Days after a stunning win to secure the Hays County Judge seat, Democrat Ruben Becerra has named Kyle City Council District 4 member Alex Villalobos as his Chief of Staff.
Villalobos, who was elected in 2017 to a three-year term, will continue serving on the dais in Kyle, in addition to working at his new position.
After a week of deliberation between city attorneys and county officials, the city of Kyle’s ethics ordinance does not require Villalobos to resign his position.
“Furthermore, laws governing dual office holding and common law incompatibility as currently interpreted do not prevent him from serving both positions,” a statement from the city of Kyle said. “Mr. Villalobos will need to recuse himself and disclose the reason for disclosure where required by the Ethics Ordinance.”
Becerra said Villalobos is a natural born servant and leader, and has skills that the county judge-elect believes will pay dividends in his new Chief of Staff role.
“Although it will not be until January 2019, I stay committed in my service to the citizens of Kyle and Hays County as a whole,” Villalobos said. “I look forward to utilizing my training and experience to serve in this role and am honored to take part in this community.”
Villalobos, who made a career in law enforcement before becoming an elected official, previously worked as a Lieutenant in the Texas State University Police Department in San Marcos from 2007 to 2018.
“Alex Villalobos is an active and respected member of our community with the educational credentials and professional experience to support this new role,” Becerra said. “He is known to strive for excellence in all aspects, yet still engages in a great deal of time to helping others excel.”
The addition of Villalobos to Becerra’s staff marks a transitionary period in Hays County, where a Democrat has not held the seat in more than a decade. The duo will be responsible for leading a commissioners court that is still majority Republican.
Becerra defeated Republican Will Conley, a 14-year Hays County commissioner and seasoned politician, by more than 2,500 votes Nov. 6.
During the campaign trail, Becerra was a critic of outsourcing inmates to other counties as the population of the Hays County Jail continues to operate at capacity.
