 He was chairman of committees on finance and internal improvements and served on committees on judicial districts and stock raising.Willacy was perhaps best known as the author of the bill providing for county local option, which is the ability of local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, to allow decisions on certain controversial issues based on popular vote within their borders.In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales, which in the 1920s and 30s was a controversial issue, especially as prohibition in the United States was in effect.