The Tarrant County Commissioners Court said goodbye to its current longest-serving members Tuesday, clearing the way for their successors to take their seats in January.
Tuesday was the last commissioners court meeting for Republican Gary Fickes, who has represented northeast Tarrant County for 18 years, and Democrat Roy Charles Brooks, who has represented southwest Tarrant County for 20 years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been fun. Most of it,鈥� Fickes said. 鈥淎bout 99% of it鈥檚 been wonderful.鈥�
Fickes is known for his leadership on transportation issues, which were especially important as his precinct鈥檚 population boomed. Fickes , which .
Fickes told the audience it鈥檚 been 鈥渁 pleasure and an honor鈥� to represent the people who live in his precinct. He also thanked the members of the public who come to speak at commissioners court meetings.
鈥淲e do hear you. I know sometimes you think we don鈥檛, but we do,鈥� he said.
Fickes鈥� fellow outgoing commissioner, Brooks, looked back on their friendship and their service together.
鈥淭hank you for always being a gentleman. Thank you for always being a friend. Thank you for always separating our personal relationship from our political one, because if you didn鈥檛, that relationship may not have survived,鈥� Brooks said.
Before becoming county commissioner, Brooks worked for his predecessor, Dionne Phillips Bagsby. That means he鈥檚 worked for the county for 34 years, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great joy to be able to serve the people of Tarrant County for such a long time, and to get some things accomplished along the way,鈥� he said.
Bagsby鈥檚 daughter, Dionne Bagsby Jones, thanked Brooks for his service Tuesday.
鈥淚f my mother was here, she would say, 鈥楻oy, job well done. On to the next thing,鈥欌�� she said.
Brooks often focused on health issues during his tenure, holding and . For the last several years, he鈥檚 advocated for a broader mental health treatment network in Tarrant County.
His colleagues thanked Brooks for being a calming force on the court. The past year has seen bitter back-and-forth between commissioners and confrontations between the county judge and members of the public.
Republican County Judge Tim O鈥橦are said he has never served alongside an elected official with more class than Brooks.
鈥淵ou have treated me with tremendous respect,鈥� O'Hare said. 鈥淓ven when I did or said something dumb, you were still honorable and decent.鈥�
Both Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons and Republican Commissioner Manny Ramirez said Brooks has been a role model.
"Commissioner Brooks, you have taught me so much in two years about putting your party aside, putting politics aside, and discussing and focusing on the people that we serve,鈥� Ramirez said.
Brooks' and Fickes' successors are set to be sworn into office on Jan. 1. Democrat Roderick Miles, who works in Brooks鈥� office, will take over for his former boss. Republican Matt Krause, a former state representative, will represent Precinct 3 after Fickes.
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