10/17/2026
As many of you know, I've had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for Travis County WCID No. 17 for the past six years. During that time, I've served as Secretary, Vice President, and currently President, as well as on our Legal and Planning/Capital Improvements Committees.
With early voting beginning October 19, I wanted to take a moment to share some of what we've accomplished and why I believe the work of this board is so important to our community.
If you know me personally or professionally, you know how important protecting property values is to me. I've spent more than 25 years in real estate, and I understand that the long-term value and desirability of a community depend on far more than the homes themselves. Safe, reliable water and wastewater service, well-maintained infrastructure, responsible taxation, and reasonable utility costs are fundamental to protecting both our quality of life and our property values.
Those aren't particularly glamorous topics, but they're some of the most important responsibilities of local government.
One thing many residents may not realize is that WCID 17 is a governmental, not-for-profit entity. We don't have shareholders, owners, or investors expecting a return. Our purpose is to provide essential services to our communities while managing public resources responsibly. Every financial decision we make should ultimately serve the residents of our entire district, both today and in the future.
One of the things I'm proudest of is our board's commitment to fiscal responsibility. We've worked hard to maintain some of the lowest water rates in the area while consistently lowering our property tax rate, all while continuing to make substantial investments in the infrastructure necessary to serve our communities.
That doesn't happen by accident.
It requires careful budgeting, long-term planning, responsible management of debt, and a willingness to scrutinize expenditures. We have to consider not only what a project costs today, but how it will be funded, what it means for future budgets, and whether we're making the best use of residents' money.
We've maintained this philosophy even through years of significant inflation, rising construction costs, and increasing expenses for equipment, materials, and services.
I also recognize that not everyone will agree with every decision our board makes. That's the nature of public service, particularly when you're balancing competing priorities, complex infrastructure needs, and financial considerations. But I would encourage residents to look beyond any single decision and consider the bigger picture.
When you look at the overall results of our approach—decreasing property tax rates, stable water rates, continued infrastructure improvements, and a financially sound district—I believe our record speaks for itself. Those results reflect years of thoughtful planning, difficult decisions, and a consistent commitment to protecting the financial interests of our residents.
Many of us remember February 2021 and the devastation caused by Winter Storm Uri. It exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure throughout Texas and demonstrated just how critical reliable water and power systems are.
Rather than simply hoping we wouldn't experience another storm like that, our board took action.
Following Uri, we made significant improvements to our emergency preparedness and system resilience, including the installation of a large backup generator designed to help maintain water service during power outages.
These are the kinds of investments residents may never see or think about, but they become incredibly important when an emergency occurs. Since those improvements, our district has successfully maintained water service through subsequent winter storms without the widespread interruptions we experienced during Uri.
To me, that's exactly what responsible local government should be doing: identifying vulnerabilities, planning ahead, and investing in solutions before the next emergency.
For my fellow Steiner Ranch residents, one particularly significant improvement has been the approximately $5 million Quinlan waterline project.
This was a major investment in infrastructure serving our community, designed to improve the reliability and long-term performance of our water distribution system.
Projects like this aren't always visible once they're completed, but they are essential to maintaining the quality of service our neighborhoods depend on. As infrastructure ages, it's important to address necessary improvements proactively rather than waiting for failures that can lead to emergency repairs, service disruptions, and potentially much greater expenses.
Something I've learned during my six years on the board is just how much there is to understand about operating a district like WCID 17.
We oversee substantial budgets, complex infrastructure systems, capital improvement planning, financing and debt obligations, legal matters, and long-term decisions that can affect residents for decades.
These aren't decisions that should be made without understanding their financial and operational consequences. It takes time to develop a thorough understanding of the district's operations, historical decisions, infrastructure needs, and financial commitments.
I believe continuity and institutional knowledge are particularly important when managing essential public infrastructure. Having experienced board members who understand the history behind major projects and financial decisions helps provide consistency and informed oversight.
I've lived in Steiner Ranch for approximately 20 years, raised my family here, built my real estate business here, and invested in this community in countless ways.
Serving on the WCID 17 Board has been another opportunity to give back to a community that has been such an important part of my life.
I've genuinely enjoyed working alongside my fellow directors, learning the complexities of water district operations, and being part of decisions that benefit not only our current residents but future generations.
I take the responsibility seriously. These are our homes, our neighborhoods, our tax dollars, and our infrastructure. The decisions made today will have consequences long after any individual board member's term has ended.
Early voting begins October 19 and runs through October 30, with Election Day on November 3.
WCID 17 is a nonpartisan election, and our race appears farther down the ballot, where it's easy to overlook local offices after voting in the more widely publicized races.
Voters will have the opportunity to select up to three candidates for the Board of Directors. I encourage everyone to review the candidates' experience, qualifications, and records of service before making their selections.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past six years. It's truly been a privilege to serve our community, and I'm proud of the work we've accomplished together
