Clay Jenkins

Clay Lewis Jenkins (born 1964)[1] is an American lawyer and politician. In 2011, he began serving as county judge for Dallas County, Texas.

Clay Jenkins
County Judge of Dallas County
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Preceded byJim Foster
Personal details
Born1964 (age 58–59)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBaylor University (BA, JD)

Early life and education

Jenkins was born in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas to JoAnn and Alvah Clayburn Lewis Jr.[2] His mother was an active member of the Texas Democratic Party and had served as a state delegate from 1978.[3]

After graduating from Waxahachie High School, Jenkins enrolled at Baylor University.[4] While at Baylor University, Jenkins was arrested twice, once for reckless driving, and a second time for trespassing into a women's dorm.[5][6] After receiving his undergraduate degree, Jenkins attended Baylor Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree.

Career

In March 2010, Jenkins defeated incumbent Jim Foster in the Democratic Party primary election for Dallas County Judge.[7] In the November general election of the same year, Jenkins defeated Republican candidate Wade Emmert to become the county judge.[8]

When Dallas County was hit by an outbreak of West Nile virus in 2012, Jenkins declared a state of emergency for the county and led efforts to spray for mosquitoes.[9]

In 2014, amid a child migrant crisis, Jenkins offered to house as many as two thousand immigrant children who cross the Mexico–United States border in Dallas County.[10] The offer served as a catalyst for a meeting between President Barack Obama and Texas Governor Rick Perry concerning immigration and border security.[11][12]

Later that year, when Dallas County became the first county in the United States to have a confirmed Ebola virus case, Jenkins led the local response.[13][14] During the Ebola crisis, Jenkins garnered publicity when he entered the home of Thomas Eric Duncan without personal protective equipment and personally helped Duncan's family move into temporary housing while their house was being decontaminated.[15] Jenkins' widely publicized act was criticized by his political opponents, but won national praise from health officials for destigmatizing the disease by showing that the disease cannot be transmitted between asymptomatic individuals.[16]

References
  1. "After well-funded campaign nearly won him nomination, Clay Jenkins says he'll unite Dallas County". The Dallas Morning News. March 28, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  2. "Accusations fly as Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins faces lively challenge from a newcomer". Dallas News. October 7, 2022.
  3. Krause, Kevin (May 15, 2012). "Dallas County commissioners honor Clay Jenkins' mom". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  4. Simek, Peter. "Who Is Clay Jenkins?". D Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  5. Simek, Peter. "Who Is Clay Jenkins?". D Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  6. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/12/clay-jenkins-blackface-dallas/
  7. "Democratic candidates for Dallas County judge offer their views on leadership". The Dallas Morning News. February 13, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  8. Ramshaw, Emily; Stiles, Matt (December 22, 2010). "D is for Democratic". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. Kofler, Shelley; Austin, BJ (August 10, 2012). "Update: Dallas Mayor Supports Plan For Aerial Mosquito Spraying". KERA. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  10. "Clay Jenkins wants Dallas County to house child immigrants". The Dallas Morning News. June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  11. "In Dallas, Obama, Perry, local officials discuss influx at border". The Dallas Morning News. July 10, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  12. Raphael, T. J. (July 23, 2014). "Why Rick Perry is sending the National Guard to the Texas border". Public Radio International. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  13. Nicks, Denver (October 6, 2014). "This Texas Judge Is Fighting Fear and Ebola in Dallas". Time. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  14. Burrough, Bryan. "Ebola in the U.S.: How Dallas Rallied to Prevent an Epidemic". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  15. Fernandez, Manny (October 10, 2014). "Dallas Official Confronts City's Fear of Ebola in Person". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  16. "Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins' high profile attracts praise, scorn". The Dallas Morning News. October 10, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
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