LOCAL

Williamson County Commissioner Cook seeks second term against Republican challenger Gonzales

Claire Osborn
cosborn@statesman.com
Williamson County Courthouse

Williamson County Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook is running for her second term against Nikki Gonzales, a Republican who is the director of government relations for Texas State Technical College.

Precinct 1 includes portions of Round Rock and Austin. Election Day is Nov. 3, with early voting running from Oct. 13-30.

County commissioners serve four-year terms. When she won office in 2016, Cook was the first Democrat elected to the Commissioner’s Court since the mid-1990s.

Cook, 69, says her goals if re-elected include keeping county tax rates flat or lowered, with an emphasis on efficiency improvements, and closing the gap on the Brushy Creek Regional Trail between Round Rock and the Fern Bluff municipal utility district. She said she also wants to identify and implement improvements in mental health care in the county.

Gonzales, 46, who has been a member of the Round Rock school board since 2014, said she wants to make Williamson County “a great place to live and work.”

“As an elected official, I would stay well educated on emergency management and assist in any way possible,” she said. “Too many elected officials were unsure of next steps and best practices during the pandemic.”

She said her priorities include keeping mobility and infrastructure “as a top need of this county.” They also include “bridging gaps with other county agencies to build trust and mend relationships to continue public safety for our residents of Williamson County and addressing behavioral and mental health needs within Williamson County,” Gonzales said.

The challenges facing the county, Gonzales said, are that more and more people are moving in. “It is paramount we continue to be in front of growth,” she said.

Cook said the challenges the county faces include building new roads and improving roads before subdivisions are built while being able to afford right-of-way.

Other challenges, Cook said, include continuing to provide the current level of services without raising taxes until more commercial development arrives to relieve the tax burden on homeowners.

Cook said she is a better candidate than her opponent because of her experience as commissioner, her proven ability to work well with others, her high energy and commitment to service for all county residents and her “strong sense of humor.”

Her accomplishments while in office include working “to extract the county from involvement with CoreCivic at the T. Don Hutto Detention Center,” she said. The center house immigrant women seeking asylum.

Cook said she published information for the public about the city of Georgetown’s request to run a proposed wastewater pipeline through the county’s Berry Spring Park and Preserve, The commissioners voted unanimously against the request. The commissioner said she also produces a monthly newsletter about what’s going on across the county especially in her precinct.

Gonzalez said she is the better candidate because she has served on the Round Rock school board for six years and lived in Precinct 1 for 15 years. She also said she has leadership abilities, an ability to work with others and worked for more than a decade at the Texas Legislature, including as a chief of staff.

“I have the insight into many different policy matters,” she said.

Terry Cook

Education: Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from East Carolina University, master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University

Community Involvement: Represents commissioners at Williamson County Recovery Oriented System of Care, Lifesteps Council on Alcohol & Drugs, Agrilife Advisory Committee, Williamson County & Cities Health District Leadership Advisory Team and Regional Affordability Committee

Nikki Gonzales

Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Texas State University

Community involvement: Vice president of Williamson County Republican Leaders, volunteer for Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Crime Victim Services, Round Rock school board member, volunteer for Senior Access which provides transportation for seniors

Terry Cook is running for her second term as Williamson County Commissioner