Llano County’s Republican primary election on Tuesday, March 3, determined a new county judge and Precinct 3 justice of the peace. It also determined a party nominee to take on a Democratic challenger in the Precinct 4 commissioner race come November.
Rob Hardy was voted as the Republican nominee for Llano County judge and Kerri Sawyer Lafoon was chosen as the nominee for Precinct 3 justice of the peace. Both of these nominees will almost certainly take office come 2027 due to the lack of any Democratic challengers.
Jerry Don Moss received the nomination for Precinct 4 commissioner and will go on to the Nov. 3 General Election to face Democratic nominee Leila Green Little, who ran uncontested in her party’s primary.
The unofficial results of the primaries were released late on Tuesday night. These results will likely be finalized and certified at the next meeting of the Llano County Commissioners Court on March 9.
For district, state, and federal results in the Texas primary elections, visit this link: 2026 Texas primary results
Two newcomers vied for the office of Llano County judge, with current judge Ron Cunningham choosing to not run for reelection. Rob Hardy faced off against Richard Kepp in the Republican primary and took home the win on Tuesday night.
Hardy secured a solid victory, leading Kepp by 1,388 votes, or 26.2 percentage points.
Hardy is the mayor of Sunrise Beach Village and a member of the Llano Hospital Regional Board of Directors.
He will likely take office early and be sworn in on March 9 at the regular meeting of the Llano County Commissioners Court. Judge Cunningham announced on Jan. 27 that he intended to step down after the primary to take a new position with the Texas Association of Counties and that he would encourage the court to appoint the winner of the election to fill his seat. Normally, Hardy would not have been sworn in until January 2027, when Cunningham’s term was scheduled to end.
“Thank you (to the people of Llano County) and I promise that I will do the very best that I can do,” Hardy told DailyTrib. “We live in a fantastically beautiful and wonderful place and I want to work to keep it that way.”
The Llano County judge serves as the chair of the Llano County Commissioners Court and as the chief budget officer for the county. They are one of five voting members of the Commissioners Court that decide on county policies, determine the county’s budget, and represent the county at the local, state, and federal levels.
The Llano County judge serves a four-year term and, as of 2025, earns an annual salary of $80,009. There are no term limits for serving as county judge.
Leila Green Little: 165 votes, 100 percent (uncontested)
Incumbent Precinct 4 commissioner Jerry Don Moss soundly defeated Robert Little for the Republican nomination, winning by a wide margin of 1,344 votes, or 81.56 percentage points.
“It’s good to know that people support what I do,” Moss told DailyTrib. “We’re just going to continue working as usual and we’ll cross that bridge (of the Nov. 3 General Election) when we get there.”
Moss, who has served since 2007, will now go on to face Leila Green Little in November.
Robert and Leila Little are husband and wife, and they filed for the same seat in different political parties. According to the Littles, they both filed on platforms of change and to specifically challenge Moss’ long time leadership.
The Littles are connected to Moss through the Llano County Library System lawsuit, which saw Leila as a leading plaintiff in a First Amendment lawsuit against the county and some of its leadership, including Moss as a named defendant.
“I am not pleased with how the county has addressed the library system for the last four years,” Leila Little told DailyTrib after she filed for the Precinct 4 commissioner seat. “This is a principled stance. I have learned a great deal about what the county government does and does not do. Most importantly, I am interested and eager to learn.”
According to Moss, he was well aware of the Littles’ intentions, but he sees his sound victory in the Republican primary as a sign that his constituents are on his side.
“It’s nice to know that I’m appreciated and that I have support,” he said.
Moss is in the midst of his fifth four-year term in office.
The Llano County Precinct 4 commissioner is one of five voting members of the Llano County Commissioners Court. The court is the governing body of the county and responsible for determining county policy; setting the budget; and representing the county at the local, state, and federal levels. The Precinct 4 commissioner represents one of the four precincts in the county and is also responsible for maintaining the roads, bridges, and county-owned infrastructure within that precinct that is outside of city limits. Precinct 4 includes the city of Llano and much of western Llano County.
Llano County commissioners serve four-year terms and, as of 2025, earn an annual salary of $73,786. There are no term limits for serving as a county commissioner.
Laffoon won a close race against Harvey, taking just 25 more votes, or 4.08 percentage points.
Both candidates were newcomers, as incumbent Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Deb Edwards chose to not run for reelection.
With no Democratic challenger, Laffoon will take office come 2027 unless she chooses to withdraw her candidacy.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the residents of Precinct 3 for electing me to serve as your next justice of the peace,”Laffoon wrote to DailyTrib following her victory. “I am overwhelmed by the support, encouragement, conversations at door step visits and community events. I am incredibly grateful to my family, friends, and everyone who took the time to vote and engage in this election. I appreciate all of the businesses and residents that supported me by posting my election sign on their property. For those who did not vote for me, I will work just as hard to earn your confidence. I am committed to treating everyone who walks through our doors with fairness and respect.”
Uncontested races
The following local races only had one Republican applicant and had no Democratic challengers, meaning they will almost certainly take office in 2027.
District Judge, 424th Judicial District- Evan Clay Stubbs
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Key updates on flood recovery efforts and information on an upcoming $135 million bond election were recently discussed by Burnet Mayor Gary Wideman and Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Peña at a state of the community luncheon on Wednesday, March 4 at the Burnet Community Center.
The luncheon was designed to give community members a chance to hear important news concerning the city while enjoying a free meal and goodies from local businesses.
Dr. Peña highlighted some of BCISD’s best achievements as of late, including sporting successes and competitive salary packages, before diving into the district’s proposed $135 million bond package.
The superintendent shared the district’s reasoning behind the price tag and what the bond would address, explaining that the funds would be used for a major rebuild of Burnet Middle School and on other campus and district-wide needs.
Burnet Mayor Gary Wideman addressing flood recovery efforts in the city at the state of the community luncheon. Staff photo by Caden Senn
“We had (a committee) come together to ask the question ‘What can we do today that will help impact students in a good way in five years, 10 years, and even 20 years,” Dr. Peña said. “This bond is to address aging facilities, safety, security, and modernize some of our learning spaces.“
Dr. Peña hit home that under the current proposed bond structure, there would not be an increase to the property tax rate. BCISD residents will vote on the bond package in the upcoming May 2 election.
On the city side, Mayor Wideman spoke about progressing flood recovery efforts at Burnet’s parks and other infrastructure repairs. He admitted there was still glaring park, bridge, and electrical work to be done, and shared that the city was working on a way to purchase certain properties that were destroyed in the flooding.
“The Natural Resource Conservation Service has a program, and we still have to determine how we’re going to administer this, that they will pay up to 75 percent towards buying these folks’ properties,” Mayor Wideman said. “The city would be responsible for that remaining 25 percent.”
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After decades of operation in Llano County, Fuzzy’s Corner has permanently closed. The legendary watering hole, at the corner of TX 29 and RR 1431 in Buchanan Dam, had its last day of business on Friday, Feb. 27.
The iconic Fuzzy’s Corner building at the intersection of TX 29 and RR 1431 in Buchanan Dam. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
According to bar manager Amanda Barnett, 81-year-old Fuzzy’s operator Rayford Burnham chose not to renew his lease on the building due to health reasons at the request of his family. The property’s owner then reportedly sold the lot, including the building, after Burnham’s decision.
“Every one of my customers, they don’t know what they meant to me,” Barnett told DailyTrib. “I’ll truly miss them all. We had a loyal, dedicated crowd and I want to thank everyone who has supported us.”
The exact future of the lot and the old Fuzzy’s building is still unknown, but Barnett said that the bar will almost certainly not be reopened based on her understanding of the new ownership.
A nostalgic, inside look at Fuzzy’s Corner. Courtesy photo
Fuzzy’s had been at its final location since the early 70s. Highland Lakes area locals often refer to the TX 29/RR 1431 intersection as “Fuzzy’s Corner,” thanks to the bar. The Fuzzy’s Corner name stretches further back though, to when the bar was first opened in the early 50s. Its original location was in the corner of the Pinkie’s Grocery building that was at the TX 16/TX 29 intersection in Llano. The name “Fuzzy” refers to the original owner, John Thomas “Fuzzy” Walker.
“The first beer I ever drank in a bar anywhere was at Fuzzy’s Corner,” Barnett said.
The bar manager said that the final day of business for Fuzzy’s was an all-night party, ending at around 2 a.m. when every ounce of beer in the house was gone.
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The Pedernales Electric Cooperative recently changed its base power rates and time-of-use rates, amongst other alterations, to reflect increasing market prices. Those changes took effect on March 1.
The base power rate increase, which was said to affect the bulk of PEC’s members, raised rates from $0.0619 to $0.0659 per kilowatt-hour. The PEC webpage addressing the changes gave customers a rough estimate of the effects of the increase on their monthly bill.
“A residential member using 1,250 kWh per month will see an approximate increase of 3.2 percent on their electric bill, which is equivalent to $5 more per month,” the webpage reads.
The PEC also increased time-of-use rates, which are based on seasonal and hourly peaks, decreased sustainable power credits, implemented time-of-use rate credits, and implemented peak capacity charges for large-power members.
The PEC webpage offered an explanation of the rate changes, citing current market prices as a major factor.
“We must regularly review and adjust (rates) to recover the cost of providing safe and reliable power to all our members,” the page reads. “These changes reflect the increasing price of power in the (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) market.”
A list and detailed explanations of these changes can be found on the PEC website. Call 888-554-4732 for more information.
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Sleep in Heavenly Peace- Texas Hill Country Chapter, is teaming up with the Rotary Club of Burnet for the third annual Donald Fawcett Memorial Bed Build from 9 a.m.-noon on March 28.
The build will take place at Wallace Riddell Park in Burnet, located at the southeast corner of Texas 29 and S. Rhomberg Street. The beds, either a bunk or twin complete with a mattress, sheets, blanket, and pillow, will be donated to local children in the Burnet, Llano, and Blanco County areas.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a non-profit organization that builds and delivers beds to children in need through the work of volunteers and donors. Since its establishment in 2022, the Hill Country chapter has built over 300 beds in tandem with 200 volunteers.
“When we deliver a bed to a child who has been sleeping on the floor, we’re not just providing furniture – we’re delivering hope, dignity, and the message that their community cares about them,” Chapter Co-President Leo Boutte said in a media release.
All supplies, safety equipment, and tools will be provided, as well as refreshments throughout. For more information, visit the Sleep in Heavenly Peace website or email Volunteer Coordinator Lorinda Peters at lorinda.peters@shpbeds.org.
Who was Donald Fawcett?
Donald Fawcett was a longtime resident of and active community member in Burnet known for his generosity. He delivered milk to Camp Longhorn for 58 years, drove after-school buses, cooked for school events, and bought class rings for students in need.
In 2025 the Burnet County Commissioners Court declared March 29 as the Donald Fawcett Day of Service to continue his legacy.
He was also credited with coining the famous phrase “It’s Burnet, durnet; can’t’cha learn it.”
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Residents of Horseshoe Bay continue to experience mail delivery problems following the arrest of a local postal carrier, and city officials say meaningful change will likely require action from the federal government.
The city’s post office serves as a substation of the Marble Falls Post Office, a branch of the U.S. Postal Service, which is a federal agency. As a result, city and state officials have no direct authority over its operations.
City Manager Jeff Koska told DailyTrib that concerns over mail reliability have persisted for years. Those concerns have intensified following the recent arrest of the local postal carrier, an independent contractor, who was recently charged with multiple felonies related to mail theft.
“Postal service reliability is one of the most consistent concerns I hear from our residents, and I want the community to know that this issue has not been ignored at the City level,” Koska told DailyTrib. “Over the years, past mayors have made repeated outreach efforts to the U.S. postmasters, the Marble Falls postmaster, and U.S. postal service regional Managers in San Antonio seeking resolution – with unfortunately limited results.”
City officials say the most effective step residents can take is to contact their U.S. senators and congressional representatives to file formal complaints detailing specific service issues. Congressional offices have oversight of federal agencies, and resident outreach can carry weight.
Residents may also voice concerns directly to the Marble Falls postmaster, though past efforts have not produced consistent improvements. One potential long-term solution is advocating for a dedicated Horseshoe Bay postmaster to provide greater local accountability.
“I encourage anyone experiencing ongoing postal issues to make their voice heard with their U.S. senators and congressional representative. That is where the real leverage lies,” Koska said.
Horseshoe Bay residents are represented in Congress by either District 31 rep. John Carter in Burnet County or District 11 rep. August Pfluger in Llano County. Residents can contact Carter’s office by filling out the online form on his website or by calling his district offices at 512‑591‑9061 or 254‑933‑1392. Residents can contact Pfluger’s office by email here or by phone at 325-247-2826.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas can be reached online or by phone at 202-224‑5922, and Senator John Cornyn can be reached online or at 202-224‑2934.
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Fresh Fuel Nutrition is expanding with a second Marble Falls location at 908 Third St., Suite A, with a grand opening set for 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.
The business, which has operated inside The Athletic Club since August 2023 at 2312 N. U.S. 281, is currently holding a soft opening at the new downtown space for training purposes. The first 30 customers at the grand opening will receive goodie bags.
“I’ve always wanted to grow and expand Fresh Fuel in order to reach more people. A lot of people don’t know Fresh Fuel exists because it is hidden in the club or they don’t know it’s open to the public, not members only. When I got the opportunity to open a new store downtown, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” owner Jesse Cuplin told DailyTrib.
Fresh Fuel will continue operating inside The Athletic Club from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
The new downtown location will be open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. The menu includes smoothies, smoothie bowls, protein shakes, coffee and snacks, with indoor dining available and a patio deck planned for the near future.
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The Burnet City Council recently approved amendments to the city’s multi-family residential district “R-3” regulations at a Feb. 24 council meeting in an effort to manage and incentivize future housing developments.
The changes, mostly tightening regulations on setback distances, lot sizes, height limits, and building materials, will give the city more negotiating powers with developers on certain standards of multi-family dwellings to increase their curb appeal and longevity.
City Planning Manager Leslie Kimbler pointed out the success of these sorts of changes in other municipalities in the area.
“(These regulations) are pushing developers (in other cities) to come to the city and request a planned unit development, which then gives the city the ability to negotiate some of the development standards with that developer,” Kimbler said at the meeting.
Additional changes requiring parking spaces, downward-facing lighting, masonry fencing, and amenities were made to provide residents of such dwellings with more benefits.
Kimbler again spoke on the beneficial effects of such changes in other cities, specifically in requiring developers to add amenities.
“Right now, we don’t require any amenities when we build an apartment complex,” Kimbler said. “What we’re seeing in a lot of municipalities surrounding us, they’re requiring (developers) to add amenities whenever they build a certain number of units.”
Side yard setbacks increased from 10 feet to 15 feet
Street side yard setbacks increased from 15 feet to 25 feet
Minimum lot square footage area increased from 4,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet
Maximum height limit increased from 35 feet to a variable of 35-55 feet
Parking, amenities, fencing, and lighting
Parking increased from two spaces per two-bedroom unit plus one space per two additional bedrooms, to two spaces per one-bedroom unit and three spaces per two or three-bedroom unit
Added amenity requirements based on total units, ranging from zero to four amenities per project
Added impervious cover requirements for a masonry fence made of brick, stone, or concrete, joined with mortar, and being six feet in height, to be constructed on all sides of the property
Requires all exterior lighting to be shielded or downward facing to the greatest extent possible to reduce light pollution
Masonry and density
Each multi-family complex shall contain a minimum of five single-family dwelling units
Density shall not exceed eight units per acre, unless:
The exterior surface area of the building is comprised of 100 percent masonry, the density may be increased to up to 25 units per acre
The exterior surface area of the building is comprised of at least 85 percent masonry for first-story walls and 50 percent masonry for each additional story, the density may be increased to up to 18 units per acre
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Bear King Brewing Co., at 207 Ave. G, is closing its downtown Marble Falls location effective immediately, citing a “downturn in the economy, rising costs and ongoing financial challenges,” in a Tuesday, March 3, media release.
“Closing Bear King is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. This place was never just beer – it was a community that welcomed us from day one. We’re incredibly grateful, and we hope everyone will come raise one last glass with us on Saturday,” JD Guidry, brewmaster and owner of Bear King, said in the release.
The brewery and restaurant will reopen for one final day on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., giving the community an opportunity to celebrate staff and longtime customers, with all food proceeds donated directly to staff members. The farewell event will feature a discounted food menu while supplies last, including free chips and queso, and free chicken strips for kids. There will also be everything-must-go discounts on remaining items. Drinks will be available throughout the day.
Founded by four siblings and their families, the 5,500-square-foot taproom and restaurant opened in February 2019. The space features indoor seating, an open-air beer garden, patio games and live music, and has served as a gathering place in downtown Marble Falls.
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