of Texas Rural Transportation District, a member of the Rural Planning Organization and HOTCOG representative to the National Association of Development Organizations.
TARC is the statewide association of regional councils, whose members are focused on enhancing quality of life through regional strategies, partnerships and solutions.
TARC members work closely with state and federal partners on projects vital to the health and safety of Texans, including developing regional emergency preparedness strategies, community and economic development, services for the elderly, overseeing regional planning for environmental issues and maintaining and improving regional 9-1-1 systems.
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