County Judge Randy Hoyer will not seek re-election in 2026. Hoyer told the Dispatch Record it has been his honor to serve Lampasas County residents, but he believes now is the time to take a step back.
“At the end of this term, I will be 68 years old and have spent 35 years in public education and eight years as county judge,” he said. “There are some things I’d like to do that I really don’t have the time.”
Hoyer was elected to the position in 2018, and now is serving his second term as county judge.
With the filing period for county offices to open on Nov. 8, Hoyer said he wanted to make his decision early to allow others to think about putting their hat in the ring.
“I want to make sure the right person gets this position, and that people have time to give it a lot of thought and consideration,” Hoyer said.
Before becoming county judge, Hoyer was superintendent of the Lampasas ISD from 2009-2016. Originally, he had planned to run for city council or mayor, but a lunch date with the late Jamie Briggs convinced him otherwise.
“He said, ‘Don’t do that. Run for county judge, it pays,’ ” Hoyer recalled. “I thought, ‘You know what? Not a bad idea.’ ” The judge said he planned to serve only one term, but after learning more about the county’s loss of property tax revenue due to the disabled veterans tax exemption, he was motivated to see the county garner some relief from the state.
After six and a half years of trying, Lampasas County finally became eligible for reimbursements this year with the passage of House Bill 2894. What started as Hoyer visiting Austin alone to discuss the issue with legislators turned into an effort backed by lobbying power and the assistance of Precinct 1 Commissioner Bobby Carroll.
“I want to include Commissioner Carroll; he was as actively involved in this as I was,” Hoyer said. “Seeing that through, that is big for the county of Lampasas.”
Along with legislative victories, Hoyer said wins at home include the updated subdivision rules and regulations that promote responsible growth within the county. Also, Hoyer oversaw the final stages of construction of the Lampasas County Jail in 2020 that was threatened by the original general contractor’s bankruptcy a year before completion. Hoyer said other positives in his tenure are from the collective effort of the Commissioners Court that has consisted over the years of Mark Rainwater, Jamie Smart, Lewis Bridges, Shad Hill and Carroll.
“We’ve got a good working relationship where it is not always a 5-0 vote one way or the other. There are times it is a split vote, and we agree to disagree and move on,” Hoyer said. “Nobody takes anything personal. It is business and the way it is supposed to be. They are elected officials; they see things differently than I sometimes do.”
Action taken in the Commissioners Court is not all Hoyer sees as achievements. He has been happy to form tighter bonds with city governments in the county, various boards and civic organizations.
“That has been important to me, making sure we have good open working relationships, and I feel like we do,” Hoyer said. “And that is not just me; that is the Commissioners Court as well.”
Throughout his tenure, Hoyer has made it a point to have an open door to the community. He said it is important that the county judge is available to lend an open ear to residents.
“So many times people come in with issues or concerns,” he said. “There are times we can help, and there are other times we simply can’t. But the most important thing is giving those people and allowing those people the opportunity to visit, to talk, to express, to vent. I think that has always been an important thing with me is an open-door policy.”
Since his term isn’t up until the end of 2026, the county judge is looking forward to serving Lampasas County for a bit longer.
“I was fortunate enough to be elected, and I have enjoyed the position,” he said. “It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Lampasas County, and I appreciate the support of the Commissioners Court and working with the commissioners.”
