Willis trades bench for campaign trail

Stephanie Flemmons, sflemmons@acnpapers.com

Former Collin County Judge Greg Willis couldn’t help but smile as he resigned from his county court bench Monday.

The look wasn’t in anticipation of time off and relaxation, but rather a chance to run and possibly win his recently announced race for Collin County district attorney.

“As judge, my highest duty has been to maintain and protect the rule of law,” Willis said. “As judge, my highest honor has been to serve you, the citizens of Collin County. So the question becomes, why would I leave something I love? And the answer is that I hear a calling. Not that I hear my name. What I hear is more general calling that it’s time for the next person to step forward.”

Standing on the steps of the Collin County Courthouse, Willis announced he will pursue the seat of current DA John Roach – who announced he will not seek reelection – under the Republican banner.

In attendance was a group of political supporters including McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller, Allen Mayor Steve Terrell and Frisco Mayor Maher Maso, as well as the mayors of Prosper, Wylie, Lucas, Celina and Melissa, State Representatives Ken Paxton and Jodie Laubenberg and all four Collin County constables.

“I have known Greg Willis for many years as an attorney through the Collin County Bar Association and know him to be an honest, ethical man,” Loughmiller said. “I believe he will represent the position of district attorney well for our county.”

Willis believes his background spent as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney and county judge will contribute something to the DA position no other candidate can bring.

“I know what it’s like to be in each of these positions,” he said. “If I’m fortunate enough to get elected, from the moment I walk in I just think it’s a compelling background to bring to that office. I won’t have to wonder what the prosecutors, judges or defense attorneys are thinking about because I’ve spent a number of years in each of those positions and I know their obstacles. This will make me an effective leader.”

Before his appointment as judge, Willis was in private practice with his wife, Jill, at The Willis Law Firm in Plano. He handled primarily criminal, employment and family matters. Prior to opening his firm, Willis served four years as a misdemeanor and felony prosecutor for the Collin County Criminal District Attorney. Before that, Willis practiced employment law in the Dallas offices of Haynes & Boone, L.L.P., and Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, L.L.P.

Willis, a 1991 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and an honors graduate of Baylor University, served as president of the Collin County Bar Association from 2001 to 2002. He was named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly in 2004 and 2005.

Willis said he will aggressively prosecute crimes against children, sexual and domestic assault and drunk driving and continue to make Collin County a place where drug dealers and gangs fear getting caught.

“I care about all crimes, but I think these should have special attention devoted toward supplying more resources,” he said. “If I’m elected, I will see how the resources are being allocated and if there are different ways to allocate and how.”

Having resigned his judgeship, Willis will devote his time to campaigning.

“I’m so excited to get on the campaign trail,” he said. “I’m certainly going to have some time now that I’ve resigned my position. I plan to meet with as many people as I possibly can before the March primary, tell them my credentials and why they should consider me.”

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...