Candidates for County Commissioners/Judge

1 – Serving on the court, what would your guiding principles be?

My Faith, and the principles embodied in the State of Texas and U S Constitutions.

2 – Please describe your philosophy on taxpayer-funded debt.

Conservative stewardship of our budget resources, while maintaining the commitments that are relied on by county residents.

3 – How would you define the role of government?

Limited.

4 – What are your thoughts on the current pay of county employees and pay raises (how often, how much, how is a raise applied – across the board or merit-based)?

Currently we have a system that is in need of change. The county has a committee working on proposals to present to the court. We will evaluate their proposal.

5 – In regards to the July 4th flood, tell us what you think of the local response? What should be the focus for the rebuilding efforts?

The County legal does not allow me to address part 1of this question at this time. I currently serve on Kerr EDC securing the grants for home and business recovery restoration, the riparian recovery group charged with restoring the river basin, and the river flood warning group.

6 – Should the county use tax dollars for economic development “incentives” to corporations? What about tax abatements? Please explain why or why not.

Absolute No. New business should not be on the backs of our current tax payers.

7 – What are your thoughts on water infrastructure & availability and the current level of development in the county?

Serving 8 years in leadership at Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District, and now a member of Commissioner Court, I have a deep understanding of the rules and authority of each entity and will apply that firsthand knowledge to making sure we have a level of development appropriate to protecting our valuable water resources.

8 – Battery Energy Storage Systems, solar farms, data centers, and bitcoin mining have been controversial issues in the Hill Country, what are your thoughts about them?

Totally opposed. I am working with the State Fire Marshal office and making progress towards a plan to discourage their presence in the county. I presented and had a Resolution passed in court to reflect our
position.

9 – Has there been anything during the COVID pandemic and the government’s response to it that you would change? If so, what?

I was not in office but was not in agreement with any of the policies forced on our public. Never approved of the shot for my family.

10 – What are your thoughts on term limits?

Definite Yes.

1 – Serving on the court, what would your guiding principles be?

The commissioner’ s court must maintain fiscal discipline while circumscribing its role within the authority granted by the voters. The Commissioner’s court is an elected body that serves all members of Kerr County but represents the values of those by whom it was elected. Those values include, but are not limited to, Christian values, Constitutional principles, and the Republican party platform.

2 – Please describe your philosophy on taxpayer-funded debt.

Government should not live beyond its means. At a federal level, debt (bonds) serves a dual purpose of funding government and an expanding the monetary supply. While there is an extensive debate as to the merits of federal debt, local debt only serves the purpose of expanding government at the expense of saddling the taxpayers with future obligations. While there may be rare occasions where taxpayers choose to accept a debt to settle an immediate crisis, the better solution will always be long term planning and proper budgeting.

3 – How would you define the role of government?

As outlined in the declaration of independence, the purpose of government is to protect our inalienable
God-given rights. The role of government should be to provide services as directed, and within the means offered, by the electorate. Government serves a role of public trust and works for the people, not the other way around.

4 – What are your thoughts on the current pay of county employees and pay raises (how often, how much, how is a raise applied – across the board or merit-based)?

In many sectors of our local government pay is quite reasonable. While it is understandable that everyon would like a raise, salary increases should be limited to what is necessary to attract and keep employees and should not increase faster than local private sector salaries/wages.

We need to do the hard work of Merit based wage increases rather than across the board raises. With
proper guidelines, benchmarks, and discussion between department heads, this should be a process that can be included in the yearly budget process. If mid to large size employers can do this, a county with less than 400 employees and a budget of 64million should be able to handle this as well.

5 – In regards to the July 4th flood, tell us what you think of the local response? What should be the focus for the rebuilding efforts?

An emergency coordinator should have been on duty at all times, as expected and required. Regarding the emergency declaration, there was no need to wait for the judge to return prior to a declaration enactment. In the absence of the judge the senior member of the commissioner’s court is allowed to step in as judge pro-temp. While these lapses may not have affected the flood response, they do show the lackadaisical attitude held by the county leadership prior to the flood.

The disaster caught everyone off guard in scale and impact. The community, state, and nation pulled together to aid in the recovery aftermath. While our local government deserves credit for their role in the recovery, it should be remembered that this was their job. The entire county pulled together along with others from around the country; it is our community that is strong and deserves the credit for our magnificent response.

In the aftermath, our government should have insisted upon keeping the cypress trees, as well as the mulch. A few questions amongst the public would have flushed out the interest and the demand; a deeper understanding of contract drafting and negotiation would have made it happen.

The focus on the rebuilding efforts should restoring our region, not reimagining it. While a flood warning system should be a priority, we also need to focus on cleaning and dredging our lakes. When silt builds up behind a dam, it weakens the dam. If we don’t do maintenance as needed, we will lose our dams and our lakes. The county should support any effort to get people safely back into their homes.

6 – Should the county use tax dollars for economic development “incentives” to corporations? What about tax abatements? Please explain why or why not.

Economic development incentives should only be used to revitalize areas of our community that already exist and are depressed/distressed (TIRZ). This method should be a last resort and should not be used to create new communities.

Ultimately, our county is a magnet community. Developers should pay their own way.

Regarding corporate incentives or tax abatements, which industry should we be trying to attract? It’s great to say XYZ Corp is going to bring in jobs, but is a lack of jobs an issue we are having in the Hill Country? Do we need to “attract” a new winery? Corporate welfare should be limited to specific purposes that help our region meet our long-term goals and needs. If given out, it is imperative that it be conditioned on specific metrics. We should never subsidize competition against our hometown businesses and industries, without an understanding of what we are destroying.

7 – What are your thoughts on water infrastructure & availability and the current level of development in the county?

Water is a critical resource in this region. Water restrictions reflect poor planning. The Trinity Aquifer is the size of a Great Lake, and the Edwards Aquifer underlies dozens of counties. There are two levers to manage water: production and storage. If we can increase production through strategic wells placed into the lower trinity, that will help our region. If we don’t have the capacity to draw water, we need to consider expanding storage solutions, such as reservoirs. Abandoned strip mines are often repurposed into reservoirs. These are long term solutions, but if we don’t have a plan in place soon, we’ll either continue with increasing water restrictions, or stifle growth and quality of life.

8 – Battery Energy Storage Systems, solar farms, data centers, and bitcoin mining have been controversial issues in the Hill Country, what are your thoughts about them?

BESS plants present a significant risk to our region: fire risks, fallout damage to equipment, and the
inability to hold the owners responsible for a catastrophe. Worse still if not connected to a power source, they are used to arbitrage electricity from night rate consumption to daytime sales. Ultimately this will drive electrical costs up in our community as we artificially increase demand in non-peak hours.

Regarding solar farms, they create extreme temperatures which kill the soil underneath the panels and require far more maintenance than most people realize. Solar farms need to be cleaned with water or chemicals on a regular basis, lest their production capacity be seriously degraded.

Regarding windmills, just say no. These monstrosities have a limited lifespan, do little to provide sustainable energy, and result in the mass deaths of birds, raptors, and bats.

Bitcoin Mining Data centers draw significant energy without provided tangible benefits to the community. While we may not be able to stop them, we certainly should not subsidize them.

9 – Has there been anything during the COVID pandemic and the government’s response to it that you would change? If so, what?

Yes. Everything. Never have I seen a government more panicked by the flu than in 2020. More deaths
were caused by the response than by the disease. We needed strong politicians who were unafraid to speak the truth and calm people down; instead, we had a government that reveled in the panic. Rob Kelly’s idiotic shutdown cost lives and livelihoods, destroyed businesses, and families.

America is a strong country and a beacon of freedom. We should never make decisions based on pseudo-science or panic. I don’t believe the COVID shut down was legal or justified.

If faced with a similar situation, I will trust the judgment of the citizens and business owners to assess their own risks and comfort levels. However, I will also stand up to businesses that choose to discriminate against public with mask mandates or vaccination requirements. If you invite the public into your business, you invite all the public.

10 – What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe in term limits if they are applied to all office holders; otherwise, a few politicians will game the
system for themselves. Personally, I believe politics should not be a career, but a public service.

I would like to affect change in our government and help strengthen our party to select good successors; 8 years on the commissioner’s court should be more than enough time for an individual to implement changes.

There is a reason why military officers are promoted up or out.

1 – Serving on the court, what would your guiding principles be?

My guiding principles are simple and based upon Christian teachings meaning; abide by the US and Texas constitution, always stay within the law, listen intently to the citizens of precinct one and always do what is morally right. It has been said we were given two ears and only one mouth because listening and understanding should always come first.

2 – Please describe your philosophy on taxpayer-funded debt.

As a sixty+ million dollar a year entity, we should be applying business principles and best practices in the operation of the county while giving due consideration to where the funds come from. We may occasionally take on debt, but it should be manageable debt, acquired for a good purpose. Having said that, it should be a goal to remain debt free. In short, a well-run entity does not spend beyond its annual income. If elected as commissioner I would strive to set aside funds for future maintenance needs. By NO MEANS should we have to borrow money or raise taxes to pay for maintenance that could have been foreseen planned for years ahead. And Certificates of Obligation should never be used for funding anything but true emergency projects.

3 – How would you define the role of government?

The role of our federal government in general is to provide what is necessary to defend the nation from foreign adversaries, provide for money and commerce (the treasury), run a basic Federal court system and protect our God given rights. Many of the current activities of our nation’s government extend well beyond anything our forefathers expressed or intended in the constitution (subsidizing electric cars, providing student loans, dictating what appliances we can and cannot use in our private homes).

With respect to the Texas constitution, the County is basically responsible for county infrastructure (roads & bridges), the safety of citizens via a sheriff’s department, the provision of a county legal infrastructure, the maintenance of county records and other items as outlined in the Texas Constitution.

4 – What are your thoughts on the current pay of county employees and pay raises (how often, how much, how is a raise applied – across the board or merit-based)?

I believe Kerr County employees should be compensated in a manner consistent with the average of other employees in Texas doing a similar job. From a casual overview, I don’t believe there are any gross salary abnormalities in the county.

There are many ways to administer wage enhancements. At one time in my career, I was given an annual figure to distribute among my employees. I divided it in half and distributed the first half evenly across the board as a COLA to compensate for cost of living and inflation. The other half I distributed in a nonlinear fashion to the top performers in the department based on merit ie: accomplishments, innovation andimplemented ideas that conclusively resulted in enhanced organizational efficiency in one way or another. Nationwide, I wish we could go to a purely merit based system – with government employees provided bonuses and merit increases based on what they contribute and achieve. Having said the above, I also recognize that at the local level, constraints come into play, such as grade code salary brackets. When businesses have to tighten their belt because of a recession or reduced income for whatever reason, it is not unreasonable that such a loss would be reflected in a reduction of annual salary adjustments.

5 – In regards to the July 4th flood, tell us what you think of the local response? What should be the focus for the rebuilding efforts?

I think it needs to be recognized up front that this was at least a five hundred if not a thousand-year flood – something no community would be expected to be totally prepared for. The ’78 flood and the one in the ‘80’s were much different.

I do not have sufficient facts nor do I pretend to be all-knowledgeable in order to cite specific systemic failures. I do believe that for the most part our first responders, accompanied by citizen volunteers, many county employees and elected officials quickly responded and showed America the grit and determination us Texans are known for. I was called by the Sheriff’s department CERT Team (Citizen Emergency Response Team) and reported to the EOC at the Youth Event Center to assist.

I hesitate to offer a detailed opinion on efforts for flood victims because it would only be based on what I have individually experienced. I believe that the average citizen does not have a clear understanding of the process being used to provide relief. Based on casual conversations with many victims as well as folks wanting to offer assistance in one form or another, there seems to be a concern about transparency and whether focus is being placed in all the right places, but again, my personal observations and thoughts based on word-of-mouth encounters may not convey an accurate picture.

Regarding the focus on rebuilding efforts, I support any riparian efforts and already there is much activity in this area with many efforts currently in play.

The situation with Ingram Lake needs to be investigated with regard to silt buildup after the flood. Lakes formed by dams on flowing rivers need to be periodically dredged or cleaned out every few decades due to silt buildup making the lake ever shallower. I am not sure whether this is a serious problem at this time, but it reasonable to think that it should be investigated after the horrendous flood we experienced which could have deposited several decades of silt in just several days.

And then there is problem legislation: Texas legislation passed in 2025 requires licensed youth camps (children’s summer/resident camps) to install and maintain fiber optic broadband internet as part of redundant connectivity for emergency alert systems and communications.

Specifically, Texas Health and Safety Code § 141.0092 (as amended) mandates that all youth camp operators provide and maintain: Primary internet via a broadband service using end-to-end fiber optic facilities and have a secondary broadband connection from a separate provider to ensure reliable access to real-time weather alerts, emergency notifications, and communication during disasters, even if one connection fails. Given the location of some of these camps, this could run into the millions of dollars. It is estimated that roughly a third of existing camps lack access. Many of these camps are on high ground nowhere near a river. The county needs to advocate for these camps where these requirements mandate excessive and unreasonable costs and where alternative communication paths may exist proven to have 99+ % availability.

6 – Should the county use tax dollars for economic development “incentives” to corporations? What about tax abatements? Please explain why or why not.

Under the vast majority of situations my standard answer is no! Historically such “gifts” have not panned out. The city of Kerrville provided incentives to Fox Tanks in exchange for the company increasing their payroll to a figure around 75 over a specified period. The oil industry went through a slump and Fox, understandably so, was unable to perform to that metric. Today oil and gas companies may have a steady road ahead due to the insatiable need for energy to power AI, but it was foolish to sign such an agreement with a company dependent on an industry with a history of cyclic revenues.

Several years ago, Granger McDonald began building an apartment complex off of Thompson drive by the Guadalupe. He approached the county requesting tax abatements or incentives on the order of $600 thousand dollars. I crafted a detailed email to all the commissioners and the judge explaining that the project was already underway and to grant incentives of any sort at that point would not only be unnecessary, but would potentially be viewed as subsidizing an already funded and underway private project, which is illegal. The request for subsidies failed (although two members of the court voted to allow it). In general, if a project cannot stand on its own financial merit, it should not be subsidized. As my actions have shown in the past, I would routinely vote against any subsidies or abatements.

It is important though to be on the lookout for those rare occasions where deals can be struck and concessions given that result in a win for the county. James Avery would be one example.

7 – What are your thoughts on water infrastructure & availability and the current level of development in the county?

The county doesn’t have a lot of direct control over this. I was glad to see Headwaters increase the acreage needed to drill a well from five to ten acres a few years back. Although this is a frequently talked about subject, I am not aware of any long-range planning effort – and I believe we definitely should have one.

You may have noticed the downtown area in morning or evening rush hour consists of bumper-to-bumper traffic with cars stuck in intersections blocking the cross flow of traffic. Success should not always be measured in terms of growth. I believe success is better defined as being pro-active, forward thinking and managing the infrastructure needsahead of growth. There is only so much the county can do in this regard, but it is a concern that should be reviewed.

Atlanta repurposed a quarry that now provides a 2.4-billion-gallon emergency reservoir. Orange county California has turned a sand mining site into a 1.6-billion-gallon reservoir for irrigation and non-potable use and Denver had two gravel pit reservoirs repurposed in 2009 for raw water storage to address population growth and climate strains. These are just a few of ongoing efforts to preserve water. Exactly what elements will be included in a Kerr County long-range plan are unknown at this time, and whatever is decided is unlikely to have an immediate effect, but as they say about the lottery, you have to play to win. It would be irresponsible not to address this now in planning for the future.

8 – Battery Energy Storage Systems, solar farms, data centers, and bitcoin mining have been controversial issues in the Hill Country, what are your thoughts about them?

As in question six, I believe the government should not be providing subsidies for private projects. Battery based energy storage systems capacity is limited to a few hours. They do not generate electricity; all they can do is help offset the increase in electrical demand in the evenings when people arrive home from work, turn on the electric stove and take a shower.

If elected, I will do everything in my power to work with the commission to find ways to delay or stop BESS installations in Kerr County. We have no manner of putting out a lithium battery fire, the fumes are toxic, and if a facility burns or goes bankrupt there is no guarantee the site will be cleaned and brought back to original condition.

Solar farms do generate power, but not reliably and there are numerous problems associated with them. When building the ten-acre solar farm above the West side of Spur 100, the contractor stripped the topsoil off of the property, resulting in incredible rainwater runoff that flooded properties below. Even after the development of a large detention pond the flooding continued, resulting in countless law suits. The Nonprofit Veterans Assistance Dogs of Texas owned five acres below the solar arrays and after years with no resolution to the flooding, ended up selling their property.

Data Centers and Bitcoin mining centers, both heavy consumers of electricity, were initially attracted to Texas where electrical costs are generally less than most other states. Texas dominates U.S. Bitcoin mining, hosting approximately 50% of North America’s centers. However, many new operations tend to cluster in rural West Texas (Permian Basin) where cheap and plentiful natural gas allows for power generation at or near their facilities, allowing their power requirement to be supplied without placing a demand on our grid.

The Hill Country does not generally attract these facilities, so I don’t view us at risk and the fact that they are generating their own power or utilizing power from waste gas sources means they are less of a drain on our grid, and that is a positive move forward.At this time, investments in Texas energy should be focused on dispatchable power plants powered by natural gas (such as KPUB wisely did) until such time that SMR (Smart Modular Reactor) technology is perfected and deployed. One company is developing a reactor that uses nuclear waste from power plants and claims there is enough spent fuel to power America for over 100 years. Nuclear is the true “green deal.”

9 – Has there been anything during the COVID pandemic and the government’s response to it that you would change? If so, what?

In short, I would change the entire governmental and medical establishment response! Our national government basically demanded that we be injected with an experimental drug incorporating never before proven technology. The CDC lied to us about the potential benefits of Ivermectin. I was shocked to see fellow Americans bowing down to every direction coming out of our government, and the panic that ensued.

In my opinion, the government breached our personal rights in an extraordinary manner I had never witnessed before. Firing people because they refused to be injected with an inadequately tested experimental vaccine was invasive, an overreach and wrong.

In my opinion, here is the biggest thing to consider: There is a pandemic with a bad virus. Billions of dollars are given to drug companies to develop a “Vaccine” in record time. The majority of them use entirely different technology than has ever been used before with no statistics on long term effects.

The government demands that not only the general population be injected with this, but also our first responders and our military – basically everyone. Due to the “all must take it” mandate, if there are unexpected and serious adverse effects from this untested technology, the entire American population suffers and there is no segment of the population that has escaped due to the mandates. In no way can the actions of our government be considered wise.

10 – What are your thoughts on term limits?

I totally support term limits. We have far too many people in Congress that should have retired years, if not decades ago. I think it best to look back at our forefathers who, in general, served for several years or several terms in the congress with no pay – they were wealthy enough and driven to dedicate several years to craft the future of America without pay. Their sole objective was to progress the formation of the nation` for the benefit of those that were to come after them.

Back down at the local level, if elected I would agree to never serve more than two terms, or in my situation, potentially the unexpired term I currently seek as well as a subsequent full term.

1 – Serving on the court, what would your guiding principles be?

Properness is a guiding principle. If it was right yesterday, today, and tomorrow then it is worthy of discussion. I believe in listening first, staying grounded in facts, and making decisions that protect taxpayers while strengthening our community.

2 – Please describe your philosophy on taxpayer-funded debt.

First, we bootstrapped our business through 16 years, without the need of debt. For several years we have funded the Ramsey-based Foundations in Personal Finance at Tivy High School. I am also in the process of becoming a Ramsey financial coach. Debt should always have positive gains on the outset. Taxpayer dollars are hard-earned, and any project requiring debt must clearly benefit Kerr County and be approached with complete transparency.

3 – How would you define the role of government?

We do need government for the provisions of service, safety, and infrastructure. These allow families and businesses to thrive. But it has a responsibility to the people to be fair, responsive, and accountable.

4 – What are your thoughts on the current pay of county employees and pay raises (how often, how much, how is a raise applied – across the board or merit-based)?

In most businesses wages are the largest expense. As owners we should pay just amounts for the services our team members provide. This expense for the county should be handled the same way. Employees should receive pay based on merit. I look at pay this way; the dollars we earn are ‘thank you’ notes for the service we provided. County employees earnings need to be compensated in line with their performance at a market rate for their position.

5 – In regards to the July 4th flood, tell us what you think of the local response? What should be the focus for the rebuilding efforts?

I’m proud of our community and it’s response to the tragedy. In the days following the 4th we did not stand around looking for the government to show up. We got busy and started the cleanup process ourselves. We were on the river and in the homes helping our neighbors start the recovery process. Our churches played a large role in facilitating the volunteers that came in to work alongside us. Today we are already getting people back in their homes. Businesses have been assisted as well and we are well on our way to recovery. Full recovery will not be here for several years. Let’s keep up the progress and keep moving forward.

6 – Should the county use tax dollars for economic development “incentives” to corporations? What about tax abatements? Please explain why or why not.

Incentives should never be giveaways. They must be ed to measurable results — real jobs, real investment, real benefit. Growth should pay for itself, not burden taxpayers. If the numbers don’t add up, we walk away. We do not need to go into debt on an organiza on/venture if there is not going to be a full return and future earnings available for our county.

7 – What are your thoughts on water infrastructure & availability and the current level of development in the county?

Water is one of our vital resources. Not planning for its responsible use is foolish. We must protect all of our natural resources by investing in infrastructure and development that aligns with what our natural resources can support. Smart growth means sustainability and respecting property rights.

8 – Battery Energy Storage Systems, solar farms, data centers, and bitcoin mining have been controversial issues in the Hill Country, what are your thoughts about them?

Innovation is important, but it must be responsible. Projects must be evaluated for safety, environmental impact, and compatibility with the Hill Country. I support growth but not just for growth’s sake. I will always object when growth comes at the expense of our land or quality of life.

9 – Has there been anything during the COVID pandemic and the government’s response to it that you would change? If so, what?

During COVID people were running scared and the ‘Chicken Little’ mindset was ruling the mentality of large sectors of the population. Our business was able to continue operating as an essential service. However, because of some of the mandates expenses nearly doubled. Should something like this happen again we should be allowed to make our own decisions, just like any other flu season.

10 – What are your thoughts on term limits?

I’m a strong study on the leadership of George Washington. For twenty plus years he led our country and in every position he served, when it ended, he went home to Mount Vernon. This allowed the country to continue to ask him to serve in a new role. I’ve done the same in my community service. When my season ended, I’ve stepped out. This allows for new faces, new ideas, and new energy.

1 – Serving on the court, what would your guiding principles be?

First and foremost, I am a Christian and a Constitutional Conservative. I am guided by His Word and read the Bible daily, My church, Hosanna Lutheran, did a Bible study on the “Red-Letter Challenge” in 2019 that called me to serve and in 2021 led me to run for county commissioner.

I am a proud member of the Republican Party, and I fully support their stated priorities. I am pro life, pro 2nd amendment and a leader in election integrity. I believe in honesty and transparency, and I am committed to keeping my constituents informed via my opening comments in commissioners court, by holding town hall meetings at least twice a year, and by frequently sending out email updates or posting on Facebook. I believe in being responsive to constituents and I carry my county cell phone pretty much everywhere, even on weekends. If I don’t answer the phone (usually because I am in a meeting or on my other phone), I will return your call the same day.

2 – Please describe your philosophy on taxpayer-funded debt.

In general, I am opposed to debt. I worked hard over the course of my engineering career and managed our personal finances such that my wife and I have been debt free for more than 2 decades.

I believe taxpayer funded debt should be minimized, but there are cases when large capital improvements are required which cannot be paid from annual revenues or from the reserve balance. So, taxpayer funded debt is occasionally necessary, but must be judiciously managed, and total debt should never exceed annual revenue. This has been the case for Kerr County where our current total debt (principal balance) is just under $31 million ($38 million including the interest to full terms) vs. current annual revenue of $51 million. The main problem is that long-term taxpayer debt shifts the financial burden from current to future generations and too much debt undermines economic stability and leads to higher taxes to service the debt.

3 – How would you define the role of government?

As an administrative subdivision of the state government, the primary role of county government is to carry out responsibilities mandated by the Texas Constitution and legislature and to oversee public safety, maintain county roads, conduct elections, and provide essential administrative services (e.g. property tax collection, voter registration, record keeping, document filing, floodplain building permits, etc.). Judicial responsibilities are also managed as part of county government.

4 – What are your thoughts on the current pay of county employees and pay raises (how often, how much, how is a raise applied – across the board or merit-based)?

Last year the county hired Werling Associates, Inc. to conduct a compensation survey (base pay plan design) to compare Kerr County employees’ compensation with the employees of comparable-sized counties and cities in our region. It showed that most of our junior staff are paid below the market average, while more senior staff, professionals, sheriff’s senior staff and our court-related positions tend to be a bit above the average base pay.

I am a big advocate of merit-based pay, however it is difficult to administer in a private sector company and nearly impossible to fairly administer in county government. This is due to our lack of a single executive in charge and due to having numerous elected officials serving as department heads. While we can control their budget, we cannot control how they manage personnel. Performance management is fundamental to merit-based pay. However, our department heads, especially elected officials, have been inconsistent and lacking in setting individual performance objectives and in completing employee appraisals tied to agreed objectives and performance expectations. We have talked about the need for better performance management, but it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Our first step towards merit-based pay would be to do away with our “step” compensation system and replace it with pay ranges for each position which would do away with automatic step increases every three years. It would help if we had a strong judge having experience with performance management in private companies of comparable size.

I agree with reviewing employee compensation each year as part of our budget process. However, I voted against the 5% and subsequent 4% across the board raises we gave out the first two years I served on the court. I felt that these were too generous considering the difficulties taxpayers faced due to inflation and low economic growth at that time. Even this past fiscal year, I proposed a lower 1% increase during the budget discussions, but as there was no support, I voted to approve the 2% increase, which was still lower than current inflation rates.

Note that I have personally declined all three salary increases since being sworn in, so my salary remains the same as when I started. I ran for office to serve the people and make a positive difference. I didn’t need the money, though it does compensate me for diesel and wear and tear on my truck (I have put a lot of miles on it since taking up this position) and it allows me to be more generous in my charitable and political giving.

5 – In regards to the July 4th flood, tell us what you think of the local response? What should be the focus for the rebuilding efforts?

There were many good things and certainly areas needing improvement. As the county is facing lawsuits related to flood response, I am unable to say more in writing.

The main need now is for financial assistance both for residents and for businesses. Businesses are particularly suffering as the primary source of financial assistance is through SBA which results in another loan (even if it is low interest). These loans must be repaid and for many businesses would be on top of existing loans, which would be crushing to their financial viability. What they really need is some type of loan forgiveness, which rumor has it, our President may consider.

6 – Should the county use tax dollars for economic development “incentives” to corporations? What about tax abatements? Please explain why or why not.

No. I am opposed to government subsidies and tax abatements. If a business is not viable without these incentives, I don’t want them in Kerr County. I have voted against all the tax abatements that have come before the court since being elected.

7 – What are your thoughts on water infrastructure & availability and the current level of development in the county?

I am glad that Kerrville has surface water rights and their ASR system. Kerrville (half of the county population) takes 80% of its water from the Guadalupe River. I understand that they may need to improve their water treatment process to ensure their water quality is consistently within approved standards. If Kerrville did not take most of its water from the river and inject water into the aquifer, we would have already been faced with severe water shortages and many dry wells. Note that the county does not have any surface water rights so even if we wanted to replicate the Kerrville ASR system, we would not be able to. Hence, my preference for additional residential development in Kerr County is within the Kerrville city limits, where water, power and sewer services are available. Note also that I do not support the expansion of the Kerrville ETJ and I am personally very happy that I live in the unincorporated area of the county.

As a petroleum engineer, I fully understand geology and water movement through our aquifers. I have reviewed Kerr County’s geology and understand that it is highly variable and partially compartmentalized. The aquifers in east Kerr County have lower permeability and are slower to recharge than the aquifers in central Kerr County, even though they are all somewhat connected. As a result, I believe that overdevelopment in conjunction with an extended drought will eventually result in severe water shortages.

Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District is the government body having responsibility for managing our groundwater. The commissioners’ court has no authority over groundwater or surface water. However, I do believe that HGCD have done a good job of managing our groundwater by restricting future development to only one exempt well per 10 acres. They would need legislative approval to put any further restrictions on groundwater. When developers used to come to the commissioners’ court to obtain approval to subdivide their property (they no longer have to obtain our approval), I always encouraged them to utilize water conservation methods, such as rainwater capture, and minimal irrigated landscaping. I am concerned enough that last year I installed a 30,000-gallon rainwater storage system for my own home.

8 – Battery Energy Storage Systems, solar farms, data centers, and bitcoin mining have been controversial issues in the Hill Country, what are your thoughts about them?

I am opposed to all government subsidies for wind and solar energy. Thanks to the federal subsidies, grants and loans which fund up to 70% of the capital cost of these facilities, Texas has become overly reliant on unreliable energy which created the need for BESS facilities that are subsidized similarly to wind and solar energy. However, BESS facilities are far worse due to their history of thermal runaway fires which release hazardous toxins and threaten the safety of our communities due to the high risk of wildfires in our semi-arid hill country. There are further concerns about the eventual disposal or recycling of the lithium-ion batteries as well as the fact that most of the batteries and control equipment components are manufactured in China, our stated enemy. Due to the lack of regulation and oversight of BESS, and their remote control, they present a serious threat to our energy grid security should an adversary carry out a cyberattack.

No one in Kerr County has done more in the fight against BESS than I have in terms of forming and leading (as President) our chapter 391 SRPC. If you want to know more, visit our website at www.HCESRPC.com. My opponent was an advocate of BESS in his role as a former director of LCRA. Before he stepped down last June, I asked him to use his influence as a director to get LCRA to coordinate the planning for BESS development in our HCESRPC territory (Kerr and Kendall Counties). He either did nothing or was unsuccessful. Ask him.

9 – Has there been anything during the COVID pandemic and the government’s response to it that you would change? If so, what?

I am opposed to all government mandates and opposed both the vaccine and the mask mandates. I opposed the church and school closures as well as the closure of all so-called non-essential businesses. I remain unvaccinated and have lost all trust in big pharma, the CDC and the FDA.

10 – What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits, but don’t see it happening without a convention of states, which has been an uphill battle due to the opposition in many states where representatives see it as a threat to their plans to stay in office indefinitely. I have been a financial supporter of COS for many years in the hope that they will eventually succeed.

1 – Serving on the court, what would your guiding principles be?

My guiding principles in serving the court will mirror my guiding principles in life. I am guided by my Christian values and conservative political ideology. I believe in one nation under God, upholding the US and Texas constitutions, fiscal accountability, personal responsibility, and the use of good, old-fashion common sense.

2 – Please describe your philosophy on taxpayer-funded debt.

My philosophy is that most debt can be avoided through good, long-term planning and conservative, responsible budgeting. Saddling taxpayers with debt should always be the last resort.

3 – How would you define the role of government?

To serve the public trust. Government should be kept as small as possible and its power should be limited to what is granted in the constitution.

4 – What are your thoughts on the current pay of county employees and pay raises (how often, how much, how is a raise applied – across the board or merit-based)?

I do not believe in across the board raises. Raises should be a privilege rather than an entitlement. Raises should always be performance and merit-based and only granted as is warranted rather than always granted according to a schedule.

5 – In regards to the July 4th flood, tell us what you think of the local response? What should be the focus for the rebuilding efforts?

I live on the Southfork of the Guadalupe just over a mile west of what was the Hunt Store. I was
involved in rescue efforts beginning at 3:30am on July 4th. I witnessed the dedication of local Hunt
responders and their frustration with the lack of accessibility to county leadership. This was a
defining moment for me and is the primary reason I am running for Precinct 4 County Commission. I want to ensure county officials are accessible, available, and fully accountable to Kerr County’s citizens and visitors going forward.

In addition to physical rebuilding efforts, Kerr County must also rebuild trust. We must provide assurance that the county is served by officials who take full responsibility for and ownership of the well-being of residents and visitors to Kerr County. Although we can’t control mother nature, we can be vigilant and prepared. We must implement technological solutions that will optimally address the underlying risk factors, have long-term effectiveness and value, and will help restore confidence in the safety and well-being of residents and visitors to Kerr County. If we don’t rebuild trust no amount of physical rebuilding will ensure the stability of Kerr County going forward.

6 – Should the county use tax dollars for economic development “incentives” to corporations? What about tax abatements? Please explain why or why not.

There is no uniform answer to these questions. Each situation must be carefully evaluated to determine what is in the best interest of the citizens of Kerr County.

7 – What are your thoughts on water infrastructure & availability and the current level of development in the county?

Water infrastructure and availability is a key concern of mine. I am in the throes of researching this topic. Rather than spout an opinion without basis, I prefer to address this issue after I’ve completed more research and analysis. My overriding consideration for any determination that I make will always be what is in the best interest of the citizens of Kerr County.

8 – Battery Energy Storage Systems, solar farms, data centers, and bitcoin mining have been controversial issues in the Hill Country, what are your thoughts about them?

Each type of development listed must be individually evaluated to determine what, if any benefit they can potentially provide to the citizens of Kerr County. If determined to have benefit then all aspects of the development must be carefully and perpetually monitored by the court of commissioners in order to protect the citizens of Kerr County.

9 – Has there been anything during the COVID pandemic and the government’s response to it that you would change? If so, what?

Rather than look backward on prior management of situations I prefer to look forward and to help ensure future management of all crises that affect Kerr County citizens are well managed.

10 – What are your thoughts on term limits?

I am personally for term limits but realize we are bound to what is contained in the constitution.

1 – Serving on the court, what would your guiding principles be?

1. Fiscal Responsibility: to be a steward of taxpayer dollars.
2. Limited Government: We should provide some services and do them well.
3. Local Control: Stand up for the community right to govern itself.
4. Public Safety and Infrastructure first: Sheriff’s Dept, VFD’s, Road & Bridge

2 – Please describe your philosophy on taxpayer-funded debt.

It should be used very sparingly, responsibly and only when necessary. We must always try to operate within our means. Debt should never become a substitute for sound budgeting.

3 – How would you define the role of government?

To protect individual rights, ensure public safety, provide essential services that people cannot provide for themselves. Freedom, Personal Responsibility, Limited Government.

4 – What are your thoughts on the current pay of county employees and pay raises (how often, how much, how is a raise applied – across the board or merit-based)?

I believe in fair and competitive pay so that we can attract and keep quality staff. Pay raises must be sustainable and cannot jeopardize the county’s ability to protect and serve. Raises must be transparent to the public on how and why the raises are given. There should be market adjustments when understaffed or if the pay is too low. This should be based on strategic analysis and merit based vs. across the board.

5 – In regards to the July 4th flood, tell us what you think of the local response? What should be the focus for the rebuilding efforts?

The local response from our county services was outstanding. Our commissioners did a very good job of response, effort, and transparency based on the catastrophic circumstances placed on them.

6 – Should the county use tax dollars for economic development “incentives” to corporations? What about tax abatements? Please explain why or why not.

I believe taxpayer funds should serve the people and not corporate interests. Incentives should be limited, must be transparent and tied to clear results.

1. Use only when there is a proven return on investment. Jobs, tax base, infrastructure improvements.
2. Performance-based agreements: companies must meet specific benchmarks
3. Clawbacks: if the company does not meet agreed upon promises, then funds must be repaid.

Tax abatements should be rare and strategic, although they can be useful tools for job creation. They should always benefit the county, be earned and strengthen the local economy. I believe economic growth should come from the free market, low taxes, limited government and strong county infrastructure and services.

7 – What are your thoughts on water infrastructure & availability and the current level of development in the county?

The commissioners have limited power and should work closely with the Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District to protect our water supply for future generations.

8 – Battery Energy Storage Systems, solar farms, data centers, and bitcoin mining have been controversial issues in the Hill Country, what are your thoughts about them?

For the BESS projects, we must ensure public safety and minimize fire and environmental risks in rural areas. There should be proof of the strictest safety standards and local oversight. Our taxpayers should not be left responsible for cleanup or emergency costs. Large solar farms would have an impact on our landscape, wildlife and property values. Instead, we should focus on roof-top solar and small-scale systems. Data centers and crypto mining consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, creating a strain on local infrastructure. We should not subsidize these operations or allow them to raise energy costs for our residents. Transparency, accountability and local interests must come first.

9 – Has there been anything during the COVID pandemic and the government’s response to it that you would change? If so, what?

There was too much government overreach such as lockdowns and mandates. Personal responsibility should have been promoted instead of government control. There should have been fewer shutdowns and business closures, along with more targeted economic relief. There could have been more protection of the at-risk populations, along with review of different methods and medications, allowing for personal choice in treatment.

10 – What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe there should be term limits as it will help facilitate new leadership and ideas. Decisions would be based more on principle rather than trying to just get re-elected.