Q&A with Albert Ray; incumbent running for Erath County commissioner, precinct 2.

Erath County Commissioner Albert Ray

 Q: Why are you running for Erath County commissioner?

I’m running for re-election as Erath County Commissioner because I believe deeply in finishing what we started and continuing to move our county forward the right way — steady, responsible, and rooted in common sense.

Over the last eight years, I’ve had the honor of serving the people of Erath County, and together with the County Judge, my fellow Commissioners, department heads, and other elected officials, we’ve made real progress.

We’ve improved roads across the county, strengthened every department, and worked hard to make sure Erath County remains a great place to live, work, ranch, farm, and raise a family.

We’ve also faced growth head-on.

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Growth brings opportunity, but it also brings challenges, and I believe you don’t ignore it or rush into it — you manage it.

That’s why we built a new county annex to meet growing needs, created a development office to help guide growth responsibly, improved county employee wages to retain good people, upgraded emergency radio infrastructure, and are now approaching the opening of the first-ever combined dispatch center in Erath County.

That dispatch center will ensure law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS are all connected and able to respond faster and more efficiently.

We’ve also strengthened law enforcement, emergency medical services, and our volunteer fire departments across the county.

None of this happened by accident — it happened because of experience, planning, and teamwork.

At the end of the day, I’m running because I care about this county.

I want Erath County to be a place where my children, my grandchild, and every family here can continue to live safely, work hard, and enjoy the rural way of life that makes this place special.

Q: What qualities do you have that will strengthen the Commissioners Court as a team?

I believe good government starts with teamwork and respect.

No one commissioner has all the answers, and the best decisions are made when people are willing to listen, disagree respectfully, and work toward solutions that benefit the entire county — not just one road, one area, or one interest.

Over the last eight years, the Commissioners Court and County Judge have shown that you can have different opinions and still work together effectively.

That working relationship has allowed us to move projects forward, manage taxpayer dollars responsibly, and avoid the gridlock that hurts counties.

I’m willing to speak up when needed, but I also know when to listen.

I believe experience matters, especially when you’re making decisions that affect roads, budgets, emergency services, and property taxes for every citizen in Erath County.

Keeping a Court that works well together is important, and I’m committed to maintaining that cooperative spirit.

Q: How should the county balance growth and development while protecting rural character?

Rural heritage is what made Erath County what it is today, and it’s something worth protecting.

I was raised on a dairy farm here in Erath County, and I continue to operate a farming and ranching operation today. When you grow up working the land, you understand that once it’s gone, it’s gone.

That perspective shapes how I look at growth and development.

Growth is coming whether we like it or not, but the key is making sure it’s done right.

Over the last several years, the Commissioners Court has taken important steps to put policies in place for subdivision and development standards.

These policies are designed to ensure that when a developer finishes a project and walks away, property owners are not left holding the bag with failing roads, drainage issues, or infrastructure problems.

Protecting private property rights is critical, but so is protecting existing landowners and taxpayers. Growth should not shift long-term costs onto neighboring property owners or the county.

That’s why we’ve focused on setting clear expectations up front — so development is responsible, infrastructure is planned for, and citizens are not left dealing with problems years down the road.

We also have to look beyond what’s easiest or quickest. County government isn’t about chasing the next tax dollar or taking shortcuts. It’s about planning responsibly.

We must think about what Erath County will look like five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and even fifty years from now — not just what works today.

That means making sure roads can handle growth, water resources are protected, emergency services can keep up, and our rural character is preserved.

I do not support growth that comes at the expense of productive farmland, water resources, or our way of life. We don’t need data centers, massive solar farms, or projects that permanently change Erath County into something it was never meant to be.

I believe in sustainable, well-planned growth — growth that respects our rural roots, protects landowners, and ensures Erath County remains a place people are proud to call home for generations to come.

Q: As commissioner, how would you approach county budgeting and property tax rates?

For the past eight years, the Commissioners Court, County Judge, department heads, and elected officials have worked together to adopt conservative, efficient budgets while keeping property tax rates as low as possible.

I believe taxpayers deserve careful stewardship of their money. That means we don’t buy equipment or vehicles just to say we bought something.

There has to be a demonstrated need, a plan for use, and a long-term benefit to the county.

I also believe in understanding the work firsthand. I hold a valid, current, and clear Texas Commercial Driver’s License, and I am fully capable of operating county trucks and equipment when needed.

That matters — because it means I understand the equipment we’re buying, the roads we’re maintaining, and the work our crews are doing.

Every tax dollar should be spent wisely, efficiently, and with accountability.

That approach has served Erath County well, and it will continue to guide my decisions.

Q: How important is collaboration with cities, school districts and other local entities?

Collaboration is critical. When governments work together, taxpayers win.

Over the last eight years, I have worked hard to be a team player and to build strong partnerships across Erath County.

In Precinct 2, we have partnered with the City of Dublin through interlocal agreements to assist with street paving and to consolidate EMS services — saving Dublin taxpayers millions of dollars over the next 15 years while still improving emergency response.

We have also worked closely with Dublin ISD and Precinct 1 to assist with site work near the football field, partnered with the Texas Department of Transportation on roadway projects, and worked around the clock during emergencies such as the 2021 ice storm to keep roads open and citizens safe.

Countywide, the Commissioners Court has partnered with the City of Stephenville on a number of important initiatives, including support for the Cross Timbers Legacy Center for our senior citizens, providing a much-needed response vehicle to the Stephenville Fire Department, and advancing the county’s first-ever combined dispatch center.

We have also worked with Tarleton State University on matters that come before the Court, recognizing the role the university plays in our county’s future.

Another key part of collaboration that often gets overlooked is the work of our volunteer fire departments.

Our volunteer firefighters routinely respond on mutual aid calls not only within Erath County, but also to neighboring counties when help is needed. That kind of cooperation doesn’t happen overnight — it’s built on trust, communication, and long-standing relationships, and it makes all of us safer.

These examples are just a few of the many collaborations I have been a part of. One of my goals as commissioner has always been to eliminate duplication in government functions wherever possible. When agencies work together instead of separately, services improve and taxpayer dollars go further.

It’s also important to remember that whether someone lives in the City of Dublin, the City of Stephenville, or out in the county, they are still an Erath County resident and taxpayer.

Our responsibility is to serve everyone fairly and efficiently.

These partnerships don’t just look good on paper — they save money, improve services, and make government work better. We are one county, and we must stand united.

Working together takes more than good intentions — it takes relationships and experience.

Having spent the majority of my adult life involved in public service and county operations, I already have those contacts and working relationships in place.

That experience allows us to get things done, respond quickly when challenges arise, and continue moving Erath County forward.

Q: What educational and career experiences in your background make you uniquely qualified to serve in this elected capacity?

I am the only candidate in this race with eight years of experience serving as your elected Precinct 2 Commissioner.

Experience matters, especially in a job that involves roads, budgets, equipment, and long-term planning.

I retired in 2012 after a 30-year career with the Texas Department of Transportation, where I served as the Area Maintenance Supervisor for Erath County.

In that role, I managed budgets, supervised crews, operated heavy equipment, maintained roadways, and was often deployed to assist other counties during disasters and emergency repairs.

As your Precinct 2 Commissioner, I don’t just manage road projects from behind a desk. I frequently work alongside the Precinct 2 road crew blading roads, operating heavy equipment, and driving trucks when needed.

I believe a commissioner should understand the work firsthand and be willing to step in to get the job done.

I’ve also worked in private roadway development, building roads and operating heavy equipment.

I was raised on a family dairy farm and continue to operate a farming operation today, which taught me responsibility, patience, and the importance of doing things right the first time.

I have served as Chief of the Lingleville Volunteer Fire Department for over 20 years and was one of the original members who helped start the department in 2002.

Through that role, I’ve managed budgets, equipment, training, and emergency response — all directly related to the work of a county commissioner.

I am a proud graduate of Lingleville High School and Tarleton State University, a lifelong resident of Erath County, and a taxpayer whose family settled here in the late 1800s.

I know this county, I know its people, and I know what it takes to keep it moving forward.

I respectfully ask for your continued support so I can keep serving Erath County with experience, common sense, and a deep respect for our rural way of life.