Joel Martin is a business owner, builder, and public safety professional with direct experience managing operations where mistakes have real consequences.
His approach to county leadership is simple and disciplined. Do the work right the first time. When something fails, document it, fix it, and improve the process.
Joel brings a clear understanding of what the County Judge can and cannot do under Texas law. He emphasizes coordination rather than control, especially in public safety. Law enforcement leads law enforcement. The County Judge ensures funding, communication, readiness, and accountability.
His platform focuses on transparent systems, open access to decision making, disciplined budgeting, emergency readiness, and infrastructure that keeps pace with growth without shifting the burden onto residents.
Joel is not a career politician. He brings an operator mindset focused on execution, measurement, and results.
Michelle Gutierrez Cohen currently serves as Hays County Commissioner for Precinct 2. She brings experience working within county government and familiarity with the Commissioners Court process.
Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, relationship building, and long range planning. She highlights community engagement, infrastructure planning, and coordination with regional partners.
Cohen positions herself as a unifying figure and focuses on building consensus among stakeholders. Her background includes academic training in business and organizational leadership and long standing ties to Hays County.
Her approach centers on planning and collaboration as tools for managing growth.
Ruben Becerra is the incumbent Hays County Judge and has served in the role since 2019.
During his tenure, he has led the creation of multiple commissions and task forces addressing criminal justice, mental health, elections, and public health. He has overseen the county budget and served as Director of Emergency Management by statute.
Becerra emphasizes institutional governance, policy initiatives, and formal structures. His leadership style relies heavily on advisory bodies and centralized decision making within the Judge’s office.
As the incumbent, his record is closely tied to current conditions in the county, including infrastructure challenges, road funding outcomes, and public trust in county leadership.
Lets put them next to eachother
| Area | Joel Martin | Michelle Gutierrez Cohen | Ruben Becerra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Role | Business owner and public safety professional | County Commissioner Precinct 2 | Incumbent County Judge |
| Leadership Style | Operational and execution focused | Collaborative and planning focused | Institutional and policy driven |
| Public Safety | Direct professional experience and coordination focus. Highly decorated in over 20 years of service. | Policy support and funding oversight | Statutory authority and task force model |
| Infrastructure | Growth pays for growth. Delivery and accountability | Long range planning and coordination | Mixed outcomes during rapid growth |
| Transparency | Systems driven access and documentation | Constituent engagement | Formal processes and rebuttal driven |
| Emergency Readiness | Trained first responder with 17 years of real world disaster response experience. Field tested leadership with national and international emergency response networks. | Planning and resource alignment | Advisory driven response |
| Strengths | Real world execution. Clear role understanding | County experience and community roots | Experience and continuity |
| Key Risks | New to elected office | Process scrutiny and optics | Voter fatigue and unresolved outcomes |