Chambers County heads to Austin

AUSTIN— Representatives from Chambers County will head to the Texas Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Feb. 12 to showcase the importance of the county to state legislatures as they celebrate Chambers County Day. 

“The whole purpose of it is to remind the state agencies and elected officials why Chambers County is important. We want them to love it as much as we do and so we go up there and we talk to them on behalf of the county in a fun way,” said Samantha Humphrey, director of the Department of Economic Development and Grant Management and public information officer. 

Humphrey and County Clerk Heather Hawthorne organized the event together. Hawthorne has organized this event since its inception, in the mid 1990s. The event takes place every other year during legislative session. 

The day will begin at 10 a.m. with the House of Representatives session. The Chambers County Commissioners Court will be recognized, and a proclamation will be read naming the day Chambers County Day. 

The group will then proceed to the Senate at 11 a.m. where the commissioners will be recognized again. 

After the Senate closes session, county representatives will network and hand out goodie bags to state representatives, senators, state agencies and others at 1 p.m. 

Goodie bags are filled with promotional material, ranging from chapsticks to blankets to educational material, from organizations around the county. 

“One of the things we always include is an alligator backscratcher. People will fight over that backscratcher,” Humphrey said with a laugh. “We'll go in two years later and see the backscratcher on somebody’s desk.” 

Student council and government classes of Anahuac, East Chambers and Barbers Hill independent school districts will tour around the Texas Supreme Court. The tour is organized by Chambers County District Clerk Patti Henry. 

Students will have the opportunity to speak with Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock. 

The groups will reunite for a reception. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are invited to the reception, along with all state representatives, senators and leaders of state agencies. 

“The reception is attended by a pretty diverse group of elected officials, representatives and state agencies,” Humphrey said. 

The reception will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bob Bullock State History Museum at 1800 Congress Ave., Austin. The reception will feature filling appetizers and beverages. If interested in attending, an RSVP form is located at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-chambers-county-day-reception-tickets-924520314147?aff=oddtdtcreator. 

For those who would like to stay at a hotel, Chambers County representatives will be staying at Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Austin, located by Austin University at 1617 N Interstate 35, Austin. Check-in will be Feb. 11. 

To donate items for the goodie bags, please contact the Department of Economic Development and Grant Management at 409-267-2692.