The old middle school cafeteria was the site for Tuesday’s candidate forum hosted by the Lampasas County Republican Party.
More than 140 residents attended the event to hear from candidates in contested races for county judge, district clerk, Precinct 4 commissioner and Precincts 2&3 justice of the peace. Candidates were allowed three minutes for opening statements, two minutes for responses to questions, and one minute for closing statements.
COUNTY JUDGE
All three Republican Party candidates for county judge were at Tuesday’s forum. David Millican, Jo Ann San Miguel and Edith Wagner Harrison are vying for the seat held by Randy Hoyer, who is not running for re-election. The primary winner will face Democratic Party candidate Wade Dudley Wooten in November.
Each of the three GOP candidates is a Lampasas High School graduate.
In his opening statement, Millican highlighted his 33 years as the owner of a Copperas Cove-based insurance agency, from which he will retire this summer.
He said his nine years with the Lampasas ISD Board of Trustees -- which included two years as president – helped prepare him to be the next county judge.
“In that time, we dealt with multi-million-dollar budgets in the school system, which are really similar to what the county has,” Millican said. “I am very familiar with the way it works and being a good steward of taxpayer money.”
San Miguel, the daughter of a U.S. Army veteran, focused on her connection to veterans in her opening statement. As an attorney and law firm owner, she believes her decades of experience in the courtroom have prepared her for to serve as county judge.
“What is most important is that this job needs to be meritbased, and that is what I am running on,” San Miguel said. “I have an established county and court network as a licensed attorney for over 22 years.”
Harrison underscored her connection to the Lampasas community and background as an educator in her opening statement. Since 2018, she has served as Lampasas County’s district clerk.
“I appreciate everyone who voted for me because I love the job, and I’ve worked myself to death in that job,” Harrison said. “We’ve lost a position in that job this year, and I put in 70 hours a week.”
After opening statements, the remaining questions pertained to growth in the county, property taxes, budget priorities and ability to lead as an elected official.
In speaking on growth, Millican noted the county is limited by state law in what developments it can restrict. However, he said growth should be done in a controlled manner. Millican said his budget priorities would revolve around adding surplus to the county’s fund balance and maintaining good communication with department heads during the budgeting process.
As for property taxes, Millican said the county has worked to lower its tax rate in recent years, but growth has contributed to higher property values that are causing tax bills to rise.
He told the audience he believes he possesses the tools to lead county operations and ensure efficiency, and he will work to promote cooperation among county offices.
“I think they [county officials] have to be able to get along, be able to communicate and work for the common goal which is the betterment of Lampasas County,” Millican said.
The former LISD board president told the audience he plans to devote all his time to the position if selected by the voters.
“If we get elected, I will be the best county judge I can be,” Millican said. “It will be a full-time job, and it will have my full attention.”
San Miguel’s answers to forum questions included vignettes and experience from her legal career. On growth coming to Lampasas, she related a personal experience of working to convert a private road near her Coryell County property to a county-maintained road after Coryell County commissioners failed to provide oversight.
Regarding budget priorities, San Miguel said she hopes to uncover tax revenue not previously identified by the Lampasas Central Appraisal District that could go toward staff raises.
As for carrying out the administrative duties of a county judge, San Miguel said she is well qualified due to time she spent with a large labor and employment law firm in San Antonio while she was in law school. Also, she cited her experience managing million-dollar budgets as a director of risk management for Central Texas College.
“I was the right hand to the resource director, and we planned and coordinated the hiring and firings every day,” San Miguel said. “That is important, and we need to start thinking like a company [at the county level].”
In closing, San Miguel said someone with legal expertise is needed to carry out the duties of county judge.
“What we need is a legal overhaul, and we need to be able stand ready to transition if and when we get any statutory courts,” she said. “We need someone who understands the changing legal community. I have seen it, I have been there, I have seen the legal growth for 22 years.”
Harrison said the county needs to be preparing itself for more growth, which is dependent on infrastructure and water supply. She said the county could be doing more to develop needed infrastructure with money available in savings.
“I think the county, we are sitting on a lot of money right now,” the candidate said. “We need to be able to use some of that to help with the infrastructure, with the water planning,” On property taxes, Harrison said it is important the county continues to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars. As for her budget priorities if elected county judge, Harrison said she wants to assure each county office is well staffed, something she feels her current district court office is lacking. Harrison said she has two full-time employees, while another similar-sized county has five staffers.
“We have to be able to do the best job for every case that comes across the board,” Harrison said.
In her closing statement, Harrison used the opportunity to defend her record as the incumbent district clerk.
DISTRICT CLERK
With Edith Harrison entering the race for county judge, the district clerk seat will be decided between Dee Ann Crawford and Jerry Harrison, Harrison’s husband.
Crawford serves as the 27th District Court coordinator and indigent defense coordinator for the county. She told forum attendees in her opening statement that she has the skills needed to make the district clerk’s office run at the highest standard.
“I believe the district clerk’s office needs someone who has that steady leadership, who has that experience, and who can go in there and do the hands-on work and teach the employees the job,” Crawford said.
Harrison cited his eight years of experience as a director of operations for a landscaping company and 12 years spent managing a warehouse for a national landscape distributor as having prepared him for the district clerk position. Harrison believes his management experience combined with his values of honesty and hard work make him the right candidate for the job.
“All those jobs taught me the business part of the world,” he said. “I managed employees, budgets, records, compliance and customer service. Customer service was always number one.”
In 2025, the county’s independent auditor Patillo, Brown, and Hill LLP, reported the district clerk’s office had failed to match documentation for transactions relating to passports it processed. Both Crawford and Harrison were asked how they would ensure audits are passed and if passport service has a future in the district clerk’s office.
Harrison said it was in the county’s best interest to continue passport services since that helps the community and allows the county to receive extra income. On audits, Harrison said he would work with staff to make sure the office stays in compliance.
“I would make sure things are done correctly, as far as staying in compliance with things and making sure all the reports are accurate,” he said. “Just making sure the job is done.”
Crawford said the district clerk’s office currently is unable to process passports and must wait until the U.S. Department of State allows it to resume services. Relating to audits, Crawford said she wants to ensure the office is ready to pass any audit at any time.
“You need somebody in there that understands the filings, understands the money and understands how to break it down,” she said. “You can put those internal controls into place and can train your employees that the job is done every single time.”
Candidates also were asked about staff turnover in the district clerk’s office. Crawford said the office has lost 25 employees since 2019, but during her previous four-year spell working there including three years as chief deputy -- no turnover occurred.
Harrison acknowledged the office has suffered some turnover but noted some of that is employees leaving to work at other county offices. Harrison said he plans to handle employees fairly and expects them to do the job at hand.
In her closing statement, Crawford said the district clerk position deserves someone who has done the “hands-on work.”
“You heard tonight there have been some failed audits; you’ve heard tonight there has been a significant amount of turnover,” she said. “If you put your trust in me, I will serve as a district clerk who will bring stability back. I’ll bring leadership back and bring back a district clerk’s office that shows up every day, works hard and is there for the community.”
Harrison said his business-minded approach will help the district clerk’s office reach new heights.
“My management background works right along with the requirements of the job,” he said. “It is a different type of report, a different type of employee, but it’s all the same. It’s still business, and the district clerk’s office should operate like a business.”
PRECINCT 4 COMMISSIONER
Three-term incumbent Mark Rainwater is facing a challenge from Clint Lang for the Precinct 4 commissioner’s seat.
During opening statements, Rainwater told the audience his budget for road improvement projects is nearly maxed out. The county’s road and bridge tax rate is $0.14 per $100 in property valuation, he noted. Due to state law, the highest that tax rate can be set is $0.15. Rainwater said he is working with a $417,194 road improvement budget to cover 200 miles of road in his precinct.
“I have got four guys, and we do the best we can with the resources and funds we have,” Rainwater said. “The state legislators have tied our hands with many things.”
In his opening comments, Lang indicated his goal as commissioner is to ensure the county continues to have a good quality of life through providing solid infrastructure. Lang said his priorities revolve around adequate water supply and guaranteeing residents are aware of road improvement projects.
“I’d like to enact an organized maintenance schedule for the roads, which would include controlling grass and weed encroachment on the roadways, which would help down the road with slowing road damage,” he said.
Candidates were asked about their budget priorities. Rainwater said his goal is to ensure each dollar for road improvement projects is spent each year. The commissioner noted flooding events in 2024 and 2025 have cut heavily into those efforts.
Lang listed his number-one budget priority as ensuring each county department is well heard during the budgeting process.
Several questions were asked about staying in touch with residents. Lang told the audience he plans to communicate with constituents through email, phone and social media if elected.
“I want to make it as easy as possible and whatever I can do to keep them all informed, like by social media and putting out information, or meeting with them wherever the time allows,” Lang said.
Rainwater said his door is always open for residents to get in touch with him.
“We [county commissioners] are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Rainwater said. “I don’t think a lot of people realize that.”
Growth and water management were two additional topics discussed. Rainwater pointed to the county’s subdivision rules as a method of managing controlled growth, and he cited the Commissioners Court’s decision to join the Central Texas Water Alliance as a possible solution to securing future water sources.
Lang said it is in the county’s best interest to ensure growth matches the quality of water available in the county. Although he admitted he doesn’t have specific plans for water management, Lang said he is motivated to look at possible water supply options that would benefit county residents.
In closing, Rainwater highlighted his experience in county government and continuing education. He said he has earned his Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum certification from the V.G. Young Institute of County Government, which is part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
“I think when I lay our resumes down on paper side by side, I think it is very clear who the most experienced and better of the two candidates is,” Rainwater said. “I will humbly ask for your vote and ask for your support. Y’all have been great the last 11 years.”
Although Lang acknowledged he does not possess the same experience the incumbent does, he said he is eager to learn more and do whatever it takes to serve as a county commissioner.
“It will be a full-time job, just like what I’m doing now,” Lang said. “I will be willing to learn what I need to learn, and I know I have the drive to do this job and be out there working.”
PRECINCT 2&3 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
Four-term incumbent Justice of the Peace Camron Brister is facing a challenge from Kaitlan Ross to represent Precinct 2&3.
Ross was unable to attend Tuesday’s forum due to a last- minute emergency.
“I wanted nothing more than to come out and meet everyone,” Ross posted on her candidate Facebook page before the event. “My sincerest apologies that did not happen. A family emergency quickly rolled into a farm emergency and life protection two-legged or four will always be at the top of my priority list.”
Brister addressed questions from the forum’s moderator that revolved around duties of the JP office, the career path that led Brister to the justice of the peace role, and how will he ensure everyone is treated with dignity.
Brister told the audience he holds his courtroom to the highest standards.
“I am going to make sure that I am always giving out that justice in a fair manner,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter if we are friends or not, I promise you I am going to do what needs to be done for my duties.”
MARCH 3 PRIMARY
Voting for the March 3 Primary Elections begins with early voting from Feb. 17-Feb. 27. Election day is Tuesday, March 3.
Candidates who prevail in the Republican Party and Democratic Party primaries will face off in the Nov. 3 General Election, with the winners to start their new terms of office in January 2027.
