I committed early in this campaign to honoring the earnest service of those currently serving, while still being willing to speak honestly about where change is needed. I believe I've kept that commitment, and I will continue to do so.

The primary areas I will work to improve—whether in office or not—are:

• Increasing the competency and rigor of the county budgeting process
• Better aligning county spending with the priorities of our citizens
• Improving how information is gathered, analyzed, and published throughout the operation of Commissioners Court

In practice, this means a serious overhaul of the county's budget and audit functions. That includes fixing broken or outdated audit software and supporting meaningful training for county personnel and the public on how our financial systems and processes actually work.

This is not about accusing anyone of corruption. The issues we face are more often the result of inefficiency, misaligned priorities, and decisions that weren't as thoughtful as they could have been.

I also believe we should begin moving—strategically and responsibly—away from an overreliance on property taxes by gradually introducing more usage-based taxes while linearly reducing the property tax burden. This is not something that happens overnight, but it is something that can be planned, measured, and executed over time.

Additionally, I would take a more aggressive and disciplined approach to pursuing grants. Every viable grant opportunity should be evaluated carefully and pursued when it makes sense for our county.

As for experience: I have not held elected office. What I have done is build businesses from scratch and lead sizable organizations in highly competitive environments. That work requires optimism, servant leadership, and hands-on competence.

Those are the attributes I offer in service to our citizens.