County Judge - Bell County

Judge David Blackburn

Bell County

David retired from the City of Temple in August, 2014.  David had served the City of Temple as City Manager since April, 2005.  As City Manager, David was the chief executive officer for the City of Temple.  The City of Temple is a full service, home-rule city with approximately 1,000 employees.

Prior to his service with the City of Temple, David was City Manager for the City of Killeen.  David also served as Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, and City Attorney for the City of Killeen.

Prior to his service in Killeen, David served as City Attorney for the cities of Texarkana, Texas and Plainview, Texas.

All totaled, David's career in local government service spans almost 30 years.

David has served on multiple boards and commissions over the years.  Locally, he has served on the Temple Economic Development Board of Directors, as well as being an ex-officio member of the Killeen & Temple Chamber's of Commerce.  David's regional board and commission service includes serving on the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization (a regional transportation planning body), the Brazos G Water Planning Group (a regional water planning body), and the Brazos River & Bay Basin Area Stakeholder Committee (a regional water planning group).

David has also been a member of various professional organizations, to include the International City/County Managers Association, the Texas City Managers Association, the Texas City Attorney's Association (former President), and the Association of the United States Army.

David has been the President of the Temple Economic Development Corporation since August, 2014.

David graduated from Abilene Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas.  David then attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and received a Bachelor of Arts from Hardin-Simmons, with a double major in History and Political Science.  David then attended the American University in Washington, D.C., studying International Affairs.  David then attended St. Mary's University Law School in San Antonio, Texas where he received his Juris Doctorate.