HAYS COUNTY — Hays County has chosen its sheriff candidates for the upcoming election in November. This comes after current Hays County Sheriff, Gary Cutler, announced his retirement in February 2023.
Nearly 33,122 or 18.85% of registered Hays County voters, headed to the polls during the March 5 primary election. Candidates from across the county were vying for numerous positions, including county sheriff, tax assessor-collector, commissioner, constable and justice of the peace.
Anthony Hipolito, a Hays County native, is the republican candidate for sheriff, with 15,435 votes. Graduating from Hays High School in 1985, he continued his education at Austin Community College and applied as a police officer at the Austin Police Department.
He and his family now live in Dripping Springs, where his children attend school.
After more than 20 years with APD, his career with HCSO began in September 2021, when he was hired as a patrol officer and later transferred to the community outreach division. Since then, he has also helped with the fentanyl awareness campaign.
“I look forward to continuing to serve the great people in Hays County and have thoroughly enjoyed my time in law enforcement. My career has been rewarding thus far, but I feel like I am just starting,” said Hipolito. “As your next sheriff, I look forward to serving everyone with honesty, integrity, respect and fairness.”
Alex Villalobos is the democratic candidate for sheriff, surpassing Daniel Law with 9,707 votes and currently serves as the Hays County chief of staff. He has a background in law enforcement and government positions, including Kyle City Council.
Some of his goals include: crime reduction, which he hopes to achieve through working with schools to create restorative justice diversion, counseling and family interventions, facilitating positive interactions with law enforcement and more; community outreach by engagement programs, customer oriented policing and environmental scanning; and fiscal responsibility, where he will advocate for deputies and staff to support making a livable wage for Hays County, utilize technology to mitigate fiscal waste and more.
“I care deeply about the county and have the knowledge to get the job done to ensure the citizens and their pet friends are protected,” said Villalobos. “I will bring leadership and experience to serve the citizens and impact progressive changes.”
These are the unofficial election results as of 10:13 p.m. Results will remain unofficial until canvassed and certified. For those in races where no one candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held prior to the November election. Races with a bipartisan candidates will have a final election in November with the highest-voted nominees.
Hays County Sheriff
Democrat
Alex Villalobos: 9,707 (69.06%)
Daniel Law: 4,348 (30.94%)
Republican
Anthony Hipolito: 15,435 (100%)
County Court-At-Law, No. 3
Democrat
Elaine S. Brown: 13,332 (100%)
Republican
Robert E. Updegrove: 15,077 (100%)
Tax Assessor-Collector
Democrat
Cynthia A. Millonzi: 3,590 (26.70%)
Jessica Sanchez: 4,737 (35.22%)
Vianna “Vee” Garza: 1,511 (11.24%)
Jennifer M. Escobar: 3,610 (26.84%)
Republican
No candidates
Commissioner,
Precinct 1
Democrat
Alyssa Ramirez: 935 (40.39%)
Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe (D): 1,380 (59.61%)
Republican
No candidates
Commissioner,
Precinct 3
Democrat
Rebecca Minnick: 4,430 (100%)
Republican
Teresa Shell: 2,705 (46.69%)
Morgan Hammer: 3,088 (53.31%)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1
Democrat
Nicholas “Nico” Costilla: 1,417 (32.48%)
Jo Anne Prado: 2,946 (67.52%)
Republican
No candidates
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2
Democrat
Amanda K. Calvert: 630 (22.28%)
J.R. Mendoza: 830 (29.35%)
Janie Flores: 618 (21.85%)
Paul Hill: 432 (15.28%)
Andrea “Dre” Villescaz: 318 (11.24%)
Republican
No candidates
Constable, Precinct 1
Democrat
David Lois Peterson: 2,389 (56.07%)
Lorenzo Gonzalez: 1,872 (43.93%)
Republican
No candidates
Constable, Precinct 2
Democrat
Michael Torres: 2,714 (100%)
Republican
David L. Saenz Sr.: 2,374 (100%)
Constable, Precinct 3
Democrat
No candidates
Republican
Don Montague: 2,529 (100%)
Constable, Precinct 4
Democrat
No candidates
Republican
Dave Graham: 2,707 (51.06%)
Ben Gieselman: 2,595 (48.64%)
Constable, Precinct 5
Democrat
No candidates
Republican
John Ellen: 2,466 (100%)
