After interviewing eight applicants, the DeWitt County Commissioners appointed Lindsay Renee Ruppert, of Yoakum, as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 on May 12. She will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Peggy Mayer on March 28.
JP Ruppert brings more than 10 years of experience from her role as a justice court clerk in the Lavaca County JP4 office, providing her with a solid foundation for her new position.
'During my tenure there, I obtained my certifi cations as a Civil and Criminal Justice Court Clerk through the Texas Justice Court Training Center. I was blessed to have had the opportunity to gain experience in the various facets of Justice Court operations,' she said.
This year, court documentation has been converting to the electronic age. In February, commissioners approved the adoption of an electronic record-keeping system offered by Legal Government Solutions (LGS) for use by both Justice of the Peace offices.
The conversion process was started by JP2 Blanca McBride, who covered both offices in the interim.
'The new appointee needs to be able to manage this transition as seamlessly as possible,' County Judge Daryl Fowler remarked in a previous court discussion.
JP Ruppert has embraced this challenge, along with the other responsibilities of the Justice of the Peace, which include handling small civil disputes, landlord- tenant issues, traffi c violations, Class C misdemeanors, and civil cases up to $20,000.
JP Ruppert and her family have roots in De-Witt County.
'My husband, Jeff M. Ruppert, and I have been married for 36 years and have raised our family here,” she said. “My husband’s grandparents, Herbert and Annie Ruppert, were lifelong residents of DeWitt County. His grandfather served the community as a De-Witt County Commissioner for sixteen years.'
After graduating from Edna High School, both she and her husband pursued their careers. Jeff became a Paramedic/ Firefighter and worked for the City of Yoakum for 37 years, while JP Ruppert gained experience in marketing, grant writing, and office management, which fueled her passion for public service.
'In addition to raising eight children together, my husband and I have been dedicated to serving others. Without the love and support of my husband and family, it would have been impossible for me to embark on this journey of serving the people of DeWitt County as the new Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1. I am committed to working together with the current elected offi cials and employees of DeWitt County to serve the people with excellence. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community, and I want to thank the residents of DeWitt County who have welcomed and entrusted me with this role. I look forward to reaching out to my constituents and the public soon to collaborate on making a positive difference 'for the people.'' A swearing in ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, in the DeWitt County Courthouse.
