James Holian announces run for Municipal Judge; current judge arrested for DWI

CONROE, TX – James Holian is a familiar figure around Montgomery County. Formerly a member of Congressman Dan Crenshaw’s staff, he recently became director of the recently completed Kevin Brady Community Center.

Last night, he announced on his official social media that he is running for the position of Municipal Judge in Conroe. William Waggoner, the current judge in this position, has previously announced that he is running for Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace. That seat is currently held by Wayne Mack, who himself recently announced that he is challenging Mark Keough for the County Judge bench.

Hours before his official announcement, Woodlands Online learned of the impending candidacy, and spoke with Holian on the topic.

“I’m running for Municipal Judge of Conroe, a part-time judge position that handles Class C misdemeanors like traffic tickets and city ordinance violations. Like a justice of the peace, it’s known as a ‘people’s court’ because it is where people spend most of their time in a court system,” he told Woodlands Online.

The position does not require a law degree to be held; neither Holian nor the current holder of the seat, Waggoner, have law degrees, though Holian has a background in Legal Studies from George Mason University. Rarely do lawyers themselves appear before this bench. “That’s because coming before this court to, say, pay a traffic ticket can be far less expensive than having to go through a lawyer,” Holian told Woodlands Online. “I’ve been mulling this over for months and talking this over with members of the community, and have been getting an amazing amount of support, and I’m really humbled by that.”

Holian discussed his intention to run with Waggonner when he heard of the current judge’s plans to vie for Mack’s justice of the peace seat.

“Working in the political sphere, plus now working at the community center, I have extensive experience in enforcing rules and handling multiple issues on a case by case basis, which puts me in a great position,” he told Woodlands Online.

Holian is well aware of the schism that seems to exist between various members of the Conroe and Montgomery County governments, and feels he can bridge the gap between what he terms as ‘fighting forces,’ believing he can help shape discourse for the greater good.

In a turn of events, several hours after Holian’s official announcement Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning Conroe Municipal Judge William Waggonner was arrested by officers of Montgomery Police Department and booked into the Montgomery County Jail early Wednesday morning, where he faces charges of driving while intoxicated and the unlawful carrying of a weapon.