Accomplishments as Commissioner 2023-2025

1) Researched, designed, wrote, applied for and received a $1.6 million TXDOT Transportation Alternatives grant for Presidio County to construct a continuous sidewalk path from the Marfa post office over Alamito Creek (via a grade separated pedestrian/bike bridge) to Avenue B in Sal si Puedes along FM 1112. Project underway, groundbreaking in 2026, completion in 2027. Completed required TXDOT Local Government Grant Coordinator Certification in El Paso. Paid my own way at no cost to Presidio County. am the only Commissioner to have written received and administered a grant in Presidio County in at least 20 years.

2) Helped form and served on the Presidio County investment committee, which put our cash savings balances of approximately $4 million dollars into State of Texas approved investment pools. This now earns the County approximately $232,000 per year. Previously this money was held at the Marfa National Bank in non-interest bearlng savngs accounts.

3) Served as the official Presidio County representative October of 2024 in Mexico City at the 18th Binational Bridges and Border Crossings Meeting. Presidio Mayor John Ferguson also attended on behalf of the City of Presidio. This is a biannual meeting of mostly Federal government officials from Texas and Mexico with the goal of improving cross border trade opportunities, safety and coordination. Without our attendance nobody from either side of our International Bridge would have been there to represent our interests. I paid my own way at no expense to Presidio County.

4) Hosted regular “Commissioner Hours” at local public venues to discuss any and all topics pertaining to local policy. Some of my best feedback from constituents came with these meetings open to one and all. I plan to hold these same type of regular, in-person meetings in both Marfa and Presidio upon becoming County Judge. I am the first member of Commissioners Court to offer regular, public direct access.

5) Represented and advocated as co-presenter for Presidio County at the Texas Historic Commission Historic Courthouse Restoration Grant hearing in Austin. Although we were not awarded a grant, we built a solid relationship with the Commission and received positive feedback on our courthouse and presentation. I made this trip on my own at no cost to the County.

6) Worked for months with Airports Manager Chase Snodgrass and an outside attorney (at no cost to the County) to completely revise and rewrite our County Airports Land Lease Policy and Hangar lease documents. Our leases have been screwed up for decades and were out of compliance with our FAA/TXDOT Aviation grant assurances and requirements. Beginning in last 2024 the County was able to begin the process of completely overhauling and modernizing the leases, a process which is ongoing at this point. Although problems with Airports leases had been known and had been a consistent deficient finding in County audits for years, I am the first Commissioner to have taken this problem head-on.

7) Traveled to the Texas State Capitol three different times to advocate for State of Texas focus on our International Bridge ownership and operations. Although by the end of the Legislative Session we were not able to achieve any of our stated goals regarding the bridge, I made multiple new contacts and had forward-looking discussions with our Senator Blanco, Representative Morales and several other elected members. At the same time I advocated for our Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District’s ability to regulate new water wells in Presidio County, a power that was granted and did pass in the waning days of the session. I paid my own way for all of these trips at no cost to the County.

8) I researched and created written job descriptions for both our courthouse maintenance position and also our North Parks groundskeeper positions. I included in the descriptions that the Commissioner in which these positions are located is now in charge of supervising the staff member. This eliminates the need for a paid supervisor over the two positions and makes the Commissioners work harder and also directly with staff. This is an example of how Commissioners can give the taxpayer more bang for the buck as Commissioner and also obtain direct knowledge of working conditions on the ground at Presidio County.