Burnet County Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle invites residents to a series of public conversations designed to foster transparency, accessibility, and open dialogue throughout January, he told DailyTrib.com.
“These (conversations) are for constituents to have an opportunity to visit with me in a casual setting,” Beierle said. “Precinct 2 is targeted, but all are welcome.”
Precinct 2 covers the northeast side of the county, which includes Burnet, Bertram, Briggs, Oakalla, Lake Victor, Joppa, and Mahomet.
The commissioner emphasized the importance of listening to the community to guide his priorities as an elected official.
“Transparency and accessibility to me and my office are a priority,” he said. “If anyone has questions about any aspect of my position or the direction the county is headed, I want to know and discuss it. Folks can bring up anything they want to discuss.”
The scheduled events are:
Monday, Jan. 6, 3-6 p.m. at Oakalla Community Center, 29011 RM 693 in Briggs
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 4-7 p.m. at Joppa Fellowship Hall, 8447 CR 210 in Joppa
Thursday, Jan. 14, 4-7 p.m. at Historic Burnet County Jail, 109 S. Pierce St. in Burnet
Thursday, Jan. 23, 4-7 p.m. at Bertram Library, 107 S. Gabriel St. in Bertram
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 4-7 p.m. at Lake Victor Community Center, 200 Lake Ave. in Burnet
Thursday, Jan. 30, 4-7 p.m. at Northeast Burnet County VFD, 2285 U.S. 183 in Bertram
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The Burnet County Commissioners Court hired Randy Leavitt as part-time general counsel to provide legal advice on civil and procedural matters for the court. Leavitt will guide the commissioners on proper procedures, meeting operations, and public engagement.
The new role was created to address the growing complexity of county operations and the increasing demand for legal guidance.
“There’s a lot coming our way as the county grows, and something has to give,” Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arredondo told the Commissioners Court during its regular meeting Dec. 20. “This independent counsel can help the court navigate legal procedures while allowing my office to focus on its constitutional duties.”
While the county attorney’s office has historically assisted the Commissioners Court, the Texas Constitution does not require county attorneys to provide legal advice to commissioners, Arredondo said. The county attorney office’s primary duties, including handling criminal cases and other constitutional responsibilities, have become increasingly time-consuming, he said.
Leavitt will work part time at a significantly reduced rate compared to private legal counsel, with a salary of around $40,000 a year. Arredondo explained that hiring someone of Leavitt’s caliber for such a discounted rate is a unique opportunity.
“Having independent general counsel will help the court get clear answers to procedural questions and improve efficiency,” he said.
Leavitt began practicing law in 1980. His background includes serving as first assistant in the Travis County Attorney’s Office for almost five years and consulting with various government entities across Texas.
Although semi-retired, Leavitt maintains an active law practice as a criminal defense and civil litigation attorney and splits his time between his home in Austin and his property at Lake LBJ.
“I’m looking forward to helping the court and learning the day-to-day activities of county government again,” Leavitt told DailyTrib.com.
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Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle will lead the Burnet County Commissioners Court until an interim county judge is appointed. The court also laid out a plan during a special meeting on Friday, Jan. 3, for selecting the interim judge by the end of February. The appointment follows the official resignation of former Judge James Oakley on Jan. 2.
Until a new county judge is appointed to complete the remaining two-year term, Beierle will fulfill the role’s key responsibilities, including leading public meetings, managing day-to-day court operations, and signing official documents related to actions voted on by the Commissioners Court.
“I’m ready to help lead the court with the help of each commissioner,” Beierle said. “The citizens will not see any decline in services that (the court is) statutorily required to provide. The ultimate goal is to make sure that the county is operating the way it should for our constituents.”
The process to appoint a new Burnet County judge includes public forums, public comment periods, and court deliberations.
Based on the outlined timeline below, the new judge should be appointed by the Commissioners Court’s regular meeting Feb. 25.
Judge appointment process
Posting the position
The deadline to apply for the position is at noon on Jan. 31. It will be posted on the Burnet County bulletin board and the county’s employment portal. Interested candidates may submit their applications online or via paper application, which are available at the Burnet County Courthouse.
A list of eligible applicants and their contact information will be made public on the Burnet County website at 5 p.m. Jan. 31.
Applicant review and eligibility check
All applicants will undergo background checks to verify eligibility. They must be at least 25 years old, have been a resident of Burnet County for at least six months, and not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving official misconduct.
Public forum and comment period
A public forum and question-and-answer session is 6 p.m. Feb. 6 in the AgriLife Extension building, 607 N. Vanderveer in Burnet.
The public may email comments or questions to commissioners or the applicants starting Jan. 31 through noon Feb. 6.
Public meeting to narrow down candidates
During the Commissioners Court session Feb. 11, the court will interview all applicants and narrow the pool to two finalists.
Forum for top two
The top two finalists will attend a public forum at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the AgriLife Extension building, 607 N, Vanderveer in Burnet. The public may email additional comments or questions regarding the finalists from Feb. 11-25.
Appointment of county judge
The court will hold a final public hearing to deliberate and appoint the new county judge at its regular meeting Feb. 25.
The appointee will serve the remainder of the current term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2026.
Any updates to timeline, locations, or procedural details will be published as the county releases new information.
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approval of a professional service agreement to provide technical and construction phase services for Phase 2 of the Nature Heights Drainage Improvement Grant Project
discussion or action denying the increase in rates proposed by ATMOS Energy Corp.
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The Hill Country Humane Society is ringing in the new year with a lifesaving special. Adoption fees for the first 25 pets adopted in 2025 will be waived entirely. A $10 discount will be applied through Jan. 16 for those adopted after the first 25. The initiative is to help relieve extreme overcrowding, with more than 110 dogs now housed at the shelter, 9150 RR 1431 West in Buchanan Dam.
The nonprofit animal shelter contracts for intake services with Burnet and Llano counties and several cities within the Highland Lakes area. Adoption fees are regularly $150 for puppies and $75 for adult large dogs.
“This is an unprecedented offer,” HCHS Executive Director Paighton Corley told DailyTrib.com. “We’re waiving or significantly discounting these fees because we’re desperate to get some dogs out of here.”
The shelter has reached a breaking point. With 20 dogs housed outside due to lack of indoor space, Corley emphasized the urgency of the situation.
“When a freeze comes, we obviously can’t keep those dogs outside,” she said. “We really need to find placement for about 30 dogs to function properly.”
Adoptions include comprehensive care, such as vaccinations, spaying or neutering, microchipping, and deworming.
For those unable to adopt, fostering remains an option. The shelter provides all supplies, and there is no fee.
“We have some absolutely incredible dogs here,” Corley said. “What a great way to start the new year by saving a life.”
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The Third Court of Appeals in Texas on Jan. 2 denied former Burnet County Judge James Oakley’s request to rehear a case before the whole court that a three-judge panel decided against him in November 2024. The panel reversed and remanded one felony and two misdemeanor charges in November that had been quashed by a visiting judge in April 2023.
What happens next will be up to Perry Thomas, who took the oath of office as the new district attorney for the 33rd and 424th judicial districts the day before the decision to deny a rehearing.
“I’m reviewing the cases and making a decision on what to do from this point forward,” Thomas told DailyTrib.com. “I’m new to it. This is just my second day.”
Thomas listed several options, including considering a settlement or dropping the charges now that Oakley has resigned as county judge.
“I don’t know yet how his resignation will affect my decision,” the DA said. “I will consider that in light of everything. There are many factors to take into consideration.”
One of those factors, along with the evidence, will be to consider the effect on the community.
“I need to decide what’s best for the county and to see that justice is done,” Thomas said.
Oakley agreed that the next decision will come from the district attorney.
“It’s up to him if he wants to pursue these charges, which I maintain have no foundation,” he said.
Background
A grand jury indicted Oakley on March 7, 2023, for one felony count of tampering with evidence and three misdemeanor counts—two for abuse of official capacity and one for official oppression. A week later, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended him without pay.
On April 24, 2023, a visiting district judge quashed the felony and two misdemeanor charges, which then-District Attorney Wiley “Sonny” McAfee appealed.
A fourth charge for misuse of government property—driving a county vehicle to meetings of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative, for which Oakley serves on the Board of Directors—went to a jury trial. A six-person Blanco County jury found Oakley not guilty in August 2023. The judicial conduct commission immediately lifted his suspension.
Oakley resigned as county judge on Jan. 2 of this year in the wake of another ruling by the judicial commission that had nothing to do with the grand jury indictment. The commission publicly reprimanded Oakley on Dec. 11, 2024, for unprofessional conduct, sexual harassment, and security violations. The reprimand was issued in response to complaints filed by Burnet County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Lisa Whitehead in 2023.
Burnet County commissioners met Jan. 3 to decide on a method for appointing an interim county judge while working out the process for an elected replacement.
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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issued a public warning to avoid or limit interactions with wild birds due to a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or “bird flu.” The deadly virus has been detected across the state, leaving wildlife officials concerned about transmission between wild and domestic birds.
According to a Dec. 20 TPWD media release, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories recently confirmed the presence of bird flu in wild waterfowl populations in the state. The most severe cases are in the eastern Texas counties of Wharton, Galveston, and Harris.
“Currently, the transmission risk of avian influenza from infected birds to people remains low, but the public should take basic protective measures if contact with wild animals cannot be avoided,” reads the statement from TPWD.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza presents differently depending on the species it infects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bird flu could have little to no impact on infected ducks, but certain strains of the highly pathogenic variety can have a 90-100 percent mortality rate among chickens.
The public should limit contact with wild birds. Bird feeders and water sources used by wild birds should be kept clean. The water in bird baths should be changed every few days.
Hunters handling wild birds should observe the following precautions:
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The Burnet County Commissioners Court is holding a special meeting Friday, Jan. 3, at 9 a.m. to discuss the process for replacing the county judge. Former Judge James Oakley resigned Jan. 2 after the State Commission for Judicial Conduct issued him a public reprimand in December for security violations and sexual harassment of a fellow elected official.
The special meeting will take place in the second-floor courtroom at the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.
Agenda items include accepting Oakley’s resignation, appointing a lead commissioner to temporarily manage court operations, and formalizing the process for selecting an interim county judge to serve until an election can be held.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle told DailyTrib.com a commissioner will be selected to lead future meetings until an interim judge is picked. The interim judge cannot be a serving commissioner.
Additionally, Burnet County departments previously under the purview of Oakley will be reassigned to commissioners.
The court’s agenda sets an executive session early in the meeting to discuss the selection process for an interim judge. Commissioners will define how applications will be accepted, reviewed, and voted on.
“I hope we’ll make the selection by the last meeting in January or the first meeting in February,” Beierle said.
By law, current commissioners are ineligible to apply for the interim judge position. The selected individual will serve the remainder of Oakley’s term until 2026, when an election can be set for the March primary.
Residents interested in applying for interim judge will have the opportunity to do so once the application process is finalized.
“We want this to be a fair and efficient process to find the best candidate for the role,” Beierle said.
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Newly elected and re-elected Llano County officials took their oaths of office on Wednesday, Jan. 1. New officials include the sheriff, the Kingsland-area commissioner, the district attorney, and two constables.
NEW OFFICIALS: 2025-28
Marquis Cantu
Llano County Sheriff
Outgoing: Bill Blackburn
Marquis Cantu was sworn into office by Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. The new sheriff told DailyTrib.com he immediately got to work, participating in an arrest and intake before attending a countywide swearing-in ceremony at the Llano County Courthouse later that day.
“I promised the people that as soon as I was sworn in, I’d hit the streets, and I did,” he said.
Cantu replaced Sheriff Bill Blackburn, who had served the office for 16 years. He secured the position after winning the Republican nomination in May, defeating opponent Les Hartman. No Democrat ran for sheriff, ensuring Cantu’s victory on Nov 5.
Brent Richards
Precinct 3 Commissioner
Outgoing: Mike Sandoval
Brent Richards was sworn in to office at the Llano County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Wednesday. He replaced outgoing Commissioner Mike Sandoval, who served Precinct 3 since 2017 and did not run for re-election.
“My goal is to help the constituents of my precinct and hopefully get some things cleaned up that my people want done and address whatever people want to have addressed,” Richards told DailyTrib.com.
He also said he plans to hold town hall meetings as he settles into the office to get a better idea of what residents. Precinct 3 is the smallest but most densely populated precinct in the county and includes the Kingsland area.
Richards defeated opponent Bull Guthrie in a Republican primary runoff in May, securing his party’s nomination. He was unopposed in the Nov. 5 general election.
Perry Thomas
District Attorney for the 33rd/424th Judicial Districts
Outgoing: Wiley “Sonny” McAfee
Perry Thomas took office as district attorney on Wednesday morning. Burnet, Blanco, Llano, and San Saba counties are within his jurisdiction. He succeeds Wiley “Sonny” McAfee, who did not run for re-election.
“I’m not stepping into it blindly,” Thomas told DailyTrib.com. “I know just about everyone involved in the justice system already, so I can hit the ground running.”
Thomas, a seasoned prosecutor with 24 years of experience in Jefferson County, also served as the first assistant district attorney under McAfee for four years. He opened his own office as a defense attorney, The Law Office of Perry Thomas, nearly five years ago.
“I’m really excited to get started,” he said of his new job. “I look forward to working for the people of this district.”
Thomas plans to enhance coordination between law enforcement agencies across county lines, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts to address issues like drug-related crimes.
“The sheriffs and law enforcement agencies here already have a great working relationship, and I’ll work to coordinate efforts across all four counties to tackle key issues,” he said.
Thomas secured his new office after winning the Republican primary in March 2024 against opponent Marie Primm. He ran unopposed in the Nov. 5 general election.
Tim McLean
Llano County Precinct 3 Constable
Outgoing: Bill Edwards
Tim McLean was sworn in as Precinct 3 constable on Wednesday morning at the Llano County Courthouse. McLean replaced Bill Edwards, who did not run for re-election after 22 years on the job.
McLean is familiar with the county and his new precinct, having served as a Llano County sheriff’s deputy for the last 14 years, mainly in the Kingsland and Buchanan Dam areas.
He defeated write-in candidate William Koch in the Nov. 5 general election.
Michael Scoggins
Llano County Precinct 4 Constable
Outgoing: Joe “Buck” Simpson Jr.
Michael Scoggins was sworn in as the Precinct 4 constable on Wednesday morning at the Llano County Courthouse.
He replaces Joe Buck Simpson Jr., who did not run re-election after serving Llano County for 40 years.
Scoggins ran unopposed in the Republican primary in March 2024 and the Nov. 5 general election.
RETURNING OFFICIALS: 2025-28
33rd District Judge J. Allan Garrett
Llano County Attorney Dwain Rogers
Llano County Clerk Cecilia McClintock
Llano County Tax Assessor-Collector Kris Fogelberg
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