My current public service puts me in a unique position of having direct experience in municipal government, public policy, budgeting, and community planning. I have several years of experience in local
government decision-making and constituent service. Running a small business for 32 years gives me decades of experience in budgeting, operations, local economic issues, and workforce management. My ongoing community and volunteer leadership roles show engagement with community organizations and committees that touch on social services, economic activity, municipal planning, and public-private partnerships.
As a three-term council member and current Mayor pro tem, I’ve been a part of the body that reviews, amends, and adopts the city’s annual operating budget, which covers all municipal departments and services. This responsibility includes approving the budget and setting the tax rate each year. While our city manager prepares the
budget, I have helped provide policy direction and ultimate approval based on strategic priorities and fiscal direction on major city projects and services. These decisions influence how large sums of public funds are allocated annually.
Although balanced for routine spending, I believe our county budget for 2025-2026 faces structural challenges in balancing long-term infrastructure needs, disaster recovery, and revenue generation without eroding reserves. It may not be adequate for large-scale, unplanned expenses without further revenue increases, reallocation of priorities, or additional external funding. With disaster recovery funding as a major pressure point, budget capability to handle larger infrastructure and safety needs will be limited. The current budget relies on reserves and future property values, rather than sustainable revenue increases, which could strain future budgets.
My top three priorities are – Public Safety, emergency preparedness, and fiscal responsibility. These priorities reflect my commitment to protecting both families and taxpayers in Kerr County. I believe the county’s first duty is to keep residents safe by fully supporting law enforcement, first responders and the courts. I understand that
the recent flood disaster has shown the urgent need for emergency planning, infrastructure, and coordination, so the county is prepared when another crisis hits. I’m committed to responsible budgeting, living within our means, protecting reserves, and ensuring every tax dollar is spent wisely, transparently, and with long-term stability in mind.
These priorities align with both the letter and spirit of the Texas Constitution. Counties are constitutionally responsible for law enforcement, courts, and protecting life and property, making public safety a core duty of county government. Emergency preparedness reflects the Constitution’s emphasis on local control and protecting the public welfare through decisions made closest to the people. Fiscal responsibility honors constitutional limits on taxation and debt by requiring transparency, balanced budgets, and careful use of reserves. Together, these priorities ensure Kerr County meets its constitutional obligations while respecting taxpayers and preserving long-term financial stability.
During my career I have managed construction projects, overseen the engineering of large scale instrumentation and control systems, the specification & acquisition of radio systems, the hiring and management of multi-disciplined employees, annual budget development, the screening and selection of major vendors and
structuring contracts with bonuses and penalties to ensure the best outcome. I have acted in a consulting capacity to municipalities to develop collaborative partnerships between local colleges, a city’s economic development group and manufacturers resulting in college courses providing needed skills and local business development.
I worked with numerous multi-million-dollar project budgets during my 23 year career with the Arabian American Oil Company. I was also responsible for setting hiring salaries and employee payroll merit increases for many years which needed to be adjusted to accommodate varying annual revenues, just as Kerr County will have to do in the midst of reduced property tax revenue.
Yes, under normal circumstances. The loss of ad valorem tax revenue and business taxes due to the flood, coupled with related expenditures has created budgetary constraints. The situation underscores the need to seriously reexamine the current budgeting process which tends to roll forward inefficiencies and doesn’t encourage strategic thinking and innovation. Increasing the efficiency of county operations should be a key objective. I have
implemented several methods of reviewing organizational efficiency in order to do more with less. I would like to encourage Kerr County implement such a program.
1) To absorb revenue losses, work to strengthen the budgeting process by implementing procedures to find opportunities to increase County efficiencies and reduce costs while continuing to improve county services and operations. Doing so helps keep taxes low. 2) Make myself available to, and focus my attention on the concerns and needs of Precinct 1 residents as I would be their county representative. I’d also help the commission working to stall
the BESS installations. 3) Everyone mentions water – I see very little actionable plans. I’d work towards developing a long-term water plan.
Work with fellow commissioners to propose and implement operational improvement reviews and better budgeting methods to benefit all county residents by reducing the pressure to raise taxes. Conduct periodic meetings designed to keep precinct 1 constituents informed and up to date on County issues while being an effective listener and addressing their concerns and needs. Research and collect information on how counties across the US addressed their water situation, learn from their successes and collaborate with Commissioners to make the first step to develop a long term water availability plan. No more talk, let’s act!
