Commissioner JoAnn Fleming 13128 Timber Creek Drive Flint, Texas 75762-9718 jfleming@smith-county.com

Long before taking office in January of 2005, Commissioner Fleming  had been an advocate of the County's Roadmap to a New Horizon, calling for a business-like approach to county government.  She serves as the Court's liaison for the Information Technology and Road & Bridge Departments.  By working closely with the County Engineer and department team, the County has lowered equipment maintenance costs, implemented a new work-order and road history system, and developed a long-range department plan with the goal of putting more dollars into road reconstruction. With the new measures in place, the Road and Bridge Department doubled the number of miles resurfaced than the year before, and in 2005 reduced the number of roads rated "bad" and "poor" from 71% to 67%.

Commissioner Fleming's current projects include implementation of cost-reducing measures in the County's energy and fuel costs as well as information technology-related expenses. 

Commissioner Fleming is a native Texan, born in Killeen while her father was in military service. In 1979, she married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Fleming.  Mr. Fleming has been employed in the oil and gas industry with Schlumberger’s technical support division since 1975.  They have one teenage son – Kyle.

Education/Awards:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, University of Southern Mississippi (1979)
• Named the Phi Chi Theta Outstanding Senior Woman in the College of Business Administration (1979)
• USM Marketing Department Academic Award (1978 & 1979)
• Recipient of the Distinguished “God, Family & Country” Award by National Eagle Forum (1994-1996)

Community Service - Local Government Committee Appointments:

• Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee
• City of Tyler Storm Water Stakeholders Group
• Tyler Pounds Regional Airport Technical Advisory Committee
• Tyler Vision 2010 Task Force
• Smith County Jail Expansion Committee
• Smith County Strategic Planning Committee
• Smith County Courthouse Task Force
• Smith County Storm Water Stakeholders Group
• Tyler ISD Superintendent Business Advisory Group
• Tyler ISD 1997-1998 Facilities Committee
• Tyler ISD Financial Accountability Committee, Tri-Chairman
• East Texas Character Council Board of Directors – charter member
• East Texas Right to Life – charter member
• Texas Cooperative Extension Smith County Leadership Advisory Board
• Tyler/Smith County EMS Administrative Agency Board
• Co-Chair of the Smith County Buildings Task Force for Jail and Master Planning

Memberships:

• Smith County Republican Women
• Smith County Republican Club
• Served on numerous Republican Party committees; delegate to several State Republican Conventions
• Taxpayers Association of Smith County, served 2 years as vice-president and 3 years as president
• National Rifle Association
• Texas State Rifle Association

Relevant Experience:

1980–1981:  Newspaper advertising, Natchez Democrat; Patron Services Manager, Natchez Public Library

1981–1988: Assistant to the Vice-President of Field Operations; Oil and Gas Accounting, Operations Management - Adco Exploration, Drilling and Production Company, Natchez, MS

1988 –1992:  Self-Employed, Small Business Consulting; Oil & Gas Accounting Services, Natchez, MS

1992:  Moved to Smith County due to husband’s job transfer

1993 – Current:  Joined local volunteer efforts to build non-partisan grassroots organization with the long-term goal of reforming “Big Three” local taxing entities (Smith County, City of Tyler & Tyler ISD) into more open, accountable, efficient, productive “run like a business” local governments.  From this effort, the Taxpayers Association was incorporated in 1994.  Mrs. Fleming served as the TASC president and spokesperson for many years.  She is a frequent public policy speaker locally and in surrounding counties.