Judge Leward LaFleur Appointed to CEO - RTPO Executive Committee

ETCOG / Workforce Solutions East Texas • December 15, 2021

Workforce Solutions East Texas is pleased to announce the appointment of Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur to the Chief Elected Officials - Rural Transportation Planning Organization (CEO – RTPO) Board’s Executive Committee. 

 

The CEO - RTPO Board consists of the county judges from each of the 14-counties served by *ETCOG, the Mayors of Longview and Tyler, and the three Texas Department of Transportation District Engineers that serve the ETCOG region. The Board serves a dual function of shared oversight of the workforce programs with the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board and working directly with TXDOT to ensure that transportation priorities are developed and solutions implemented for the rural communities of the region. 

 

“It is an honor to be selected by my esteemed colleagues to serve. This board is so very important for our region. Rural East Texas is well served by the members of the CEO - RPTO Board, and I look forward to the future of Rural East Texas,” said Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur.

 

Judge LaFleur joined the CEO – RTPO Board in 2018 and serves on its Executive Committee with Chairman Judge Robert Johnston of Anderson County, Vice-Chair Judge A.J. Mason of Camp County, Judge Chris Davis of Cherokee County, and Judge Joel Hale of Rusk County. The Board meets during the April, August, and December months to address the joint business agenda of the CEO – RTPO Board in a blended meeting format. The Executive Committee meets on behalf of the full board when needs arrive in between the aforementioned regularly scheduled meeting dates. 

 

“Judge LaFleur has established himself as a leader who cares about Marion County and the entire 14-county region in a very short amount of time,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “We are fortunate to have him as a valued member of our regional team!”

 

Under the Workforce Investment Act, the CEO Board is responsible for the leadership and board appointments to the local workforce development board. The CEOs partner with the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board to build a premier workforce in the region and are the primary source of local workforce policy.

 

ETCOG formed its RPO in 2009 to provide a forum for local elected officials to establish rural transportation project priorities and planning and provide direct input to TXDOT concerning those priorities for areas not included in a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Through the RPO, all fourteen of our counties and those cities that are not served by the Longview or Tyler MPOs can deliver a unified message to state and federal decision-makers concerning transportation needs and priorities. 

 

The full membership of the CEO – RTPO Board can be viewed at www.etcog.org/about#GoverningBoards. 


*Workforce Solutions East Texas is administered by the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG).


More Than 1,000 Job Opportunities Available at Hiring Red, White & You!

By Workforce Solutions East Texas • November 5, 2026
This event is open to the public!

East Texas Veterans and Public Invited to Hiring Red, White & You! Job Fair November 10 in Tyler

November 4, 2026
TWC-led Statewide Initiative Connects Veterans and Employers

Texas Annual Growth Rate Outpaces Nation as Labor Force Adds 15,800

October 27, 2026
Texas recorded a total of 14,461,300 nonfarm jobs after shedding 11,100 positions in September. Over the year, the state added 154,300 jobs for an annual growth rate of 1.1 percent, outpacing the national rate by 0.8 percentage points. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,948,400 after adding 15,800 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 3,600 people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.4 percent. “The addition of more than 154,000 jobs over the year reflects balanced growth across Texas industries,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “Texas continues to outpace the nation because of innovative programs like Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants, which are equipping students with skills that help businesses compete today and plan for tomorrow.” The Manufacturing industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in September after adding 4,700 jobs. Professional and Business Services added 1,600 jobs over the month while Information added 1,400. “The 15.9 million Texans in our labor force drive our economy, and TWC is dedicated to fueling their success,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “Through statewide initiatives like our annual Hiring Red, White & You! career fairs and the Texas HireAbility campaign, we are actively connecting Texans of all abilities with the critical training and resources they need to build prosperous, lifelong careers.” The Midland metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.2 percent in September. It was followed by the Abilene, Amarillo, College Station-Bryan, and San Angelo MSAs, which registered at 3.5 percent. “TWC is focused on ensuring that every Texan can find a rewarding career that allows them to contribute their unique skills and experiences to our economy,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “Initiatives like this month’s Texas HireAbility campaign help strengthen our communities and allow Texas businesses to tap into a dedicated and driven talent pool.” Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. * All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com . The Texas Labor Market Information Data for September is scheduled to be released on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
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