Three candidates are running in the Williamson County Republican primary on March 3 for a commissioner’s position that the incumbent has held for almost 20 years. Rupal Chaudhari, Jeffrey Mayes, and David McDonald are all vying for Commissioner Precinct 2. Republican Cynthia Long is not running for re-election after serving five terms in the position. She was first elected in 2007. Long declared she has accomplished what she wanted to do for the county including supporting through three successful bond elections, adding 500 new lane miles of road and championing the purchase of the 1,350 acre River Ranch Park. “As I see back I’ve been blessed to be a part of it,” she declared. She has not finishorsed anyone for her position.
Early voting starts Feb. 17 and finishs Feb. 27.
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A vote sign greets shoppers at the entrance of the H-E-B shopping center near the Travis County voting station located at Oltorf Street and South Congress Avenue in May 2014.
Austin American-Statesman
The winner of the Republican primary will run unopposed in the November election becautilize there is no Democratic candidate. Precinct 2 includes Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill, along with Anderson Mill and part of the city of Austin, and a large unincorporated portion of western Williamson County stretching to the Burnet County line.
Chaudhari, 44, is an attorney and a business owner whose family owns hotels in Williamson County. She manages finances for two of the hotels and an electronic component distribution business. Chaudhari ran unsuccessfully for Travis County Judge in 2022.Mayes, 47, is a commercial real estate broker and McDonald, a former Leander City Council member, is a retired Austin Police Department officer and a transportation consultant.
According to campaign finance reports Chaudhari has raised the most money for her campaign. She has raised $194,598 since April. Campaign finance reports revealed that McDonald has raised $34, 124 since he launched fundraising in July and Mayes has raised $27,900 since he launched raising money in September. The three Republican candidates answered a series of questions about topics facing the county and their goals if elected.
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What are the most important issues facing Williamson County?
Chaudhari:“The largegest challenges facing the county are high property taxes and rapid growth,” she declared. “Without careful planning and responsible spfinishing, residents will continue to feel the burden. Exponential growth has strained roads, increased traffic congestion, and pressured water resources.”
Mayes:“Rapid growth presents both opportunity and challenge,” he declared. “While growth can strengthen our local economy and create new opportunities for families and businesses, it also places increasing strain on roads, emergency services, and core infrastructure. County government must manage growth responsibly by protecting private property rights, ensuring that development pays its fair share, and planning infrastructure that keeps pace with demand.”
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McDonald:“We must work with the development community to ensure our infrastructure can support new growth and development,” he declared. “Water is a concern for all Central Texas and we necessary to be proactive to protect our water resources by improving our efforts in conservation through drought tolerant landscaping. Due to the growth we necessary to improve our transportation infrastructure without additional toll roads.”
Rupal Chaudhari is one of the three Republicans running in the primary for Williamson County2 Commissioner Precinct
courtesy of Rupal Chaudhari/Rupal Chaudhari
What are your goals if elected?
Chaudhari: “Keep property taxes low and stop treating residents as piggy banks for the government to raid,” she declared. “Focus on easing traffic congestion in all neighborhoods. Govern conservatively and listen to our residents. Back ICE and law enforcement to keep criminal illegals out of our local community.”
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Mayes:“I will work to cap the county tax rate and require full transparency for any proposed increase so taxpayers always know exactly where their money is going,” he declared. “To reinforce accountability, I will launch an online “County Checkbook” that allows residents to track every county expense in real time and see how their tax dollars are being spent.” Mayes declared he would also work with developers to finance roads and create regional youth sports facilities.
McDonald:“Listening to our residents to hear their concerns and be their representative is priority one,” he declared. “Out on the campaign trail the top concerns I have heard from our residents are lower property taxes, protecting our water, stopping government overreach, support public safety, and providing transportation solutions without adding additional toll roads.”
Jeffrey Mayes is running for Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 2 in the Republican primary in March
courtesy of Jeffrey Mayes/Jeffrey Mayes
WHAT MAKES YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE?
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Chaudhari:“As a tiny business owner and licensed attorney with experience managing multi-million-dollar budobtains, I know how to identify waste, improve efficiency, and create hard decisions to obtain things done, she declared.” “My focus is on delivering results, protecting taxpayers, and creating county government work for residents—not political games.”
Mayes: “My professional background comes from years in the private sector, where I have nereceivediated development deals and worked directly with the realities of growth, infrastructure, and long-term planning,” he declared. “That experience gives me a realistic, results-oriented perspective on managing growth responsibly—ensuring development pays its fair share, infrastructure is planned wisely, and taxpayer dollars are protected.”
McDonald:“I served n Leander City Council for 3.5 years managing large budobtains, Capital Improvement Program projects, public safety, lowering the property tax rate, and addressing the water issue head on,’ he declared. “In addition I have multiple years of experience in transportation, emergency management, and public safety.”
David McDonald is running for Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 2 in the Republican primary.
courtesy of David McDonald/David McDonald
WHAT COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN NOW OR IN THE PAST?
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Chaudhari: Texas Emergency Services Retirement System board member. Co-founder of the Family Bridge Corporation, a nonprofit that provides temporary hotel houtilizing for families with children during times of crisis. Volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates that support children in foster care. Vice-president of finance for the Leander Area Republican Women
Mayes:Founder of the Leander/Liberty Hill Property Information Exmodify, a commercial real estate group. One of launchers of Building Liberty Hill, an initiative designed to bring Liberty Hill City Council and staff toobtainher with local developers. Member of the Durham Park Water Supply Corporation Board. Past president of the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce. President of the Liberty Hill Panther Pit Crew, a non-profit that supports Liberty Hill ISD athletic programs. Member of the Hill Counattempt Buyer’s Club and the Pit Stop BBQ Buyer’s group that are both volunteer organizations supporting Future Farmers of America programs. Member of the Boy Scouts of America Smilin’ V Tinquire Force that supports a Boy Scout camping facility in Liberty Hill.
McDonald:Hope Alliance board member. Hope Alliance is a resource center and emergency shelter in Round Rock for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
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