Incumbent Gary Cutler has a sizable lead in the Hays County sheriff’s Republican primary, and sheriff candidate Alex Villalobos has a similarly strong lead in the Democratic primary, according to early voting results released Tuesday evening.
Cutler has been Hays County’s sheriff since 2010. He helped craft a bond package that voters approved in November 2016 to expand the county’s jail and build new public safety buildings. Construction is underway.
Cutler has received 7,272 votes — or 79.8% of the vote — through early and absentee voting, Hays County data show. His Republican challenger, Dave Graham, has so far received 1,843 votes, or 20.2% of the vote.
“I have a proven record,” Cutler told the American-Statesman earlier this year. “I’ve proven my leadership in my work every day, and I look forward to continuing to serve. I’m proud of my agency, of the men and women that work here. You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and I’ve got great people around me here.”
Cutler said he would continue to oversee the bond projects if elected, and he would work to reduce the jail population through cite-and-release and jail diversion programs.
Graham’s priorities include ramping up traffic enforcement, hosting regular meetings internally and with outside agencies, and creating an online system for crime reports.
“Gary’s been in office for nine years,” Graham said. “I think he’s done a good job in the past, but I think he’s taken it as far as he can.”
Villalobos has received 8,238 votes — 74.2% of the vote — through early and absentee voting, Hays County data show. His Democratic opponent, Dickey Haverda, has so far received 2,868 votes, or 25.8% of the vote.
Villalobos said his priority is to modernize the sheriff’s office’s equipment, technology, training and policies. The sheriff’s office needs to undergo the same rural-to-urban transition that Hays County is undergoing, he said.
Haverda said the sheriff’s office struggles to retain employees because of low morale. If elected, he would improve communication within the office and focus on team building, he said.
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