Cynthia Millonzi
What is your work history, including current employment? Please respond in a list format.
Assistant Hays County Clerk – 2021-Present
Director of Operations – Cherokee Nation Mission Solutions 2016-2019
Program Manager – Cherokee Nation - USDA Avian Bird Flu Response -2015
US Army – 1985-2015 Command and Staff Positions
Commander 122nd Public Affairs Operations Center;
Commander 790th Chemical Company (Recon/Decon);
Commander 951st General Support Maintenance Company;
Detachment Commander Company B 181st Support Battalion
Platoon Leader, B 181st Support Battalion
Director of Support Operations (J1,J4, J8), TX State Headquarters
Director of Human Resources, TX State Headquarters
Chief of Classifications, TX State Headquarters
Supply Management Officer, WA State Headquarters;
Personnel Officer/Operations Officer, Balad, Iraq;
Deputy Director of Personnel WA State Headquarters;
Executive Officer 144th Support Detachment Army Liaison;
Operations Officer 116th Rear Area Operations Center;
Logistics Officer 96th Troop Command
Intelligence Officer, WA State Headquarters, 9/11 Response
Federal Civil Service- 1990-2014 – Concurrent with Military Service
Director of Support Operations, TX State Headquarters
Director of Human Resources, TX State Headquarters
Chief of Classification, Human Resources, TX State Headquarters
Deputy Director of Personnel, WA State Headquarters
Supply Management Officer, WA State Headquarters
Superindendent, Maneuver Area Training & Equipment Site
Maintenance Manager, Surface Maintenance Office
What is your educational history, including degrees received, licenses, professional credentials, etc.? Please respond in a list format.
Bachelor of Science – College of Education - Workforce Education and Development – Southern Illinois University @Carbondale
Associate’s degree - Pierce College
Graduate - Command and General Staff College
Graduate - Combined Arms Staff Service School
Graduate - Officer Advanced Course-Multifunctional Logistician
Graduate - Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) Officers Defense Course
Graduate - Officer Basic Course-Ordnance, Tank/Automotive Command
Graduate - Officer Candidate School
Graduate - Fiscal Law and Financial Management Systems
Graduate - Contract Officers Representative Course
Graduate - Labor Union Contract Negotiations
Graduate - Tactical Communications Systems Operator/Mechanic
Graduate - US Army Basic Training
In your own words, please describe what the County Clerk does.
The County Clerk is an elected position and serves as the chief executive responsible for the County’s vital and court records. As the official historian and guardian of public documents, the Clerk ensures that records are securely preserved, lawfully managed, and readily accessible to the community.
The Clerk provides transparency and accountability in local government by documenting and safeguarding the actions of the Commissioners Court — the governing body responsible for decisions that shape county operations and services.
At its core, the most important responsibility of the County Clerk is to protect the integrity of the public record. This includes managing vital records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates; overseeing property records and business filings; and administering court documents — all while upholding state law and maintaining public trust.
In short, the County Clerk is the steward of accuracy, integrity, and transparency in county government — ensuring residents’ rights are protected and that the business of government is conducted openly, responsibly, and with unwavering commitment to service.
What are the top issues facing the County Clerk’s office and how will you address them?
The Clerk’s Office is well positioned today, and I am committed to building on that success. My focus is on investing in our people, optimizing our technology, and planning responsibly for growth — all with the goal of delivering transparent, accurate, and accessible government for every resident of Hays County.
1. Staff Compensation — Competitive Pay to Support Quality Service
Our staff are highly dedicated public servants, yet compensation still lags behind market levels for comparable local government positions. Competitive salaries are essential not only to retain experienced team members but also to attract top talent as workload and public expectations continue to increase. I will persist in advocating with Commissioners Court to invest in our workforce by aligning compensation with regional market benchmarks so that service quality remains exceptional.
2. Technology Optimization/Modernization — Secure, Efficient, and Accessible Systems
Rapid advancements in technology are reshaping how government operates. Residents expect secure, convenient ways to access records and services online, while courts and stakeholders need reliable digital systems for filings and workflows. I will continue to pursue and implement proven technology solutions that enhance security, streamline processes, improve public access, and protect sensitive information well into the future.
3. Managing Rapid Population Growth — Planning for Today and Tomorrow
Hays County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas and the nation — with an estimated ~21% population increase since 2020 and nearly 292,000 residents as of 2024 according to U.S. Census estimates. This growth brings thousands of new property records, vital events, court cases, and public requests each year. To meet these demands, I will continue refining staffing models, adjusting service delivery systems, and aligning budget priorities with projected growth so that the Clerk’s Office remains responsive, efficient, and accessible to every resident.
What is your history of supporting Democratic organizations and/or candidates prior to your run for office?
I have been a Democrat since the day I registered to vote at 18 years old. Throughout my life I have consistently supported Democratic values, candidates, and community-driven work. Here in Hays County, I have been a member of multiple Democratic organizations, including the Wimberley Democrats, Wimberley Indivisible, Kyle/Buda Area Democrats, Dripping Springs Area Democrats, Dripping Awake, San Marcos Area Democrats, and the Tejano Democrats. I am also a member of Wimberley Pride and actively support our surrounding Pride communities. In addition, I have joined and spoken at rallies at the Texas Capitol with Hands Off Central Texas.
Beyond formal memberships, I have supported Democratic candidates across Hays County by attending events, volunteering, donating, and helping elevate their campaigns and messages. My approach to public service — both in my professional career and in community spaces — has always aligned with Democratic priorities: investing in people, expanding access, strengthening fairness in government, and protecting the rights, dignity, and freedoms of every resident.
My decision to run for office stems from this long-standing commitment. Years of service, advocacy, and engagement within our Democratic community have shaped who I am as a leader, and I am proud to bring those values with me into public office.
What, if any, experience do you have with non-partisan volunteering and community engagement in Hays County?
I have a long history of non-partisan volunteer work and community engagement in Hays County. I have volunteered with Wimberley Pride to help organize their social justice march, and I served as both a board member and later the President of Imagine Wimberley — a local nonprofit that played a vital role during COVID-19 by coordinating transportation and support for residents needing access to medical appointments and continues with a weekly foodbank delivery to a local community in need.
I also served as a board member and ultimately the President of the Katherine Anne Porter Public Charter School, where our focus was on creating a safe, welcoming, and stigma-free educational environment for students of all identities, backgrounds, and needs. Currently, I am the Interim President of the Wimberley Playhouse, our community’s oldest nonprofit and a cornerstone of the region’s cultural life and arts community.
Most recently, I volunteered with Austin Pets Alive during the Kerrville floods, using my emergency response experience to support rescue efforts and reunite displaced pets with their families. In addition to hands-on service, I regularly support local nonprofits through monetary contributions.
The Hays County Clerk has made huge strides in making property records available to search online by the general public. What more work needs to be done to modernize the Clerk’s office?
The Hays County Clerk’s Office has made major strides in modernizing access to public records, including property records, and I am proud of the progress our team has achieved. Smart investments in technology have allowed residents, title companies, attorneys, and researchers to access more information online than ever before, strengthening transparency, convenience, and trust in local government.
Modernization, however, is ongoing work — and it is our responsibility to stay ahead of technological change, not simply react to it. We were the first County Clerk’s Office in the country to implement AI-assisted indexing, a breakthrough that has saved significant staff hours, reduced backlog, and allowed our employees to spend more time directly assisting residents.
Our next steps will bring even greater accessibility for the public.
- We are currently contracted and in development of a public-facing online portal in the Courts Division for court documents that will allow users to search using natural language — any word, phrase, or combination — rather than relying on exact names or spelling.
- Another project ready to launch in the next few months is a new public-facing portal in the Records Division that will provide those same natural-language search capabilities for official public records.
- Additionally, we are in the final phases of contracting for a cloud-based Records Management Platform that will deliver faster, more reliable service both internally for staff and externally for residents.
- We are in development for mobile records services and we will be expanding service hours during peak school registration time.
Modernization moving forward will remain focused on three principles:
- Expanding online access to more records and services
- Ensuring data security and legal compliance in every system
- Leveraging technology to improve the resident experience, not replacing human support
What Democratic principles are most important to you and how will they inform your actions as County Clerk?
The Democratic principles that guide me most are transparency, fairness, inclusion/diversity, and service to the community. As County Clerk, these values inform every decision I make and every action my office takes.
-Transparency: Residents have the right to access public records easily and reliably. I am committed to using technology, clear processes, and open communication to ensure that all county records — from vital statistics to court filings — are accessible, accurate, and understandable in accordance with law and regulation.
-Fairness: Every resident deserves equal treatment, whether they are interacting with my office in person or online. I will continue to ensure that policies, procedures, and services are applied consistently and equitably, protecting the rights of all individuals and providing the best customer service possible.
-Inclusion: Our community is diverse, and government must reflect and respect that diversity. I will continue fostering an environment in my office that is welcoming, safe, and responsive to all residents, regardless of race, gender identity, socioeconomic background, or ability.
-Service: Government exists to serve the people. Government exists to serve the people. By investing in our staff, implementing the best available technology, and proactively planning for our county’s continued growth, I will ensure that the Clerk’s Office delivers efficient, accurate, and resident-focused service every day.
Yes or no, did you use AI to assist you in answering any of these questions? No. Spell check and grammar check were applied.
County Clerk is a countywide office. Anyone residing in Hays County will be able to vote in this race.
Hays County uses vote centers, meaning Hays County voters may cast ballots at any vote center in the county during the times the vote centers are operating.
Early Voting Begins: 2/17/26
Election Day: 3/3/26
