James Oakley is the elected County Judge for Burnet County, Texas, making him the "chief legislator and executive" for the County and the chair of the Commissioners' Court. He began his four-year term at the start of 2015. He previously served eight years in local government as a County Commissioner for precinct 4 (1999–2006). He is a board member of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Former Governor George W. Bush appointed Oakley to the regional review committee for Community Development Block Grants, and he was appointed to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement by former Governor Rick Perry.