Voter Guide

Currently Commissioner Pct 2; advanced to May 26 2026 runoff against Judge Becerra for County Judge seat. If she wins, Pct 2 becomes vacant. No individual public statement on data center water policy identified separate from full commissioners court record as of April 2026.

Position: Proposed a 30-day water permit moratorium for data centers (Feb 2026), then tabled it after legal concerns were raised.

Feb 24 2026: Proposed 30-day moratorium on permits for data centers and high-water-demand industrial development; tabled after county assistant DA warned of significant legal liability. May 20 2025: Stated publicly that CloudBurst construction "is going to pass… there is nothing we can do about it" — acknowledging county lacks zoning authority over unincorporated land. No formal vote approving or denying any data center project (Hays County has no such zoning authority).

Attended Commissioners Court meetings during CloudBurst and data center discussions (2025–2026). No individual vote recorded — Hays County lacks zoning authority over private unincorporated land. No individual public statement on data center water policy identified as of April 2026.

Represents HD 73 covering Comal County and part of Hays County. No bills or public statements related to data centers, Edwards Aquifer, or water policy identified as of April 19, 2026. District office: 445 N Seguin Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130.

Position: Authored HB 4135 on aquifer protection and formed a data center working group to develop legislative recommendations on water use.

89th Legislature (2025): Authored HB 4135 relating to environment, special districts, and aquifer protection — applies to counties relying on underground aquifers for drinking water, covering areas within the Edwards Aquifer or Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area. Also formed a Data Center Working Group with Hays County leaders to address data center water use concerns and identify what legislative tools are needed; group expected to meet 4-6 times with recommendations ready for the 90th Legislature (2027). Active on Edwards Aquifer water quality legislation in prior sessions.

Vice-Chair, Senate Natural Resources Committee; also serves on Business and Commerce, Finance, and State Affairs committees. Longest-serving senator since 1909; 1,524 bills passed historically. No specific data center or Edwards Aquifer bills identified for the 89th Legislature as of April 19, 2026. Committee assignment on Natural Resources is directly relevant to any water policy legislation. District office in Laredo: 1407 Washington St, Laredo TX 78040.

Position: Voted to deny Highlander; cited inadequate information and concern about state preemption of local land-use authority.

Feb 18 2026: Voted to DENY Highlander (5-2). Stated: "I just have not received sufficient information from various powers that be to make it so that I was comfortable voting yes." Also expressed concern about state preemption stripping local authority over water and land use decisions. Jun 3 2025: Voted unanimously (7-0) to begin Sabey negotiations.

Position: Made motion to deny Highlander data center; cited generational water responsibility and stated fiscal impacts alone should not drive the decision.

Feb 18 2026: Made the motion to DENY Highlander; voted yes on denial (5-2). Stated: "we have such a generational responsibility right now to at least … say, 'no' to this one." Also stated: "I really want you all to understand that it's very tone deaf to only talk about the potential fiscal impacts of this project." Aug 19 2025: Voted with 5-member majority on first Highlander vote (failed supermajority). Jun 3 2025: Voted unanimously (7-0) to begin Sabey negotiations; appointed to 3-member Sabey negotiating committee.

Position: Expressed concern about lack of regulation for out-of-jurisdiction data centers and cited water and power generation concerns.

Feb 18 2026: Presided over Highlander 5-2 denial after 8+ hours of testimony. Stated: "There are some of these data centers, Cloudburst is one, that we know is not going in the city, and there is just not going to be much … regulation on that." Noted water concerns from associated power generation. Jun 3 2025: Appointed to 3-member committee to negotiate Sabey development agreement (unanimous 7-0 vote). No individual yes/no vote recorded on Highlander (presiding officer).

Position: Voted to deny Highlander; expressed concern about economic opportunity cost of the denial.

Feb 18 2026: Voted to DENY Highlander (5-2). Stated: "I'm worried about San Marcos being left out of future potential economic opportunities the data center would bring." Acknowledged community consensus but expressed fiscal concern about denial. Jun 3 2025: Voted unanimously (7-0) to begin Sabey negotiations.

Feb 18 2026: Voted AGAINST denial of Highlander (one of two dissenting votes; project denied 5-2). Previously sought postponement to March 31 to gather additional information before voting. Jun 3 2025: Voted unanimously (7-0) to begin Sabey negotiations; appointed to 3-member Sabey negotiating committee alongside Mayor Hughson and Amanda Rodriguez.

Feb 18 2026: Voted AGAINST denial of Highlander (one of two dissenting votes; project was denied 5-2). Jun 3 2025: Voted unanimously (7-0) to begin Sabey negotiations. No additional public statement identified as of April 2026.

Feb 18 2026: Voted to DENY Highlander (5-2). No additional public statement identified on data centers or water policy as of April 2026. Jun 3 2025: Voted unanimously (7-0) to begin Sabey negotiations.

Not seeking re-election in 2026. No individual public statement on data center or water policy identified as of April 2026.

Not seeking re-election in 2026. Successor race: Angie Unger (D) vs. Rob McClelland (R). No individual public statement on data center or water policy identified as of April 2026.