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Candidate profile: Tom Jones, Kerr County Judge
Jones was candid about the county’s difficult financial outlook, describing the upcoming budget cycle as “rough.”
The Lead’s stories
Candidate profile: Guy “Bubba” Walters, Kerr County Commissioner, Precinct 4
“I missed serving,” Walters said. “I wanted to continue serving, but I wanted to help in a different way. I didn’t want to get back into public education.”
Candidate profile: Randy Murphy, Kerr County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Murphy is running on a platform of fiscal reform, specifically advocating for “zero-based budgeting,” where expenses must be justified from scratch rather than carried over from previous years.
Candidate profile: Wayne Uecker, Kerr County Commissioner, Precinct 1
Uecker described himself as a collaborator who plans to utilize his experience as a self-employed business owner to manage county affairs.
Candidate profile: Brenda Hughes, Kerr County Commissioner, Precinct 1
Hughes cited her work on the City Council, specifically regarding the new Public Safety Complex and equipping police with better tools, as her primary qualification for the commissioner position.
Candidate profile: Devan Burns, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
Burns has lived in the area for nearly 18 years, residing in Mountain Home for the last decade. Her professional background includes experience as a paralegal and in human resources.
Candidate profile: Sylvia Foraker, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
Sylvia Foraker, a retired “Master Jailer” with 30 years of law enforcement experience, is running for Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4, bringing a management philosophy of “fair but firm” treatment grounded in the belief that inmates are “human beings” often caught on a bad day.
Candidate profile: Taylor Robertson, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
Robertson describes himself as a “nerd” for case law and history. He is a trained hostage negotiator and holds certifications in forensic and investigative sciences from Texas A&M.
Candidate profile: Robert “Hunter” Moose, County Court at Law Judge
Moose expressed strong support for the new mental health specialty court, saying he wants to continue its work helping people in crisis. He remains active in the community by coaching Mock Trial and Teen Court.
Candidate profile: Deborah Perry, County Court at Law Judge
Perry identified two major issues in the current court administration. First, she said cases are stalling for extended periods, creating real-world consequences for citizens.
Candidate profile: William Tatsch, County Court at Law Judge
Despite running as a Republican, Tatsch emphasized that the courtroom must be a safe, fair space for all residents regardless of political affiliation.
Candidate profile: Amber Longenbaugh, Kerr County District Court Clerk
Longenbaugh described the district clerk’s office as highly demanding, managing civil filings, adult felonies and passports under statutory deadlines.
Candidate Profile: Denise Vela, Kerr County Clerk
“When the election is completely over, it doesn’t matter to me what party affiliation you are, what religion, what race, we’re going to treat everybody with dignity and respect,” Vela said. “I guess they didn’t like that response.”
A week full of events: From River Trail cleanups to Russian mosaic concerts
The library hosts multiple events throughout the week, including “Blind Date with a Book” from Tuesday through Friday, Story Time on Wednesday at 10 a.m., and various book clubs.
Parents seek emergency order to stop Camp Mystic from destroying evidence, court date set for March 4
Travis County Judge to hear request for temporary restraining order March 4
More than 200 turn out for unwieldy marathon Kerr County GOP forum
Hughes, Vela absent after receiving “Reservations”; candidates excluded from voter guide participate in three-hour event
Arts and Culture
A week full of events: From River Trail cleanups to Russian mosaic concerts
The library hosts multiple events throughout the week, including “Blind Date with a Book” from Tuesday through Friday, Story Time on Wednesday at 10 a.m., and various book clubs.
Love, laughter and community spirit fill Kerr County’s Valentine’s week calendar
For couples looking for competitive fun, Gibson’s, 221 Junction Highway, hosts a Couples Cornhole Tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday. Those seeking something more mysterious can attend the Murder Mystery Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Tailchasers Patio + Pub, 234 Earl Garrett St. Details are available at tailchaserstx.com.
Week ahead brings film screening, political meet-and-greet, theater opening
The week begins Monday with a screening of “Voices of Doyle” at 6 p.m. at the Doyle Community Center.
The Lead Live Podcast
The Lead Live Podcast: Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 episode
Three primary candidates joined the program to discuss their campaigns and the controversial GOP review.
The Lead Live Podcast: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026
Sylvia Foraker, who retired after a 30-year career in law enforcement, including 19 years as the head of the Kerr County Jail, made her first appearance on the program to discuss her campaign.
The Lead Live Podcast: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026
The episode, hosted by Louis Amestoy, also featured a recap of the previous night’s City Council meeting and a local business launch.City Honors Flood Hero
The Lead Live Podcast: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026
The Heart of the Hills Heritage Center announced a partnership with the Harry Ransom Center and the Texas Cultural Emergency Response Alliance to build a specific archive documenting the July 4, 2025, flood, according to updates provided on the Feb. 10, 2026, episode of The Lead Live.
The Lead Live Podcast: Monday, Feb. 9, 2026
Two key guests involved in the local flood relief provided updates on assistance for victims of the July 4th flood.
Photo galleries
Photo gallery: Run for Riverside 5k
The event, which serves as a primary fundraiser for the Riverside Nature Center, featured a course that wound through the scenic areas surrounding Francisco Lemos Street.
Photo gallery: Wilder Blue at Arcadia Live
Playing to a near capacity crowd, the Americana band “The Wilder Blue” rocked, rolled and serenaded the audience at the Arcadia Live on Friday night.
Photo gallery: Schreiner basketball earns a weekend split against St. Thomas, Colorado College
Schreiner University salvaged a weekend split at Stephens Family Arena, rebounding from a Friday loss to conference-leading St. Thomas with a convincing 88-68 victory over Colorado College on Sunday.
Photo gallery: Opening week of Schreiner softball
Schreiner University’s softball team struggled to find consistency in its season-opening week, finishing 2-4 after three home doubleheaders.
Photo gallery: The Someone Special Dance
The Hill Country Youth Event Center hosted the annual Someone Special Dance, an event that brings families together for a night of dancing and balloon fun. The event is organized by the Kerrville Parks and Recreation Department.
Sports
Grand slams power Schreiner baseball to sweep of Centenary, 16-6
Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with five runs scored, launching a two-run homer in the first inning and a grand slam in the second as the Mountaineers (3-3, 3-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) built a commanding 13-0 lead through three innings.
Getenet’s 24 points leads Austin past Schreiner, 76-70
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Mountaineers (11-12, 8-6 SCAC), who dropped their second consecutive road contest in the SCAC Gold Division. Despite the setback, Schreiner maintains a one-game lead over Colorado College for third place in the division standings.
Schreiner women split in hoops trip at Dallas, Austin College
The split leaves Schreiner at 4-19 overall and 3-11 in SCAC play.
Photo gallery: Run for Riverside 5k
The event, which serves as a primary fundraiser for the Riverside Nature Center, featured a course that wound through the scenic areas surrounding Francisco Lemos Street.
Colorado College dominates first half in win over Schreiner women, 72-57
Schreiner’s shooting struggles continued, particularly from beyond the arc where the Mountaineers connected on just 3 of 13 attempts for 23.1 percent. Schreiner shot 40.4 percent overall from the field.
Obituaries
Wyona Simone: March 19, 1941-Feb. 12, 2026
She is survived by her children, Paul (Martha) Simone and Camillia (Richard) Simone; beloved grandchildren, Barrett and Nate Simone; her brother, Dr. Jose Antonio (Elina) Garcia Jr.; as well as other family and friends.
Brenda Maxine Light: Dec. 4, 1950-Feb. 5, 2026
She devoted 25 years of compassionate service as a nurse at the VA Hospital in Kerrville, where she was known for her kindness, dedication, and genuine concern for those in her care.
Jessie Montanez: Sept. 2, 1957-Feb. 9, 2026
Jessie honorably served his country in the United States Navy, a chapter of his life he carried with pride.
Doris Jean Sholund: Aug. 1, 1943-Feb. 5, 2026
Doris Jean ”D.J.” Sholund passed away on February 5, 2026, at the age of 82 in Kerrville, Texas, in her favorite chair, with a Dr Pepper (with good ice) nearby and QVC on the television.
Victoria Cobian: April 21, 1957-Feb. 10, 2026
Family meant everything to her, and she showed her love in her own way: constant support, attention, and always being there whenever someone needed her.
Community voices
The Lead’s Editorial: Vela, Longenbaugh deserve the chance to serve this county
Both candidates bring essential experience to positions that require deep institutional knowledge and operational expertise.
The Lead’s Editorial: Four years of Rich Paces’ chaos is enough
For four years, Kerr County taxpayers have funded Paces’ personal crusade against facts, expertise, and democratic accountability.
The Lead’s Editorial: Three candidates peddle false narratives about Kerr County finances
Candidates Jack Stewart, who is running for county judge, and Precinct 1 candidates Clayson Lambert and George Baroody—a persistent Kerrville City Council gadfly and former councilmember who routinely accuses the city of baseless illegality—seemed bent on depicting the county budget as wasteful and that county residents are overtaxed by the county.
The Lead’s Editorial: The Kerr County GOP’s corrupt primary process stinks
In a county where Republican primary winners become the de facto officeholders representing all 52,000 residents, this responsibility matters. The party should host candidate forums, organize debates, and provide transparent information that helps voters make informed decisions.
The Mission of The Kerr County Lead
Covering community news in the heart of the Hill Country.
Founded in 2021, The Kerr County Lead aims to provide high-quality journalism for Kerrville, Texas and the surrounding communities of the splendid Texas Hill Country. In the coming years, Texas faces exponential growth and the challenges of managing land, resources and water. At the same time, the Hill Country offers a robust quality of life and culture. With this mission, The Lead focuses its work on the stories that matter most to the readers in Kerr County.
