McLennan County Judge Jim Lewis (File)
WACO (August 28, 2012)--Longtime McLennan County Judge Jim Lewis announced his retirement Tuesday afternoon at the conclusion of a Commissioners' Court budget session.
Lewis made the announcement at the end of a meeting during which commissioners voted 3-2 to approve a budget that includes a 4.3 percent increase in the tax rate to $48.43 cents per $100 valuation.
He said he was leaving his office so he could spend more time with his wife, who also is retiring at the end of September, and with the couple's three grandchildren.
In a letter Tuesday Lewis expressed appreciation to friends and coworkers “that have become like a family to me over the past 40 years.”
“There are many who have influenced my life during my time with the sheriff’s department to my time on the commissioners court and during my tenure as Judge.”
The Commissioner's Court will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Lewis' term.
Lewis was first elected to the post in 1990.
He was next up for reelection in 2014.
