Three candidates seek to succeed longtime Bandera County judge in upcoming election

Dennis Fitzgerald, Susan Junker and Kim Manglberger are running in the Republican primary to replace Bandera County Judge Richard Evans, who first took office in November 1998 and is retiring at the end of his current term.

Texas’s constitutional county judges are not required to be licensed attorneys, even though they preside over the Commissioners Court and may perform judicial functions; the state constitution only requires they be “well informed in the law of the State.”

The position tends to emphasize administrative, budgeting and leadership responsibilities, and many county judges come from backgrounds in business, public administration, law enforcement or the military.

Fitzgerald, whose campaign announcement describes him as a native Texan, military veteran, former judge and small business owner, said his campaign is focused on fiscal discipline and steady leadership as the county grows.

“If you wouldn’t do it with your own money, you shouldn’t do it with the county’s,” Fitzgerald said. “County government should be run with the same care and responsibility families and businesses use every day.”

Fitzgerald said his background in the judiciary, law and business ownership has shaped his approach to decision- making and public service.

“Bandera County doesn’t need noise,” Fitzgerald said. “It needs fair, trusted leadership people can rely on.”

Junker, a retired U.S. Army officer and business leader, said the county judge’s role is primarily administrative and requires experience in management, budgeting and coordination among county departments and outside agencies.

In her campaign materials, Junker said a Texas county judge spends most of the job “leading and managing county business” while also overseeing emergency management and limited judicial duties.

“I believe in transparency in planning and operations, and in explaining how decisions affect citizens,” Junker said.

Junker said her experience includes leadership roles in the military, business and nonprofit sectors, as well as managing large budgets and complex programs. She said she supports expanding public access to county government.

“I support livestreaming meetings, as nearby rural counties do on You-Tube, so residents can watch and comment,” Junker said, adding that county leadership must also continue meeting with residents and employees in person. “A firm handshake and direct conversations still matter.”

Manglberger, an attorney and former Bandera County deputy sheriff, said her campaign will focus on integrity, transparency, fiscal responsibility and what she described as practical justice. A graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law, Manglberger has worked in law enforcement, legal practice and advocacy.

“My campaign is about protecting what makes Bandera County special — our freedom, our faith, and our way of life,” Manglberger said. “We need leadership that listens, acts with integrity, and puts local families and taxpayers first.”

Manglberger, who has also served as a reserve deputy marshal for the city of Bandera, said public office should be rooted in service rather than self-interest.

“Faith and fairness should guide every decision,” she said. “Bandera County’s best days are ahead if we stand together, stay rooted in our values, and keep government accountable to the people.”

Voters will have an opportunity to meet the candidates at a Bandera County candidate fair scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Silver Sage Great Room, 803 Buck Creek Drive in Bandera.

The event is open to the public and free to attend.

The candidate fair is being hosted by the League of Women Voters of Hill Country Texas, which does not endorse or oppose candidates and has members and events in six counties: Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr and Llano.

The Republican primary election is scheduled for March 3. Early voting runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27. The last day to register to vote is Feb. 2.