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Press Release: Leslie Woolley to run for Walker County District Clerk

Walker County native and longtime Texas Department of Criminal Justice administrator Leslie Woolley has announced she will run for Walker County District Clerk. 

Leslie Woolley was born and raised in Walker County where she graduated from Huntsville High School in 1984 and from Sam Houston State University in 1988 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Woolley was an active member and elected officer of the American Criminal Justice Association – Lambda Alpha Epsilon (LAE). Before graduating, she completed an internship with former Walker County District Attorney David Weeks, working at the State’s Special Prosecution Unit, which ultimately led her to pursue a more than 30-year career in the Criminal Justice field. 

Woolley served as the Program Director for TDCJ’s Serious and Violent Offender Re-Entry Initiative (SVORI), an innovative program which began as a grant from the US Department of Justice and was designed to provide pre-release and in-cell programs for male inmates who would be released from TDCJ directly from administrative segregation. The program’s goal is to reduce recidivism by better preparing and assisting offenders confined to administrative segregation to successfully reenter their communities.  Launching the SVORI program was challenging because it attempted to bring much needed treatment to a difficult population in an extremely secure environment.

“The program was a collaborative effort between different divisions and agencies within the Criminal Justice system,” Woolley explained.  “Getting it off the ground meant lots of coordination, collaboration, and liaising with criminal justice agencies at the federal, state and local level to ensure compliance with procedures. Being the SVORI Program Director and working with the administrative segregation population was incredibly challenging but having the opportunity to play a part in changing someone’s life and making a difference is very rewarding.”  

While working as the SVORI Program Director, Woolley was nominated and voted as a top finalist in the 100 People:  A World Portrait project, which was sponsored by National Geographic.

Woolley retired from service after 25 years, and then worked for the Walker County Community Supervision and Corrections Department as a probation officer and as a Court Officer, where she worked first-hand with the District Clerk’s Office. She later went to work as a program specialist at the Workforce Solutions Office where she assisted underprivileged youth in writing resumes, learning interviewing skills, finding local internships, and assisting them in job searches.  She also worked with the homeless and the unemployed helping them find stability and employment.  

In 2019, she returned to TDCJ when she was offered an opportunity to work as a Grant Coordinator/Project Director on a grant offered by the US Department of Justice to combat the national opioid and drug crisis. The program is part of the 2016 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and is known as TDCJ’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program. Again, the role required Woolley to successfully coordinate between federal, state, local and private firms for the success of the program. 

“My education, experience and knowledge of the court system makes me uniquely qualified for candidacy for the District Clerk’s Office,”.  My career experience has given me the opportunity to learn the workings of different governmental agencies at every level.” Woolley is extremely knowledgeable about court protocols and procedures, as well as having experience working directly with our local judges and officials.   

“What I bring to the table is the assurance of a smooth transition and that the District Clerk’s Office will continue to be an efficient place to conduct business,” Woolley said. 

Woolley is the daughter of Mrs. Billie Woolley and the late Thomas E. Woolley of Huntsville. She is married to Mitchell Ray, former US Border agent and TDCJ officer.  She has one daughter, who graduated from Alpha Omega Academy in 2018 and is now a senior at Dallas Christian College.   Her brother, Tommy Woolley Jr., will be serving as her treasurer.  Woolley is a member of Fellowship of Huntsville church and lifelong member of the Republican party.

For more information or to contact Leslie Woolley, visit her campaign page on Facebook or contact her via email at Leslie.Woolley@yahoo.com.

The primary election is March 1, 2022.  She is asking for your support and vote.