by: Michelle Horton
Bowie County, Texas, has long been known for its tight-knit communities, natural beauty, and hardworking residents. Among those striving to make the county a better place is Josh Davis, a lifelong Texarkana resident and public servant whose career spans firefighting, local government, tax administration, and now, a campaign for Bowie County Judge. Running for the 2026 election, Davis brings decades of experience, a servant’s heart, and a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of his fellow citizens.
“I feel like it is my duty to serve, to know what is going on, and to help make things better for our community,” Davis said.
Understanding the Role
When asked about the duties of a county judge, Davis described the position as multifaceted. “They really wear a lot of hats,” he explained. “First, they are basically an administrator. They help manage the day-to-day operations of the county.” However, the role extends beyond administrative oversight. The county judge is also responsible for drafting the budget, overseeing probate and mental health hearings, appointing an Emergency Management Coordinator, and playing a critical role in economic development.
“We work hand in hand with various economic development entities,” Davis said. “TexAmericas in Bowie County is one of those. The judge gets to make appointments to the board, and you want to make sure you are getting the right people in the right positions.” He acknowledged that the position carries serious responsibility, one that he does not take lightly. “Walking into this role is a huge responsibility because ultimately, our goal is more business, more development, more growth for our county.”
Roots in Texarkana and a Strong Family Foundation
Davis was born in Wadley Hospital in Texarkana, Texas, and spent much of his childhood in Texarkana, Arkansas. He graduated from Arkansas High School in 1996. Growing up, education and service were core values in his household. His mother, Ruth Davis (now Ruth Bell), was a dedicated schoolteacher. His father, Bill Davis, served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years before retiring as a major and later managing family farms and other real estate entities.
“My parents were very dynamic,” Davis recalled. “My father was very structured, high on discipline, and taught me a strong work ethic from an early age.”
Childhood for Davis was filled with both hard work and adventure. He spent hours helping on the family farms, riding tractors, hauling grain, and learning the realities of agriculture. “If somebody saw what we did today, they would say it is child endangerment,” he said with a laugh. “But back then, it was just life.”
Davis also shared fond memories of flying with his father in a Cessna 172, an experience that sparked a lifelong appreciation for hands-on learning and practical skills.
From Volunteer Firefighter to Public Servant
Following high school, Davis felt the pull of service, influenced by both his father’s military career and his early volunteer work. “In high school, I got involved with the volunteer fire department, and I thought, ‘I could make a career out of this,’” he said. He pursued EMT certification through Texarkana College and joined the Miller County Volunteer Fire Department.
By age 21, Davis passed the civil service exams and began a career as a professional firefighter at College Hill Station No. 3—a career he would continue for 20 years. He remained on the front lines as a firefighter, choosing not to pursue administrative promotions in order to stay involved in the action. “I loved being the person who kicked in doors, got on the nozzle, and put out fires,” he said.
The fire department taught him lessons that would translate to leadership in government. “Everything about leadership comes from that experience,” Davis said. “You follow a chain of command, you trust your officers, and you trust your fellow firefighters. In life-or-death situations, there are no do-overs.” He emphasized the importance of leaders who earn respect rather than demand it, a principle he carries into his public service career.
Davis also used his firefighting career to continue his education, earning instructor certifications, arson investigator certification, and specialized training through Homeland Security programs in chemical, biological, nuclear, and explosives management. “Any opportunity to further my education and bring that knowledge back to the community, I jumped on it,” he said.
Davis believes his time as a firefighter prepared him uniquely for the challenges of public office. “Responding to 911 calls, you encounter people having the worst day of their lives,” he said. “It conditions you to stay calm and focused under extreme pressure—skills that translate directly into leadership and crisis management.”
He also learned the importance of modeling positive leadership. “I tried to emulate the best leaders I had seen,” Davis said. “The ones who earned respect by their actions, not just by their rank, were the ones I wanted to follow. That is how I hope to lead Bowie County—as someone people respect because of how I show up and serve.”
Balancing Family, Farming, and Public Service
Even while serving as a firefighter, Davis maintained strong ties to the family farm. After his second year serving as a firefighter, Davis now had a wife who was going to school to become a teacher and a young daughter to take care of. The fire department schedule had Davis working 24 hours on and 48 hours off. During his two days off, Davis was looking to fill the void with a second income. He approached his father about working one of the family farms during his days off. “The first year was tough. After paying everyone off, it felt like we barely survived,” he said. “But it taught me budgeting, patience, and resilience—lessons that are invaluable in public service.” Davis would spend 17 of his 20 years simultaneously working as a firefighter and farm manager. Eventually, they began leasing the farm to a neighbor with a higher-yielding crop, and Davis, along with his father, began developing multifamily properties and larger real estate ventures. At one point, they managed nearly 400 units of apartments and townhomes with Arista, an experience that gave Davis insight into management, planning, and community development.
Amidst these responsibilities, Davis also ran for city council in Texarkana, Texas, demonstrating a natural progression into elected public service. “It was all about wanting to make a difference in our community,” he said.
Leaving It Better Than He Found It
When Josh Davis reflects on his ten years serving on the Texarkana, Texas City Council—from 2010 to 2020—he does not speak in terms of power or prestige. Instead, he talks about responsibility. About stewardship. About relationships that had to be repaired and long-term decisions that had to be made with future generations in mind.
Davis began knocking on doors as he did not have a large campaign fund to draw from. He spent his days off, weekends, and afternoons walking his ward and visiting with people. “I was actually shocked by how many people would invite me into their homes. They wanted to discuss their feelings on local government and items they wanted addressed,” Davis says. “I have always looked at public service the same way my parents taught me to treat anything you borrow. You bring it back in better condition than you found it. That was always my mindset going into the city council.”
Over the course of a decade, Davis helped guide Texarkana through some of its most consequential infrastructure, economic development, and intergovernmental challenges. While residents may remember visible improvements—revitalized downtown spaces, a modern airport terminal, smoother streets—many of the most important accomplishments happened quietly, behind the scenes, with impacts that will be felt for generations.
Among the most significant achievements during Davis’s time on the council was the protection and expansion of Texarkana’s water rights—an issue that carries enormous implications for growth, economic development, and regional stability.
“Water was one of the biggest things we worked on,” Davis explained. “And most people had no idea how vulnerable our future supply really was.”
At the time, Texarkana held rights to only a portion of the water available in nearby reservoirs. While the lakes themselves—Wright Patman Lake in Texas and Millwood Lake in Arkansas—were managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, additional tiers of water were available for purchase. Texarkana had never secured those rights.
“What we realized was that there was a second tier of water available—almost triple the volume of what we already had—that we did not own,” Davis said. “If we did not act, someone else could.”
The concern was not hypothetical. Large metropolitan areas, particularly Dallas, were actively seeking new water sources. Without securing those rights, Texarkana could have found itself dependent on outside entities for one of its most critical resources. “That would have put us at someone else’s mercy,” Davis said. “If we needed more water, we would be paying whatever price they set.”
Under Davis’s tenure, the city moved forward with a significant investment—approximately $16 to $18 million—to permanently purchase those water rights. The move secured long-term water sovereignty not only for Texarkana but for surrounding member cities in the region. “That decision was not just about today,” Davis said. “It was about making sure we could recruit industry, support growth, and protect our community decades down the road.”
Equally significant was the transformation of the relationship between Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Arkansas. When Davis joined the council, tensions between the two cities were high—so high, in fact, that legal battles were unfolding in federal court. “When I walked into city hall, the two cities were bitter enemies,” he recalled. “There were serious discussions about splitting utilities, tearing things apart, putting valves in systems—it was extreme.”
Rather than escalating conflict, Davis and fellow council members intentionally worked to rebuild trust and cooperation, particularly through shared services such as the water utility. “We made a conscious decision to change the tone,” Davis said. “We were going to accomplish more working together than fighting each other.”
Over time, that philosophy paid off. The lawsuits ended. Communication improved. Collaboration became the norm rather than the exception. “When I walked out of city hall after ten years, the relationship was far better than when I walked in,” Davis said. “Today, the two cities work together in harmony—and that did not happen by accident.”
Davis’s impact also extended to downtown Texarkana, where the long-blighted Grim Hotel once loomed as both an eyesore and a financial burden. At one point, demolition estimates reached $5 million due to hazardous materials such as lead paint and asbestos. “We had to ask ourselves, is tearing it down really the best option?” Davis said.
Instead, city leadership sought creative solutions, ultimately partnering with an investor who specialized in restoring historic properties using state and federal grants. The result preserved an iconic building and helped spark renewed energy downtown. “Downtown was basically dead 20 years ago,” Davis said. “Now you have got people living there, opening businesses, investing. That did not just happen—it took vision and patience.”
Another lasting contribution from Davis’s council years is Texarkana’s modern airport terminal. Funded largely through federal grants with an 80/20 funding split, the project required years of planning long before construction began. “What people do not see is how much time goes into planning before anything ever gets built,” Davis said. One detail mattered deeply to him: jet bridges. “I was adamant about that,” he said. “If we are building a new terminal, let’s do it right. When investors fly in, we want them to see a professional, first-class facility.” Today, travelers walk directly from plane to terminal—shielded from heat, rain, and cold—an amenity that signals Texarkana’s readiness for growth.
Davis also witnessed major educational progress during his tenure, including the expansion of Texas A&M University–Texarkana. “Seeing A&M come to fruition was huge,” he said. “From where it started to where it is now—it is impressive.”
Though Davis represented Ward 6—covering much of North Texarkana—he never viewed his role narrowly. “You always focus on your ward,” he said, “but when you are on council, you are responsible for the entire city.” Street repairs, neighborhood improvements, infrastructure upgrades—those were part of the daily work. However, for Davis, the true measure of success was whether the city was positioned better for the future than when he arrived.
After ten years, he believes it was.
That philosophy—quiet, steady, forward-looking—continues to define his leadership as he prepares to serve Bowie County as county judge. “I do not look at this as checking a box,” Davis said. “I look at it as stewardship. If you are going to serve, you serve well—and you leave it better than you found it.”
Turning Curiosity into Competence
For Josh Davis, the decision to run for Bowie County Tax Assessor-Collector did not begin with ambition—it began with curiosity. Years earlier, while serving on the Texarkana City Council, Davis found himself asking the same question many taxpayers ask, though few pursue answers to: How does all of this actually work?
“As a citizen and a taxpayer, I was writing some pretty big checks every year,” Davis said. “And I thought, ‘I don’t really love this, but I feel like it is my duty to understand it.’ I wanted to know how the sausage was being made.” That curiosity led him first to the Bowie Central Appraisal District, where the City of Texarkana appointed him as its representative in 2012. There, Davis immersed himself in the complexities of ad valorem taxation—property values, effective tax rates, exemptions, and the formulas that determine what citizens ultimately pay. “I did not want it to feel like smoke and mirrors,” he said. “If I were going to vote on budgets and tax rates, I needed to understand the process truly.”
His diligence did not go unnoticed. After several years on the board, Davis was nominated by his peers to serve as chairman—an unpaid position, but one that signaled respect and confidence in his leadership. That experience, coupled with his background on the city council, would later form the foundation for what many saw as a natural progression into countywide office.
A New Chapter—and an Unforgiving Beginning
When Davis was sworn in as Bowie County Tax Assessor-Collector in 2021, the timing could not have been more challenging. The county was still grappling with COVID-19 disruptions when another crisis emerged almost immediately. “The county had just been hit with a ransomware attack,” Davis said. “That was my ‘welcome to the job.’ COVID, no computers, no records. I thought, ‘You have got to be kidding me.’”
Critical systems were down. Financial records were inaccessible. Yet even in that moment, Davis leaned on experience forged through decades as a firefighter. “When you have worked emergency scenes your whole life, you learn how to triage problems and start fixing what you can.” Fortunately, one crucial system remained intact: the state-issued DMV terminals, which operated on a separate network. That lifeline allowed the office to remain operational while other systems were rebuilt from the ground up.
Rebuilding a Broken Reputation
Beyond the technical failures, Davis inherited something even more difficult: a deeply damaged reputation. Within the Texas DMV’s Northeast Region, Bowie County had become notorious for inefficiency and unresolved issues. “When we called the regional office in Longview, they would not even answer the phone,” Davis recalled. “Bowie County had the worst reputation in the region.”
Determined to change that perception, Davis focused first on training and accountability. Deputies were retrained. Processes were clarified. Audits were addressed. Slowly, confidence—both internal and external—began to return. “We worked hard to get our house in order,” he said. “And we did it while still serving the public every day.”
The results were dramatic. Within just a few years, Bowie County went from one of the poorest-performing offices in the region to one of the most respected in the entire state.
In 2024, the Bowie County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office earned the Texas DMV’s “Driven to Serve” Award, receiving the bronze designation—one of only 11 counties out of 254 statewide to achieve that recognition. “We are the only county in all of Northeast Texas with that designation,” Davis said. “That meant a lot to me, because it validated the work our team put in.”
People First, Always
While systems and technology mattered, Davis insists the true transformation came through people. “When I walked into the office, we had about 13 deputies,” he said. “By the time I stepped away, only three of the original staff were still there.” Turnover was significant—but necessary. Davis deliberately rebuilt the office, emphasizing service, professionalism, and adaptability.
“I do not know what I would do without those three who stayed,” he said. “And the team we have now—phenomenal. Outstanding. That office would not be what it is today without them.”
Modernizing Service Without Leaving People Behind
Under Davis’s leadership, the office implemented several forward-looking technological upgrades. One of the most impactful was the early adoption of WebDealer, an online system allowing car dealerships to submit title and tax documents electronically. “We knew this was coming statewide, even before it became mandatory,” Davis says.
By encouraging early adoption, Davis helped many dealerships transition smoothly when the mandate finally took effect. Still, he wrestled with the unintended consequences. “It was a double-edged sword,” he admitted. “It made things more efficient, but it left some people behind—especially small, mom-and-pop dealers.” Rather than dismiss those concerns, Davis personally advocated for hands-on training, even sending staff directly to dealerships to help owners navigate the new system. “Progress matters—but people matter more,” Davis says.
Redefining the DMV Experience
Perhaps the most visible change under Davis’s tenure came with the implementation of Nemo-Q, a modern queue-management and appointment system designed to reduce wait times and frustration. Instead of pulling paper tickets and waiting indefinitely, citizens could now schedule appointments, check in remotely, receive text notifications, and walk into the office knowing what to expect.
“If people can do call-ahead seating at a restaurant, why can’t they do that at the DMV?” Davis said. “We wanted to reduce stress for taxpayers.” The system also helped deputies prepare in advance, improving efficiency and customer service. “This was about dignity,” Davis said. “People should not dread coming into a county office.”
Leadership Tested—and Proven
Through cyberattacks, staffing challenges, sweeping legislative changes, and public frustration often directed at his office for laws written in Austin, Davis remained steady. “We followed the law, even when people did not like it,” he said. “And we explained it—even when it was not our fault.” By the time he stepped away, the Bowie County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office had been transformed—technically, culturally, and reputationally.
For Davis, it was never about accolades. “It was about service,” he said simply. “Doing the job right. Taking care of people. Leaving it better than I found it.” That philosophy continues to define his leadership as he prepares to serve Bowie County as county judge—tested by crisis, grounded in experience, and guided by a servant’s heart.
Vision for Bowie County
Looking ahead as Bowie County Judge, Davis emphasizes transparency, economic growth, and strategic development. He plans to work with local economic development entities to attract businesses and create jobs, leveraging the county’s infrastructure and unique position at the intersection of multiple interstates and rail systems.
“I want to make sure our appointments, our decisions, and our strategies all aim toward growth and opportunity,” he said. “Our goal is a stronger, more vibrant Bowie County for everyone.” Davis also values accessibility and community engagement. He encourages residents to participate in government, attend public meetings, and communicate directly with elected officials.
A Life of Service
Josh Davis’s story is one of dedication, humility, and a commitment to making a difference. From the farms of Arkansas to the fire stations of Texarkana, and from the city council chambers to the office of county tax assessor-collector, Davis has consistently sought to serve others first. His combination of experience, practical skills, and compassion positions him to lead Bowie County into the future with integrity and vision.
“I do not take this responsibility lightly,” Davis said. “Every decision I make, every appointment I consider, is to help our community thrive.”
For residents of Bowie County, Davis’s leadership represents not just a continuation of service but a promise that their community will have a judge who listens, acts with integrity, and puts the county’s needs first. In an era when public trust in government can be tenuous, Davis embodies the kind of servant leadership that inspires confidence and respect.
Today, Josh Davis is happily married to his wife, Mandy, an art teacher at Pleasant Grove Elementary School. They are celebrating 26 years of marriage this year. Together, the couple has a daughter, Lora Davis, who markets airplanes in Dallas, Texas.