Election Coverage 2018 Hays County Judge

WV: As a candidate for county judge, what do you offer the voters of Hays County?

Becerra: As your next County Judge, I offer loyalty. I have no ties to corporate PACs or special interest from outside of Hays County. Control should be LOCAL. Institutional knowledge is pointless if it doesn’t benefit the residents we are charged to serve. I have 20 years of experience in helping to shape public policy in our city and countless hours serving on boards and commissions. Currently, I’m the Chair of the $100M+ School Bond Oversight Committee. I was also the chair of the City of San Marcos Blue Ribbon Bond Committee and Planning & Zoning Commissioner. I serve on The Salvation Army’s Board, & Chair The Arts Commission and former President of Centro Cultural. I served on The Texas State Athletic Foundation Board.

WV: Spending and debt is a perennial issue at commissioner’s court meetings. How do you propose to rein in spending while accommodating the growth that Hays County is experiencing?

Becerra: Our taxes are skyrocketing and we are buried in debt. We have the 2nd highest debt per capita in Texas. Hays County has $2,227 per person in debt. Other counties of similar size have debt ranging from $93 - $530 per person. We need smart growth not crippling debt. First, the budget process will be reset each year to start at ZERO. This is known as ZERO Based Budgeting. I will direct department heads to build their needs from there. I believe our budgets should be framed around the needs of the county. I will bring in competitive bidding for contracts with the county. The Good ‘ol Boy way of doing business has proven to be a failure. We are NOT getting any good deals. We must improve our relationships with our municipalities. We must create stronger inter-local agreements with each municipality for maximum effectiveness. This will only serve our community & not outside interests.

WV: What would you say makes Hays County a good place for businesses and jobs, and how do you think we should capitalize on those factors to improve the quality of life countywide?

Becerra: Geographically, we are in a perfect space. Between Austin & SA. We have the most to offer in a 100-mile radius. We have affordable land and are a gateway to the hill country. Our natural resources are a draw to leaders. We are a draw to the broadest demographics in the United States. We have excellent relationships with our school districts, Texas State University & ACC for equipping and training our population. And, we are consistently named a great place to retire. That is, in part, because of our labor pool, growing health care providers and the promotion of community engagement programs.

WV: Water is an issue for the entire county, especially with companies like Electro Purification looking to capitalize on our underground resources and the Endangered Species Act, which helps to protect the aquifer and the San Marcos River, possibly coming into question. What would you do to help preserve, or increase, the water supplies that are important to both life and tourism in Hays County?

Becerra: Together, we must create a county-wide vision of responsible water uses that ensure water will be available for our current residents and for future development. Our vision must be guided by education, responsible conversation and engaging our water authority stakeholders to ensure we are sharing information to assist in shaping appropriate policies that balance development and preservation. We cannot continue to fail to protect our groundwater. We cannot continue to incentivize development over environmentally sensitive areas. We cannot continue to disregard our recharge zones. We must ensure that our water resources are regarded with a higher level of respect. I will remain vigilant over our precious resources and not allow them to be exploited. We must encourage educational programs that promote efficient water usage for residential & commercial use. As a county, we must stop incentivizing development where it effects our limited resources.

WV: Transit and traffic concerns are spreading out from the cities in Hays County into the more rural areas as people move into the Hill Country but still need access to I-35. What steps would you like to see the county take regarding regional transportation planning to improve connectivity while protecting the environment?

Becerra: I look forward to working with all our stakeholders to create transportation plans that are an effective and responsible use of tax payer money, improve mobility, quality of life while balancing environmental implications. I am NOT a supporter of toll roads. To me, it’s a double taxation. We need to address our growing needs for transportation through a strategic and fair planning process that creates opportunities for our citizens to enjoy all parts of our county and remain a beautiful place for all our visitors. I support the effort to revisit the conversation around commuter rail with all stakeholders. To me, it is not a dead issue.