Since 1982, Dorothy Morgan has been one of Washington County's top elected officials. Now, she's looking forward to what's next...whatever that may be.

Washington County's judge joined Brazos Valley This Morning Wednesday to talk about her career in office, this as she prepares to step down from her post .

Morgan was elected to the top spot in the county in the early 1990s, this after serving as the mayor of Brenham over four terms and for the majority of the 80s. She was also the first woman to serve as Brenham's mayor before taking on the county's biggest elected role.

But Morgan decided not to run for re-election after five terms, joining two other area county judges this election year who didn't put their names back on the ballot. Brazos County Judge Randy Sims and Waller County Judge Owen Ralston also decided to retire.

Morgan was a government teacher in Brenham ISD prior to running for mayor in 1982.

"It was tough," she said. "I had to work really hard to get elected, but the people had faith in me. They call me 'Tennis Shoe Flisowski' (her last name when she ran), because every day after school, I'd put my tennis shoes on and hit every neighborhood in the City of Brenham asking for their vote. The parents knew me, but the community didn't know me."

Once she won elected office, though, Washington County residents came to know Morgan very quickly. She says despite significant growth over the years that she and fellow leaders pushed for, the area known for Blinn College and Blue Bell Ice Cream still retains its small-town charm.

"We still have that small niche of a community," she said. "It has grown, but it hasn't grown that tremendously. Prior to that, (local residents) didn't like to have outsiders come in to Brenham. They didn't like the businesses. They didn't like the competition. They thought that was going to hurt them, and I think with the right guidance, we tried to tell them the more businesses that come into Brenham, the more people will come to Brenham."

Morgan has also served on a variety of boards throughout the region and state during her time in office, including as the chair of the MHMR of the Brazos Valley and the state's 9-1-1 Commission.

To hear more from Judge Morgan, watch the completely interview from BVTM with this story.