Williamson County commissioner runoff: What voters should know

Early voting starts May 18 for the Republican runoff election for Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 2. Election day is May 26. The Republican runoff election for Williamson County Precinct 2 commissioner will effectively decide who replaces longtime Commissioner Cynthia Long, with no Democrat on the November ballot. Jeff Mayes, a political newcomer, faces former Leander City Council Member David McDonald in the May 26 election. Early voting starts May 18 and ends May 22. County commissioners in Texas serve four-year terms and act as the governing body of the county by setting policy, adopting budgets and establishing tax rates. Mayes and McDonald are running for the seat held for almost 20 years by Long, who is not seeking reelection. Precinct 2 includes Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill, along with part of Anderson Mill and part of Austin, and a large unincorporated portion of western Williamson County stretching to the Burnet County line. Mayes received 3,736 votes, or 46.1%, in the March 3 primary, while McDonald had 5,837 votes, or 29.5%. A third candidate, Rupal Chaudhari, received 3,100 votes, or 24.4%. A candidate needs to win at least 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff. Chaudhari did not respond to a request for comment about whether she was endorsing either candidate in the runoff. Jeff Mayes is running for Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 2 in the Republican runoff on May 26. Mayes, 47, is a commercial real estate broker and a former high school agricultural teacher. McDonald, 57, is a retired Austin police officer and a transportation consultant. He served on the Leander City Council from 2022-2025. Both candidates said they have been busy since the March election reaching out to voters. David McDonald is competing for Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 2 in the Republican runoff on May 26. According to campaign finance records, Mayes has raised $41,550 while McDonald has raised $42,035. ## Candidates' priorities for Williamson County Both McDonald and Mayes agreed that the major issues facing the county include rising property taxes and congested roads. McDonald said the county needs to adequately fund public safety and maintain current infrastructure. Mayes said water planning hasn't kept pace with the county's growth and the county needs to focus on transparency and efficiency. If elected, McDonald said he wants to listen to residents and be accessible to them. "I will work to steward our taxpayer dollars, support public safety and find alternative solutions to toll roads," he said. Mayes said his goals if he wins the runoff are to build infrastructure that keeps up with growth, protect taxpayers through responsible budgeting and defend property rights. "Most importantly, I will lead with transparency, accountability and a commitment to serve every resident of the precinct," he said. ## Candidates point to experience Mayes said he is the best candidate for the job because his lack of government experience gives him a different point of view. "My opponent has spent his career in public service, and I respect that," said Mayes. "I bring a different perspective, private-sector experience, where I’ve had to balance budgets, negotiate contracts and make decisions with real financial consequences. In a county facing rapid growth, rising taxes and infrastructure demands, we don’t just need more government experience. We need practical, results-driven leadership that plans ahead, spends wisely and keeps the focus on taxpayers." McDonald said he has the right kind of experience for the position and that's what makes him the better candidate. "I served on Leander City Council for three-and-a-half years, have 25 years in public safety experience, many years in emergency management and over eight years in transportation," he said. "When I tell people my priorities if elected commissioner, it's not just lip service. I have a record of stating my objectives and working toward them." McDonald's endorsements include the Leander Law Enforcement Association, the Leander Professional Firefighters Association, the Austin Police Retired Officers Association, the Williamson County Deputies Association, the Cedar Park Police Association and the Cedar Park Firefighters Association. He has also been endorsed by state Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, Liberty Hill Mayor Crystal Mancilla, Williamson County constables Jeff Anderson and Paul Leal, and former Leander City Council members Chris Czernek and Kathryn Pantalion-Parker. Other endorsements include Leander City Council Member Stephen Chang and Liberty Hill City Council members Tim Hennessy and Elisabeth Brown. Mayes has been endorsed by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin. He said he has not sought any endorsements because he is running a "grassroots campaign."