Running for County Judge and my future as Commissioner Pct 4

Hello everyone!

I’m pleased to have announced my campaign to run for Presidio County Judge in the upcoming Primary election (March 3rd) and General Election (Nov 2026)

I have announced my candidacy early in the cycle; early enough that I can be replaced by the current County Judge in my role as elected Commissioner and he can appoint anyone of his choosing who lives in Precinct four and is legally eligible to serve.

This was an oversight on my part. When I was Justice of the Peace I was highly aware of the many rules Judges must follow. The Texas Code of Judicial Conduct covers a broad spectrum of restrictions on speech, actions, campaiging and otherwise. Comparatively, there are very few rules regarding County Commissioners and what or when we can do or say anything. I overlooked a broad but obscure rule regarding currently elected County officials and the express timeline in which one can announce for the next election cycle. Anyway, I have always been focused on moving forward with action and goals, so I cannot say that I regret coming out early in this race. I feel like the action of replacing me with an unelected appointee will be unpopular and correctly identified by the public as unnecessary. It is indeed an optional move that the Judge himself is able, but not at all required, to make.

To be clear, I serve my current elected position in a state called “holdover status” and that status has been found by the Attorney General as one that can continue to the end of any elected term. My replacement, whether popular or not, will be appointed and not elected, and will come into my office with no experience in the ongoing projects I am currently working on. Those projects are imperative to the success of our County and I am proud to list a few of them. I’ve been working closely with the Treasurer’s office and the County Auditor on ongoing finance issues; this is the primary role of any County Commissioner- we are the Board of Directors for the finances of the County.

I also actively am managing the TXDOT Transportation Alternatives grant I wrote, applied for, and received to build sidewalks and a pedestrian bridge over Alamito Creek along FM 1112 (Oak St/Golf Course Rd) between the city limits and the Sal si Puedes neighborhood. That’s a $1.6 milion dollar project and TXDOT should be breaking ground before the end of this calendar year. I serve on the investments committee and attend every meeting. I oversee our Marfa airport department and am in contact with our Airports director weekly about ongoing grants, capital improvement plans, land lease contracts and maintenance and operations. I oversee our courthouse maintenance and groundskeeper Isacc Benitez and authorize his pay period timesheets. I also authorize and sign for all expenditures in and around the courthouse and its grounds. I am currently working with the Presidio County Jail administrator and the Sheriffs Office to try to influence the transfer of more Federal prisoners to our County Jail. Our County Jail relies on these inmates to cover our operating costs and to fund ongoing capital improvements to our jail facility. Lastly, I am overseeing the replacement of our dysfunctional elevator in the courthouse- an ADA required asset that is far beyond its reliable working life.

I’m not mentioning the multiple projects I am representing myself and my precinct on within the County and beyond- these are many and would immediately be impacted by my future absence. In short, there’s a reason I have been elected to this position and it has more to do with effectiveness and involvement than popularity.

Of course I will support and try to assist, if requested, whoever replaces me if the Judge decides that is the best thing for his County agenda. That move would be, in all honesty, for the sole purpose of appointing someone else more compliant with his divisive plans. If that winds up being the case I’m looking forward to providing and sharing the contrast in vision between Judge Portillo and myself for our entire County and all its residents.

All in all, I’m very happy to make this announcement and I want to invite every single person to ask me any questions about what I have done and what I plan to do in the future. I’ll need support from all corners of this great County and I plan to earn that support over the next five months. I appreciate greatly the outpouring of support and, of course, if anyone needs me to come plant a yard sign, deliver a button, or just come to talk I’m available. I’ll be attending Commissioners Court meetings and staying on work projects that I can be involved in whether I’m on the court or off. I’ll also continue to hold “office hours” on the regular even if I’m not in office anymore. I’m grateful and happy to be here, and I’m happy that you took the time to read this.

Sincerely,

David