Lon Shell will be Hays County's new Precinct 3 commissioner following Will Conley's announcement to run for county judge in 2018. The appointment was made today when County Judge Bert Cobb accepted Conley's resignation. Shell will take office immediately. Per state law, Conley cannot run for another county position as long as he is still serving as commissioner. Shell, who has served as Hays County's chief of staff for the past seven years, said he was honored by the appointment. "This is a critical time for the Wimberley Valley and San Marcos, as we continue to recover from devastating floods, and work to dramatically improve our public safety and emergency services. It’s my privilege to lead these important efforts to make our families and community safer in the years to come,” he said in a news release. The position of Precinct 3 commissioner will be on the ballot as a special election in 2018, and Shell said he plans to run as a Republican. Shell graduated from San Marcos High School before attending Texas A&M University in College Station where he received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. As chief of staff, Shell assisted the county commissioners on upgrading the area's roads and public safety, as well as disaster recovery efforts following the 2015 floods. Shell also serves as president of the San Marcos Hays County EMS board and is on the steering committee for the Greater San Marcos Partnership's Vision 2020, a five-year economic development strategic plan.