Hays County Commissioner Mark Jones to run for County Judge
Three-term Republican commissioner and former two-term Hays CISD school board trustee currently represents the county’s fast-growing Buda/Kyle corridor
Staff Reports
KYLE, TX—Hays County Commissioner Mark Jones announced that he will be a candidate for county judge in the 2022 election. Jones was first elected as commissioner for precinct two, which includes much of Buda and Kyle, in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018.
“Over the past 11 years, I have focused on rapidly expanding roads and infrastructure across the fastest growing part of the fastest growing county in America, while also delivering the high-quality core services we depend on for our safety, security, and quality of life. We have before us a critical window of opportunity to invest in our roads and highways, public safety infrastructure, economic future, support services, natural environment and recreational opportunities. The decisions we make today will determine the community we have 10, 50, and 100 years from now. I am running for this office because our success requires a county judge who can be trusted to do what’s right and deliver on what matters most,” said Jones.
During his time in office, Jones led major improvements and expansions to many of Hays County’s most crowded and traveled corridors, including FM 1626, FM 967, FM, 2001, SH 21, Dacy Lane, and IH-35, and he marshalled support to finally complete State Highway 45 SW. Jones has consistently supported law enforcement and first responders, helping to protect Hays County’s reputation for low crime and high quality of life.
Prior to serving as county commissioner, Jones was a two-term trustee and vice president of the Hays CISD School Board. In that capacity, he was responsible for leading one of Hays County’s largest employers and managing a budget in excess of $100 million.
Under Mark’s leadership, the district opened four new schools, developed long-term plans for growth, and improved student performance. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Plum Creek Conservation District.
Mark and his wife, Kerri, have been married for more than three decades and raised three grown children, all of whom graduated from local public schools. The Joneses attend First Baptist Church of Kyle.
How unfortunate not to have a candidate that does not plan on retiring from County Government. We are our own worst enemy.
I mean…it’s nice that he helps traffic flow at 1626/967, but not 100% sure he isn’t actually making it worse. How can one run for County Judge without even first being a District Attorney? What a scam!
Dear Concerned Resident,
The County Judge does not handle any judicial/court items. In the business world, he would be considered the CEO of a company. The current Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra never graduated from college much less having a judicial background.
Thank you for reading,
Corridor Staff
Abel, what you mean by “We” ? Leave my personalities out of this.
You talking to me? You talking to ME ? Si, con tu boca lagart y tu cola perico.
Intiendo. Entonces, bueno. . . quack quack quack. . . ahora Flaco, responde me.
It is the same as city staff. We have people like Sabas Avila; how did he get that job? Pure attrition. He is painfully ill-qualified and embarrassing with his treatment of the public. Bert Lumbreras stayed as city manager until his retirement clicked in. He is rarely in his office over the past two years. Mayor does not seem to care and yet expects other city staff to show up to their desks. The ONLY people who can afford the rising property taxes, a direct result of city spending, are city managers. The public gets what they voted in, a Mayor who refuses to keep spending in check and refuses to hold city staff accountable. The same Mayor who had purple construction push cards running for office is so cheap. It must be nice to have retirement account investments. At the same time, other women in this community cannot afford their property taxes. It good thing Lisa and Melissa are gone. The spending skyrocketed under their watch for pet projects for political optics of their careers.
Don’t forget about City Council members that can attend MLK events, hold an “open house: in the Dunbar District, have a job where they are literally all in another person’s space but cannot go to City Hall and do the job they are paid to do because it isn’t safe.
Anyone else concerned that the bare minimum qualifications to be elected a County Judge is actual proven knowledge of the Law and a Juris Doctorate of Law? I have searched bios and have found zero mention of any of these minimum qualifications. Has he ever practiced law? Is he a professional lawyer? What in the world is happening? How is he allowed to run without minimum qualifications? This is not a popularity contest!
Dear Concerned Resident,
The County Judge does not handle any judicial/court items. In the business world, he would be considered the CEO of a company. The current Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra never graduated from college much less having a judicial background.
Thank you for reading,
Corridor Staff
Dear Concerned:
YOU are not but should be concerned that you don’t know the difference between
a County Judge of Commissioners Court, (no qualification required);
and a Judge for County Courts At Law, ( Bar license and min. 4 yrs practice)
Your concern about Mr. Becerra nevertheless voices moral outrage.
And for that purpose, even if you just need to scream, you’re doing at the right guy.
Why not start a local Blog? “We Despise Judge Becerra’s Lack Of Morality” ?
Your first story could describe that Mr. Becerra last year was caught paying
himself $50,000 for work he did not do, yet which he can legally do.
And that due to Judge Becerra’s iron-willed compassion for “no hustle left behind”
he then began performing such work, namely “administrative hearings” in matters
where a person’s drivers licence had been suspended and they wanted to get it back.
You could then tell us how Mr. Becerra, despite knowing that a certain person only three
weeks earlier had been arrested for driving on Interstate 35 in reverse (backwards) which
caused several wrecks and who upon stepping out of the car, was so heavily intoxicated
that she could not walk without falling, and despite knowing the officer’s dash cam clearly
showed all of this, Judge Becerra nevertheless restored that person’s licence–only one week
after it had been suspended by the Department of Public Safety, based on that same video.
I know the cop who stopped her. Voting for Mr. Becerra does not provide him the help he needs.
You should be concerned and have a right to be free of moral outrage caused by public officials.
My sources confide the local Democratic party has thrown in the towel on Mr. Becerra.
Make this your first story. Where moral outrage finds redemption through bipartisan hope.