According to unofficial election results: Incumbent Republican Mark Jones was elected the Precinct 2 Hays County commissioner and Republican Walt Smith was voted to represent Precinct 4. Lon Shell, Republican, leads Democratic opponent Jimmy Alan Hall by 46 votes for the Precinct 3 seat.

Precinct 2

With 12 of 12 precincts reporting, incumbent Mark Jones, Republican, won the Precinct 2 Hays County commissioner’s seat with 10,751 votes, or 53.38 percent.  Jones was elected to the Hays County Commissioners Court in 2014 and previously served as a two-term trustee and vice president of the Hays CISD Board of Trustees.

Democrat Richard Cronshey, Jones’ sole opponent, garnered 9,390 votes, or 46.62 percent of the total ballots cast. Cronshey is a 34-year Hays County resident and has taught as a public school teacher for more than 35 years.

Jones told Community Impact Newspaper that his top priorities as commissioner will be investing in the county’s roads and infrastructure, fostering growth in the local job market, and preserving the county’s natural resources.

PRECINCT 3

In the race for Hays County Commissioner's Court, Precinct 3 incumbent Republican Lon Shell leads Democrat Jimmy Alan Hall by only 46 votes.

Shell, a San Marcos native and local business owner, was appointed to the court in 2014. He received 10,056 votes, or 50.11 percent of total ballots cast. 

Hall received 10,010 votes, or 49.89 percent of the total ballots cast. He has lived in Hays County since 2007 and is an attorney specializing in environmental law, including water rights.

Shell said his top priorities as commissioner will be to responsibly plan for the county’s future growth by improving safety on roadways, protecting natural resources, investing in public safety and reducing tax burdens on citizens.

Precinct 4

Republican Walt Smith was elected to serve Precinct 4 on the Hays County Commissioners court with 11,519 votes, or 51.38 percent of the total ballots cast, according to unofficial election results with all precincts reporting.

Democrat Omar Baca, Smith’s opponent, garnered 10,309 votes, or 45.98 percent of the total ballots cast. Baca moved to Hays County in 2007 and spends his time working as a firefighter, EMS provider and patient advocate.

Write-in candidate Jon Thompson received 587 votes.

Smith has lived in Hays County for six years. He told Community Impact Newspaper that his top priorities as county commissioner will be to manage growth in a way that will preserve the county’s character, to invest in infrastructure and public safety and to do so while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Correction: This report has been corrected to state that Precinct 3 Hays County Commissioner Lon Shell was appointed to the court in 2014, not elected.