Swearing-in ceremony set for New Year’s Day
GEORGETOWN — More than a dozen public officials — victors emerging from the Nov. 5 general election — will be sworn in on New Year’s Day.
The public is invited to witness the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 1, at the Historic Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St.
The event also will be broadcast live at facebook.com/ wilcotxgov/.
After the ceremony, there will be a brief Williamson County Commissioners Court gathering at 3 p.m. to consider the appointment of Byron Totty to fill the vacant chief deputy position at the Precinct 3 Constable Office.
Totty is a master peace officer with more than 16 years’ experience, according to a county document.
A Georgetown resident, he served as a sergeant at the Precinct 1 Constable Office.
Officials taking the oath of office include:
• Donna King, judge for the 26th state District Court.
A member of the Republican Party, King ran unopposed in securing the judicial seat.
• Ryan Larson, 395th state District Court judge.
A member of the GOP, Larson was unopposed in the Nov. 5 election.
“It’s an honor and pleasure to serve Williamson County inside and outside the courthouse,” Larson wrote via email to the Press. “Over the next four years, I am committed to expanding community partnerships to help promote healthy families and improve the Child Welfare System.”
• Betsy Lambeth, 425th state District Court judge. The Republican was uncontested in the election.
• Terence M. Davis, 480th state District Court judge.
The attorney is actually an appointee of Gov. Greg Abbott, replacing Judge Scott K. Field. Named in early September, Davis will serve for a term ending Dec. 31 or until a successor is elected, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office. After signing state House Bill 19 into law, which created specialty trial courts (Texas business courts) with jurisdiction over certain civil cases involving commercial disputes, Abbott appointed Field to the newly created Fifteenth Court of Appeals.
“Although serving as a judge involves tough decisions and tremendous responsibility, I am truly honored and blessed to have this opportunity to serve Williamson County and work with exceptional people,” Davis told the Press.
• Shawn Dick, district attorney. Running unopposed, the Republican secured 169,243 votes in the November election.
• Will Ward, County Court-at-Law No. 5 judge. Also a Republican, Ward secured 170,614 votes in an uncontested race.
• Dee Hobbs, county attorney. The Republican bested Democratic challenger Amy Lyn Lefkowitz by 18,430 votes. Hobbs secured 53.25 percent of the ballots cast (150,961 votes) versus 46.75% (132,531 votes) for Lefkowitz.
• Matthew Lindemann, sheriff. Lindemann, a Republican, received 52.13% of the vote (150,187) in defeating incumbent Mike Gleason, a Democrat, who gained 47.87% of the ballots cast (137,939 votes).
Gleason served a single term after having unseated former Sheriff Robert Chody in 2020, becoming the first Democrat to gain the seat in Williamson County in more than 30 years.
“I appreciate the people of Williamson County putting their trust in me and electing me as their sheriff,” Lindemann wrote to the Press ahead of his swearing-in. “This is like coming back home for me, as my first lawenforcement position was with the Sheriff’s Office. We have a great staff of hard-working men and women committed to ensuring Williamson County is a safe place to live. The Sheriff’s Office will be dedicated to working with all law-enforcement agencies in the county toward that goal.”
• Larry Gaddes, county tax assessor-collector. The Republican took in 175,395 votes in an uncontested race.
“The Tax Assessor/ Collector’s Office will undergo several changes in 2025,” Gaddes wrote in an email. “Our Taylor office will be remodeled and expanded to accommodate the area’s population growth. Effective in 2025, major legislation will change the vehicle inspection and registration process and the car-buying experience for both dealers and buyers.”
He added, “I’m looking forward to implementing plans that help us address the challenges and opportunities these changes present to best serve our Williamson County citizens.”
• Terry Cook, Precinct 1 commissioner. A Democrat, Cook ran unopposed in retaining her seat, earning 35,418 votes.
“2025 will not provide any breaks in the continued, rapid growth of Williamson County’s population and the services our residents need and expect,” Cook told the Press. “The growing pains include providing multi-lane roads in previously rural areas of the county, working with (independent school districts) to develop needed safe traffic access to existing and new school properties, supporting water and wastewater volumes at higher levels, and seeking water supplies to bring to the market, formerly left to municipalities to resolve.”
She added, “The county’s largest ‘city’ is the county itself and growing. Rooftops don’t pay the bills, and the Commissioners Court is tasked with finding resolutions for the residents’ increasing needs within the county budget. This service is not for the weak of heart, and it must be done through collaboration, not only with all Commissioners Court members, but in conjunction with school boards, (emergency services districts), municipalities and county residents.”
• Valerie Covey, Precinct 3 commissioner. Covey, a Republican, gained an overwhelming portion of the ballots against Libertarian opponent Wes Benedict – 76.79% (51,271 votes) versus 23.21% (15,500 votes), respectively.
• Mickey Chance, Precinct 1 constable. Democrat Chance easily claimed the constable’s seat against Republican Vinnie Cherrone. Chance received 32,732 votes (62.56%) compared to 19,585 (37.44%) for Cherrone.
• Jeff Anderson, Precinct 2 constable. The Republican ran uncontested and garnered 48,814 votes.
• Kevin Wilkie, Precinct 3 constable. Fellow Republican Wilkie also ran unopposed, gaining 53,334
votes.
• Paul Leal, Precinct 4 constable. The Republican secured 56.43% of the vote (41,357 ballots) compared to 43.57% (31,935 votes) for his Democratic challenger, Kenneth Guerrero.
