Ensuring water for the future of Hays County is a complex one. But one thing is clear, we cannot keep depending on the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, as they are already stressed with current development. We simply cannot continue to allow development to be served solely by groundwater. The current drought, climate change, and water availability should inform our growth patterns and future water supplies.

I will work to find solutions through subdivision rules and look for ways to promote and incentivize conservation (such as conservation development, One Water concepts, and rainwater harvesting*).

It will be my priority to work closely with our two groundwater conservation districts, public water suppliers, and developers to ensure we manage water sustainably. Another goal is to include water and landscaping conservation standards in all new developments and retrofits where possible.

Further, I support additional TX Water Code Chapter 36 authorities for the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District to put it on equal footing with other GCDs in Texas and to assure it has the budget to conduct the necessary science and manage groundwater in the northwestern part of the County.

 * Here’s a LINK to a recent groundbreaking study from the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at TXST on the reliability of rainwater as a water supply option — even during drought. Let's grow rainwater harvesting incentives and solutions in Hays County.

According to Opportunity Austin, between 2013 and 2023, Hays County grew in population by almost 60%! That rate of growth is not currently sustainable, but there are no signs of it slowing down, especially along the IH-35 corridor. We must look at proven strategies to manage this growth responsibly.

 We can do this through a combination of strategic planning, a strong commitment to resource conservation, regional infrastructure coordination, and robust community engagement.

 I suggest we update the County’s 2010 Strategic Policy and Implementation Plan and carefully review the county’s flood plain maps and flood warning systems to make sure of their adequacy and accuracy.

 In the next 4 to 5 years, we will need to consider another park and open space bond to further preserve our natural lands, invest in outdoor recreation and trail systems, and protect our water quality and quantity.

 I will actively support expanded county authority for fast-growing areas of the state in order to prevent incompatible land use, protect our water resources, and allow for stronger subdivision and infrastructure standards.

Hays, like other fast growing counties, is challenged by demands for increased transportation capacity, safety improvements, traffic congestion relief, and ensuring public input and awareness regarding roadway expansion programs.

I am interested in a strategic plan for Hays County that is equally focused on protection of our natural assets as it is in planning for roads to serve development. I will work for this balance and will welcome robust public involvement when it comes to voter-approved road bonds.

Further, I believe we should look at all tools that can provide budget relief and/or revenue support for new infrastructure, such as Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZs), Pass-Through Financing with TxDOT (used in the past), Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), and state or federal programs for multi-modal transportation options.

As a member of the Commissioners Court, my most important responsibility is to transact the business of Hays County in a way that is both fair and transparent to all the residents of the county. In particular, I will represent the constituents in Precinct 4 to address their concerns and work collaboratively to find solutions that balance the county's growth with its beauty and natural resources. I’m prepared to work hard, and fight if necessary, for that balance.

I strongly support the inclusion of court-appointed citizen advisory commissions when it comes to bond initiatives and large county expenditures—whether for parks and open space, roadways and transportation, or capital improvements.

I was disappointed to see that a recent voter-approved road bond in Hays County was overturned by a neighboring county’s district court due to lack of transparency and violations of open-meetings rules in Hays. The public’s business should be conducted in public.

One of the strengths I bring to the court is my understanding of budgeting and maximizing the effectiveness of every dollar available. You can count on me to steward the county budget and tax rate with an attentive, skilled eye and to find a strategic balance when growth and property values are fluctuating. 

Our commissioner’s court property tax, debt service, and budgeting decisions directly impact affordability across the county, as well as the services we can provide for our residents. I see the county budget as an opportunity to improve quality of life and economic outcomes for residents in all parts of the county.

I’m interested in the availability of low- and middle-income housing and want to make sure that working professionals in our county (nurses, teachers, law enforcement, emergency service providers, etc.) can afford to live near their jobs.