By Bud Wymore
The Hays Free Press offers candidates one opportunity each election to address its readers. Rather than publishing a press release, I made the decision to speak directly to you about why I’m running. My name is Bud Wymore and I am a candidate in the Republican Primary to represent our community in the Texas House. It is my sincere hope that after reading this letter, you will understand my love for this community and desire to do what is right for our home.
When my family moved to Hays County 36 years ago, this community looked very different. I wish that I could say you may remember me from my “glory days” on the Hays Rebel football and basketball teams, but it’s more likely that you know my mother, Jodie, who was a beloved elementary school teacher and principal at Hays CISD for many years, or my father, Kent, who ran a local small business. I owe an unpayable debt of gratitude to my parents and this community for forming me into who I am today.
From 2009 to 2012, I served as Chairman of the Hays County Republican Party. In that time, I met many wonderful people. I also learned that politics can be, and often is, very monolithic. An us-against-them mentality is pervasive. The world, however, is much more nuanced. In 2012, I opted to not run for re-election so I could focus on raising my kids and building my law practice. That is a decision I will never regret.
In December 2013, I was hired to represent landowners in Creedmoor, (just outside of Buda) when their property was barraged with bullets from a newly opened outdoor gun range the day after Christmas. One bullet penetrated a window and was found embedded in a stack of files on a desk. Another pierced a metal building and finally landed in a file cabinet. My clients’ son threw himself on top of his young nephew to protect him from oncoming bullets. My clients prevailed as the range was found to be unsafe and operating in violation of a zoning ordinance.
In the years that followed, I accepted two more cases similar in nature. In the second case in Lampasas County, the gun range agreed to make modifications and is still operating. The sport shooting community is better because of the changes. In the third case, we found in excess of 150 bullets on my client’s property, and a Republican Judge entered an order that found the range “presents a significant risk of harm to life and property.” In all three cases, I am proud of the work we did. Standing for life and private property rights is the right thing to do.
When I launched my campaign, I did not think these cases would be used against me. In fact, as a conservative Republican, I assumed most folks would agree that my clients’ positions are basic common sense. Unfortunately, my primary opponent, Carrie Isaac, has seized upon these cases. On social media, she described these lawsuits as “frivolous.” This saddens me. I believe our district deserves a representative who will do what is right, and not be guided by what is perceived to be politically expedient.
Now that I’m a candidate, people have asked me about these lawsuits. Would I represent these folks again? Absolutely. I was raised to do what was right, not to build a political resume. This is the same mentality I will take to the Capitol. If elected as your representative, I will fight to lower property taxes and put in place an annual dollar cap on property tax increases. People deserve certainty and should not live in fear of being taxed out of home ownership. With a budget surplus in the State of Texas, this is an achievable goal. I will also work to eliminate wasteful spending so we can increase teacher pay, direct more dollars to our classrooms, and fund unfunded mandates. I will also support constitutional carry, defend our border, and stand for life at all points.
I would be honored to have your vote.
