The Seguin Daily News continues to highlight the local candidates appearing on the March 5, 2024 Primary Election Ballot. Each candidate was asked to respond to the following three questions. Early voting began on Tuesday, Feb. 20 and runs through Friday, March 1. Today’s featured contest includes three of the five candidates vying for the Republican nomination for Guadalupe County Commissioner Pct. 1. The other two candidates, James Ransdell and Clint Taft appeared in the Thursday, Feb.22 Seguin Daily News. All five candidates look to replace longtime Commissioner Greg Seidenberger who has chosen to retire. The winner of this GOP nomination will earn the right to face the Democratic nominee, Nahomie Alanis; and the Libertarian nominee, Nolan Schmidt, who are both running unopposed for the nominations of their respective parties.
Candidate Name:
Dustin Engelke
Guadalupe County Commissioner Precinct 1
Tell us why you’re running.
The future of Guadalupe County matters which is why I am running for Guadalupe County Commissioner Precinct 1. My generation has an obligation to properly manage and prepare our county for future generations which is why I am stepping up to the plate and running for commissioner. I decided to run for county commissioner over two years ago. This decision was not made lightly and was not made because I heard there was an open seat. I am a lifetime resident of Guadalupe County. My wife and I are raising our two children in Guadalupe County. I am a husband, father, Christian, landowner, farmer, and rancher. I would like to share my vision for the future of Precinct 1 – a vision centered around responsible economic growth, preparation for generations to come, and unwavering support for our law enforcement and first responders. This campaign is not just about me; it’s about us – a community that has weathered storms and celebrated triumphs together.
As your commissioner, I pledge to be a tireless advocate and guardian of our rural heritage and a steadfast supporter of those who keep us safe. Another significant fact I’d like my constituents to know is, I am not a politician and do not have a history of running for public office. I am going to tell you exactly what I currently have to offer Guadalupe County and how I am the most highly qualified candidate to be your next commissioner. Let’s build a future our children and grandchildren can be proud of by molding Precinct 1 into a beacon of progress, unity, and prosperity.
What are the biggest challenges facing the winner of this seat, and how are you prepared to address those challenges?
With our rapidly growing community, we are currently facing many challenges. By investing in quality infrastructure, we can create a responsible economic landscape that not only sustains us today but ensures prosperity for generations to come. We must be stewards of the land and resources that have sustained us for so long. Let’s establish sustainable practices, ensuring the growth we experience now doesn’t compromise the quality of life for those who will inherit this beautiful land. Collectively, we can strike a balance that preserves our rural way of life while embracing progress and innovation. It’s unfortunate the county does not have much authority to regulate subdivisions throughout the county.
These developers are depleting our farmlands and if this continues over time, our rural way of life will be diminished. As your county commissioner, I will exhaust every available resource to ensure stricter regulations are placed on developers so we can maintain our rural way of life. In the face of growth, we cannot overlook the importance of public safety and security. Our law enforcement and first responders are the backbone of our community. They tirelessly work to keep us safe, and I am committed to ensuring they have the resources and support they need from modernizing equipment to improving training programs. As your Guadalupe County Commissioner Precinct 1, I pledge to be a tireless advocate for responsible economic growth, a guardian of our rural heritage, and a steadfast supporter of those who keep us safe.
Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the job? In other words, what do you believe sets you apart from your opponents?
Each of the five candidates seeking the Guadalupe County Commissioner Pct. 1 nomination interviewed individually with the Four Rivers Association of Realtors in hopes of earning their endorsement. After a full and thorough vetting and interview process, I am honored to announce the Four Rivers Association of Realtors chose me, Dustin Engelke, to endorse and support as the highest qualified candidate seeking the Guadalupe County Commissioner Pct. 1 nomination. In my current position managing multi-million-dollar accounts, I am tasked with trouble shooting and resolving customer issues, tackling environmental obstacles, and managing internal and external budgets. I provide infrastructure solutions to maximize profits, all while optimizing inefficiencies to establish a healthy bottom line. There is a direct correlation between my current position and the duties of county commissioners. I will utilize these skills to ensure the county is properly managed and taxpayers’ money is allocated efficiently. When elected, I will leave my full-time position to focus solely on commissioning for the county. Being genuinely involved within the community is crucial to building and fostering relationships and understanding the needs of our county. My family and I are involved in a multitude of organizations and clubs within our community. Our values are firmly grounded in the traditions of hard work, resilience, and unity. Our community is not just a collection of homes; it’s a thriving ecosystem of businesses, farms, and families. I have a vision centered around the importance of public safety, responsible economic growth, efficient allocation of taxpayers’ money, building quality infrastructure, construction, and maintenance of county roadways, and supporting law enforcement and first responders. I am eager to place a fresh set of eyes on governing the county. My character, work ethic, relative experience, and community involvement qualifies me as the best candidate. God bless our community.
Candidate Name:
Bryan Underwood
Guadalupe County Commissioner Precinct 1
Tell us why you’re running?
Through my years of living and working in Guadalupe County, I have always stressed “quality of life” to those around me. I am very concerned that our quality of life could slip through our hands if we fail to guide our unprecedented growth. Houses are being built at a remarkable rate with thousands more on the way. Our services are already strained with the current population. Our Sheriff’s Department is understaffed. Our freshwater supply is questionable at best. New developments are causing run-off water to flood surrounding neighbors. We desperately need strong and decisive leadership to direct these challenges facing our Commissioners Court. Guadalupe County is my family’s home, as well as being home to many lifelong friends. I want to do everything I can do to make sure we have the best county possible. Quality growth will ensure our children and grandchildren have a prosperous future.
Quality growth will allow us to have the restaurants and shopping choices that many would like to see.
Out of control and unguided growth will leave us with clusters of subdivisions strewn across our country side. I have an honest and straight forward track record stretching back many years. I have worked with many of you in the past and now ask that you allow me to work for you as County Commissioner in Pct. 1. These are my words, plain and honest, straight from the heart. I ask for your vote so I can go to work for you.
What are the biggest challenges facing the winner of this seat, and how are you prepared to address those challenges?
Our proximity to Comal and Hays counties has traditionally placed us at a disadvantage concerning pay scale for county employees. The pay difference has been partially addressed but we need to be at least at the same level so that we do not lose good talent to our neighbors. This includes our sheriff’s department and emergency management services. We are currently short-staffed by approximately sixty deputies. Not only is this the deputies themselves but also the support system they require.
Unfortunately we will not be able to add all sixty at one time. The influx of new tax money will partially fund this expansion of law enforcement but we will need to comb through the entire county budget for additional savings to provide the remainder.
The sooner we can fund a fully staffed and well equipped sheriff’s department the better we will be in the long run. Without law and order, all other efforts will be meaningless. Our open border situation increases the urgency of this issue. Growth- I am eager to meet with other commissioners and county judges to learn the answers they have found when dealing with growth in their counties. Some counties have found a way to grow responsibly without being completely over run. We need to listen and learn. Our roads and bridges are taking a beating. The publics comfort and safety require us to provide appropriately sized and well-surfaced roads and bridges.
Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the job? In other words, what do you believe sets you apart from your opponents?
It is easy to think of the county as a nameless, faceless entity, but it is not. It is us; you, me, our families, friends and neighbors. It is also our duty and responsibility to maintain and cultivate our communities. I have spent decades doing my part to improve and support Guadalupe County in the private sector. This includes high-quality construction of many commercial projects and homes as well as renovation of historical buildings throughout downtown Seguin. These activities have provided me with skills and knowledge needed on the Commissioners Court. A large portion of the county budget concerns construction and renovation of county buildings, roads and bridges. Commissioners Court also approves or disapproves plats and plans for new subdivisions outside the city limits. Structuring and adhering to budgets is a constant part of my workload. My duties for the last twenty years have closely aligned with the requirements of a County Commissioner. I will work to make Guadalupe County a great place for our families to call home. I have been active in the community for decades. Many of the kids that I once coached in youth sports, helped with their horses or livestock, hauled to contest etc. are now adults with kids of their own. I truly want the best that the future can offer all of us. I have been endorsed for this position by the True Texas Project.
Candidate Name:
Jacqueline “Jackie” Ott
Guadalupe County Commissioner – Precinct 1
Tell us why you’re running?
I love my community. I married into a 6 generation Guadalupe County family who believes in hard work and service. I want to help the County stay conservative and prosperous through strong leadership, so it remains an ideal place for our future generations. I am very much a people person and intend to be a responsive, open line of communication with our citizens to listen to their suggestions and concerns. I am invested in this community, having served as a prosecutor under both the Guadalupe District and County Attorney’s Offices for years, being a graduate of Leadership Seguin, member of the Seguin Chamber of Commerce, and supporter of our youth in agriculture, to name a few.
I believe in strong leadership with a willingness to plan carefully, spend time appropriately, communicate openly, listen effectively, and maintain awareness of the citizens’ concerns. Our law enforcement, fire departments, volunteer fire departments, and emergency medical services must be well trained, staffed, resourced, and prepared in addition to having the ability to reach the citizens quickly. Having the most updated, available technology, in addition to quality roads and infrastructure, is key to their access and operations.
What are the biggest challenges facing the winner of this seat, and how are you prepared to address those challenges?
Lower spending on items that are not high priority to taxpayers while allocating sufficient resources to maximize community safety and prosperity. As a strong fiscal conservative, my approach is financial responsibility regarding taxpayer dollars while prioritizing the SAFETY of our community, EDUCATION for our children, and QUALITY OF ROADS, especially now with the staggering growth we are experiencing. We must foster responsible growth with sound infrastructure, preserve our long-standing cultural values and respect landowner rights. My prosecutorial background brings profound awareness of the resources law enforcement needs to keep our neighborhoods safe for our children and future generations. In the same spirit, education is the backbone of any thriving community. I am committed to working closely with our educators and parents to ensure our schools have the resources they need, and our children have the education they deserve. Cooperation with our other governmental organizations, school districts, economic development committees, and the citizens themselves will ensure we are making the best use of our resources. Guadalupe County is growing at an exorbitant rate which requires a forward thinking, smart business approach to manage the influx of population. As commissioners, we can negotiate terms of agreements with developers in order to maximize quality of life for all constituents. A crucial part of this is preparing for our future. The importance of farming and ranching in our society cannot be overstated and is the foundation for this community’s culture. Many citizens are raising concerns about having enough food and water supply for all of the people already here, much less those who may be coming in the future. A thriving community has to have enough for the people living there just like a thriving community must have good quality education. Community engagement, effective budgeting, and proactive measures are crucial.
Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the job? In other words, what do you believe sets you apart from your opponents.
My experience and education. I am the only candidate who is uniquely experienced in the multiple areas that encompass the commissioner role. I served for years as a criminal and civil attorney for the county and am familiar with our county departments already. I know what we can do to help them stay successful and have great working relationships with them. I am also the only candidate who has served in a law enforcement capacity, worked closely with Child Protective Services (CPS) abuse prevention and response, and truly understands the resources necessary to ensure they can do their job to keep us safe. I am currently a real estate, property, and business attorney dealing with cases about construction, building, purchase, and sales, including contracts and compliance. I have a business degree from Texas A&M University, have experience making decisions in a court room setting, and our family business does road work construction. I prioritize public safety, fiscal responsibility, education, and quality roads for our citizens, and have the skill set to bring about the success of these priorities for the benefit of Guadalupe County’s citizens and future generations.
I am also set apart because I do not have a family member that is already a commissioner in Guadalupe County. Commissioners Court decisions are made by majority vote of the 5 members, therefore only 3 votes are needed for everything. This statement is not a personal criticism whatsoever of Drew Engelke, who is the Precinct 2 County Commissioner, nor of Dustin Engelke, who is a candidate for Precinct 1 County Commissioner. During his radio interview, Dustin stated he and Drew are family. Members of the community have expressed concern with a significant portion of the court (2 of the 3 necessary deciding votes) in the hands of any individual family.