J.D. Salinas III was elected to the office of Hidalgo County Judge in 2006. With his colleagues on the Commissioner’s Court he has worked to promote economic development and has among his priorities improving transportation infrastructure.

Judge Salinas is an active member of several organizations such as the policy committee of the Conference of Urban Counties, the Alliance for I-69 Texas board of directors, the advisory board of the Texas Engineering Extension Services, nominating committee of the South Texas County Judge’s and Commissioner’s Association, the Texas Association of Counties, the U.S. Mexico Border Counties Coalition, and Texas Lyceum.  He recently was appointed U.S. Co-Leader of the Gulf Coast Task Force by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, a bi-national task force addressing border environmental issues.

Salinas earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Public Administration from The University of Texas - Pan American.