Paperwork shows strong intentions for Burnet County judge seat
Alan Trevino (left) and Bryan Wilson have both emerged as potential candidates for the office of Burnet County judge. File photos
As of Wednesday, Aug. 27, the Burnet County judge’s race seems to have two potential candidates, both powerful players in county government.
Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Alan Trevino and currently appointed county Judge Bryan Wilson have each officially filed for campaign treasurers for next March’s Republican primary. While the actual filing window for the judge’s seat is Nov. 8 through Dec. 8, the campaign treasurer submissions signify a strong intention to run by both men.
The winner of the GOP primary will almost certainly take the seat as there is rarely a Democratic challenger in November’s general election.
Wilson hand-delivered his campaign treasurer filing at 11:41 a.m. Wednesday, taking the first recorded step toward a potential run for office. Since being appointed judge in March, he has been tight-lipped on his intentions to seek the seat when it is put on the ballot, until now.
“There’s still much work to do, and that’s why we’ve decided, after much prayer and with the support of our family, that I am running for Burnet County judge,” Wilson said in a statement sent to DailyTrib.com.
Trevino has been publicly campaigning for judge after announcing his intention to run in December 2024 immediately following the resignation of former county Judge James Oakley. The chief deputy filed for a campaign treasurer on Dec. 13, 2024.
Both Wilson and Trevino sought the Burnet County judge appointment following Oakley’s resignation. After weeks of deliberation and two deadlocked votes, the four remaining members of the Burnet County Commissioners Court chose Wilson.
Wilson and Trevino have recently battled in Commissioners Court over the 2025-26 fiscal year budget. Trevino and Sheriff Calvin Boyd are strongly advocating for more funds for the Sheriff’s Office and the hiring of four new deputies, while Wilson has stuck to his guns for a leaner budget and reduced tax rate that has left out the requested deputies.
Learn more about the current budget scuffle in the DailyTrib.com stories “Burnet County zeroes in on slimmer budget” and “Burnet County in the throes of budget talks.”
What does the Burnet County judge do?
The Burnet County judge is the chairperson of the five-member Burnet County Commissioners Court, which includes a commissioner from each of the county’s four precincts.
The court is the general governing body of Burnet County, responsible for approving the tax rate and county budget; appointing officials and hiring personnel; setting voting precincts; calling bond elections; authorizing contracts and billing; maintaining and building county roads, bridges, and facilities; providing veterans assistance; overseeing the county library system; and providing technology and archival needs for county records.
The terms “judge” and “court” in this case are not meant in the traditional judicial sense. The county judge’s role is more that of a presiding officer over a board of officers charged with operating the county and all of its subsidiaries.
While the judge is essentially the chief executive officer of the county, they are an equal voting member to each of the four commissioners of the court.
The county judge serves four-year terms and has an annual salary of $113,337 per the 2024-25 Burnet County budget.
County judge responsibilities include:
- acting as the chief budget officer of the county, creating the budget to be ultimately voted on by the entire Commissioners Court;
- setting the agendas of the Commissioners Court;
- serving as the head of emergency management for the county;
- calling for elections and posting election notices;
- and potentially serving as judge of the county court for certain criminal or civil cases, including probates.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said Alan Trevino filed for a campaign treasurer on July 14, 2025, which is incorrect. That date was when Trevino had last filed a campaign finance report. Trevino appointed a campaign treasurer on Dec. 13, 2024. The story has been corrected.