Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said he had three criteria in mind when looking for someone to replace former Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole. Eversole resigned as part of a deal with federal prosecutors investigating him for corruption.

Emmett said his three criteria boiled down to mature judgment, openness and honesty and someone in-tune with residents in Precinct 4.

“The process yielded a person who fit perfectly,” Emmett said.

That person is “Cactus” Jack Cagle, a now former civil-law judge, who had served on the bench since 2000.

“I met and spoke with dozens of folks in the community about the Precinct 4 commissioner’s position in recent weeks,” Emmett said. “Jack quickly emerged as the top candidate because of his mature judgment, keen intellect, unquestioned integrity and his many years of work in the community.”

For his part, Cagle said he is humbled at the words from his new colleague.

“I am very honored that Judge Emmett chose me,” Cagle said. “There were some highly qualified and extremely talented individuals I was competing with for this job.”

Emmett said of the 60-plus people who started out on the list, he was able to dwindle that down to about a dozen names of candidates that he personally interviewed.

Cagle was sworn in the morning of Oct. 4 and was thrown immediately into the fire, as the Commissioners Court held its mid-year review.

Cagle said he plans to run for election next year, which was something Emmett wanted in a candidate for the position.

State Representative Allen Fletcher believes that Emmett picked the right man for the job.

“I think it was a great choice,” Fletcher said. “He is a fabulous Christian man that I think will take some value, ethics and integrity into the job.”

Cagle said he is keenly aware of the challenges and responsibilities he now faces as commissioner of Harris County’s largest precinct.

“There are over 300 employees, 33 parks and thousands of miles of roads (in Precinct 4),” Cagle said. “There are so many things to grapple with and learn, but I am looking forward to it.”

Cagle said he already has a few general goals for his new position, like working to create the family-type environment he had for employees of his courtroom, for the employees of Precinct 4.

“I’ll miss that environment at first ‑ the teamwork and family environment we had,” Cagle said. “The biggest challenge will be to create the same type of environment here, but my heart is in it and my spirits are high.”

He added that his learning curve will be quick and efficient.

“I promise to work as quickly as possible to acquaint myself with the area’s ongoing projects and to hear from as many of my new constituents as possible.”

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