Served on Kerrville City Council, worked in the budget/finance office of large government agency for 25 years and am engaged in local government issues as strong public advocate for local citizen rights and values. Coupled with my over 20 years of volunteer service in and alongside the local community, I am uniquely positioned to both understand the common person's perspective as well as possess knowledge of the county government processes. Therefore, I will be able to hit the ground running to address the issues important to the citizens across the Hill Country.
For 25 years I worked in budget/finance office of MHMR facilities in Bexar and Travis Counties where annual budgets were three times that of Kerr County. As the developer of applications used to build budgets and reporting systems to analyze financial activities, I gained thorough understanding of factors involved in government finances, especially the importance of a balanced budget! Learned the value of cost accounting to more transparently assess efficiency of the operation. Saw how to use data-driven approach to more accurately describe and understand government operations.
The current operations budget was adopted with an 18 percent deficit, expenses exceeding revenues by more than $8 million. Over the previous ten years, Kerr County has adopted budgets with ever increasing deficits highlighting an unsustainable position. With the government finances already being in the red, the County will be unable to respond to unforeseen events such as the recent flood and less able to fulfill unfunded mandates being handed down by the State. If not corrected, the County will end up deferring maintenance of its necessary infrastructure such as roads and building facilities.
Limiting the expansion of government; Balancing the budget; restoring Kerr County to a Private Property Rights county.
As the lynchpin to good governance the budget deficit needs to be addressed immediately. We will achieve a balanced budget in two years if we put a moratorium on any new projects resulting in increased government spending, task department directors with reducing annual expenses by 4 percent each year and accept the average property tax growth stemming from new developments within the county. Adopt a balanced budget resolution that prevents this from happening again. Wherever possible, reduce unnecessary regulations on landowners to enable full utilization of their own property without government interference, this is Texas after all.
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!
I bring decades of hands-on leadership and community service to this role. I owned and operated a successful local business, where I was responsible for budgets, employees, and long-term planning. I’ve also served in leadership roles in my church and community, working with people from all walks of life to solve problems and build consensus. These experiences taught me to listen first, be fiscally responsible, and make practical, common-sense decisions. I am committed to transparent, accountable government and to being a careful steward of Kerr County’s resources.
I have direct experience managing and overseeing large, complex budgets that require careful planning, accountability, and fiscal discipline. As a business owner, I was responsible for annual operating budgets, payroll, capital investments, and long-term financial planning; making sure every dollar was spent wisely and sustainably. I have also worked with nonprofit and church budgets, balancing limited resources with real community needs. While county government is unique, the principles are the same: live within your means, plan for the future, and treat taxpayer dollars with the same care as your own.
I believe Kerr County’s budget can meet normal operations when managed responsibly and guided by clear priorities. The key issue is not just adequacy, but whether taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and aligned with core county responsibilities. I support careful review of expenditures, long-term planning, and transparency so the public has a clear understanding. As commissioner, I will focus on fiscal discipline, avoiding unnecessary spending, and fully funding essential services, while recognizing there will be some unusual expenditures as we continue to recover from the flood.
My top priorities are fiscal responsibility, strong infrastructure, and responsive leadership. I will be a careful steward of taxpayer dollars, focusing on essential services and long-term financial stability. I will support maintaining and improving county roads, public safety, and core infrastructure that residents depend on every day. I will be accessible, listening to the residents of all Kerr County, communicating openly, and making decisions grounded in common sense, local values, to get what is best for our community—not politics. In these, I want our county to build for our generations yet to come.
The duties of the commissioners are assigned by the Texas Constitution and state law, I will have to work within these boundaries to advance my priorities. Participation in Commissioners’ Court, supporting responsible budgets, and helping to oversee the county infrastructure and services. Collaboration is essential, so I will work closely with fellow commissioners, the county judge, and department leadership to understand needs, set priorities, and promote accountability. I will focus county resources on core services while respecting the limits of county authority.
