Ruben Becerra – Hays County Judge

Ruben Becerra

 

What is your work history, including current employment? Please respond in a list format.
I am the current Hays County Judge, from 2019 to present.

Prior to holding public office, I ran my family’s small businesses in the service industry.

I am a longtime community advocate and civic leader- I served on various boards and commissions in San Marcos, the city where I reside.

 

What is your educational history, including degrees received, licenses, professional credentials, etc.? Please respond in a list format.

I attended Texas State University.

I have completed extensive, ongoing professional education and certification focused on county governance, emergency management, budgeting, infrastructure, ethics, and public safety.  Some of my training includes:

Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Training: Over 162 hours of formal training, including judicial training, budgeting, public finance, risk management, legal compliance, emergency response, and ethics.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: 8 years of County government leadership, public administration, and policy training

Emergency Management Training: State and regional emergency preparedness, disaster response, and coordination coursework.

Texas Conference of Urban Counties: Advanced training on managing growth, infrastructure demands, public safety, and intergovernmental coordination.

Hill Country Alliance Leadership Institute:  Training on city and county planning tools, local water planning, innovative approaches to water management, night sky preservation, local economic development, fire mitigation, disaster planning, conservation, park creation, and funding.

University of Maryland School of Public Policy Elected Executive Leadership Program

 

As County Judge, I treat education as part of the job. Hays County residents have invested in a judge who is continuously trained, prepared, and equipped to handle emergencies, growth, budgeting, and complex county operations. That investment directly benefits taxpayers through better decision-making, stronger oversight, and experienced leadership.

 

What is your history of supporting Democratic organizations and/or candidates?

I am so proud to have been chosen by the state democratic leadership, to be the Chair of the 2026 Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi.

I am a lifetime democrat!  Some of you may have heard me say this story, I took my wife to meet Al Gore in 1992 on our first date.

I have been an active participant in Hays County Democratic organizations since 2017.  I am a member of KBAD, Hays Co Tejano Dems, WimDems, Wimberley Indivisible, Hays Young Dems, Dripping Awake, SMAD, and DAD.  I have actively participated in Democratic-aligned community groups for many years. I participated in the Ann Richards for Governor Campaign in the Rio Grande Valley, Bill White for Governor Campaign, and many other local campaigns in Hays County.  My involvement includes supporting voter engagement efforts, attending public forums, assisting Democratic candidates, and governing in a way that reflects Democratic values of fairness, inclusion, transparency, and accountability.

 

What, if any, experience do you have with non-partisan volunteering and community engagement in Hays County?

I have spent 25+ years serving on non-partisan leadership and volunteer roles, including city boards and commissions focused on elections, arts and culture, city planning, parks & rec, education oversight, emergency management, and community services. As County Judge, I continue to engage all residents directly through public meetings, town halls, and outreach across all parts of Hays County.

 

The cost of living in Hays County has skyrocketed. Within the specific authority of the office you are seeking, what concrete steps will you take to address affordability, housing stability, or the economic burden on taxpayers?

Affordability starts with responsible budgeting and transparency. As County Judge, I have worked to maintain the lowest county tax rate in decades, while making sure essential services keep pace with growth. I focus on careful infrastructure planning, ethical procurement practices, and policies that ensure new development contributes its fair share—so working families are not left carrying the cost of poor planning.  Backroom deals and special treatment from crooked politicians are the biggest expense to taxpayers.  I am not for sale, and I have a proven track record of transparency and working in the best interest of the people of Hays County.

 

Our region faces historic drought conditions. Our groundwater resources are threatened by pressure from development and drought. How will you prioritize water conservation and environmental stewardship when making decisions regarding development, land use, or legal disputes involving natural resources?

Water protection is one of the defining challenges facing Hays County. I prioritize science-based decision making, aquifer protection, conservation strategies, and coordinated regional planning. That means holding development to responsible standards, protecting recharge zones, and defending local water resources through policy and, when necessary, legal action.  It is paramount that the county seeks input from our environmental partners.  I was the only court member that sought transparency in the road bond process and asked for the input of environmental groups, rather than berate them in open court.

 

Hays County is becoming an attractive target for Data Centers that use a significant amount of water and electricity to service primarily non-local data requests. How can we balance technological advancement while preserving our resources?

Economic development cannot come at the expense of our basic resources. Any data center proposal must demonstrate real water efficiency, responsible energy use, transparency, and a clear benefit to the local community. Projects that threaten long-term water availability or strain public infrastructure should not move forward.

 

A judge recently overturned the 2024 Hays County Road Bond due to insufficient public notice, and that decision is being appealed. What processes will you follow to ensure appropriate notice and public input in the decisions the county faces?

I will continue to ensure strict compliance with notice requirements, early public engagement, clear documentation, and transparent timelines. Major decisions must include meaningful public input well before final action is taken.  I proposed creating public oversight committees’ numerous times during commissioners court, and my efforts were unsupported every time.  The democrat commissioners on the court chose to allow toxic road projects that had horrible effects on the environment and on residents’ personal wells over commercial wells.  Had we listened to the people and not villainized them, I believe there would have never been a lawsuit.

 

What Democratic principles are most important to you and how will they inform your actions as County Judge?

My approach to leadership is grounded in fairness, transparency, respect for working families, protection of civil and reproductive rights, environmental responsibility, and accountable government. These principles guide how I preside over Commissioners Court and how I make decisions on behalf of Hays County residents. I believe government should be small and nimble, and only lean in when the community needs help, and then get out of the way.  A smaller and leaner government is a more affordable government.

 

Yes or no, did you use AI to assist you in answering any of these questions?

I used Microsoft Word.  Its copilot feature recommends grammar edits and corrects misspelled words, not sure if that counts as AI.