Barbara Canales was sworn in as Nueces County Judge Tuesday afternoon.
The central jury room was packed with family, friends, and supporters as Canales received her oath of office.
Canales says she’s got a full agenda for the first 100 days of her administration.
Her focus will be on evaluating all of the county’s assets, producing a capital investment plan and addressing infrastructure needs in the county.
Canales, a Democrat, is the first female and the first Hispanic to be elected Nueces County Judge.
“There should be no limits because of ethnicity, or race or gender or sexual orientation, I truly believe in those values,” Canales said. “I think my position here signals to everybody in our great region that Nueces County reflects the democracy that we love to uphold.”
Canales says she also wants to take another look at the old Nueces County Courthouse.
One possibility is to use tax incentives to restore it for retail, housing or entertainment use.
