## TEE ATTORSEY GENERAL OF TEXAS December 24, 1986

HonorableRoy Blake Chairman CommitteeonAdministration Texas State Senate P. 0. Box 12068 Austin, Texas 78711 OpinionNo. JM-594 Re: Whether a county judge may also serve as director of a riverauthority

Dear SenatorBlake: You inquireabout the legalityof an electedofficialwho serves with pay also serving as director of a river authority. You state that a director of the Angelina and Neches River Authority has been elected to the office~of c&nty judge in Cherokee County, to .aterm beginning January 1, 1987. You wish to know whether he may serve in both positions. Article XVI, section 40, of the Texas Constitutiowprovides the answer to your question. This constitutional provision states as follows: Sec. 40. No person shall hold or exercise at

the same time, more than one civil office of emolument,except that of Justiceof Peace, County Commissioner . . . [other exceptions not applicable]unless otherwisespeciallyprovidedherein. Tex. Const. art.XVI, section40. A director of the Angelina andNeches River Authority occupies a civil office of emolument. Management and control of the affairs of the district is vested in the board of directors,which consists of members appointedby the governor and confirmedby the senate. Acts 1935, 44th Leg., ch. 97, 54 at 239;Acts 1945, 49th Leg., ch. 287 at 456 (formerly codified as V.T.C.S. art. 8280-108, §4). Various governmental powers are conferred upon the directors of the river authority, including the power to issue notes and other obligations secured by revenues of the district. See Acts 1935, 44th Leg., ch. 97, 9511, 14-18 at 241, 242-6. The directors are to receive ten dollars for each day of servicenecessary to carry out their duties, provided that the service is authorized by vote of the board of directors. Acts 1935, 44thLeg., ch. 97, $8 at 241. The directors of

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the river authority exercise sovereign functions of the government largely independent of the control of others, and they receive compensation for serving. See Aldine Independent School District v. Standley, 280 S.W.2d 578 mx. 1955). They are therefore civil officers of emolument within article XVI, section 40, of the Texas Constitution. See also Attorney General Opinions JM-172 (1984) (directorsof river authorities are not includedwithin exemption in article XVI. section 40 for directors of soil and water conservation districts); M-45 (1967) (director of Water Control and Improvement District occupies civil officer of emolument);O-490 (1939) (director of Brazes River Conservation and ReclamationDistrict occupies civil office of emolument). A county judge occupies a civil office of emolument. See Tex. Const. art. V. 515, see also Attorney General Opinion V-15417952); Letter Advisory No. 61 (1973). He does not fall within any of the exceptions to article XVI, section 40. County commissioners are excepted from that provision, but even though the county judge presides over the commissioners court, he occupies a distinct-elective officewith duties that differ from those of the four county commissioners. See e.g.;Tex. Const. art.V, 0415, 18;art.XVI, 565. Article XVI, section 40, of the Texas Constitution bars one person from servini as director of the Angelina and Neches River Authority and at the same time serving as a county judge. In this case, the individual's qualification for the office of county judge operates as a resignation from his office as director of the river authority. See State ex rel.v. Brinkerhoff, 17 S.W. 109 (Tex. 1886). The office ofdirector therebybecomesvacant. SUMMARY ArticleXVI, section 40, of the Texas Constitution prevents one person from serving as a county judge and as director of the Angelina and Neches RiverAuthority.

JIM MATTOX AttorneyGeneral ofTexas JACKHIGHTOWRR FirstAssistantAttorneyGeneral MARY KELLER ExecutiveAssistantAttorneyGeneral

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RICK GILPIN Chairman,OpinionCommittee Preparedby SusanL. Garrison AssistantAttorneyGeneral

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