Another Candidate Enters the Republican Primary for Tom Green County Judge

SAN ANGELO, TX – Another candidate has announced his bid for Tom Green County Judge in the 2022 Republican Primary.

According to a press release from the Usery campaign, on Nov. 12, Tommy J. Usery announced Friday that he will be running for Tom Green County Judge as a Republican candidate.

"I am today officially announcing the start of my campaign and candidacy for the position of Tom Green County Judge. It is fitting on this day after Veteran’s Day to announce my commitment to once again be called to service of our community," stated Usery in the press release. "I’ve carried a deep sense of commitment to public service over my life, having served on the San Angelo Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol as a Trooper and for the last 26 years as an attorney working alongside of clients facing serious legal issues. I look forward to garnering support from the voters of Tom Green County in winning this very important county position."

Usery says he grew up in San Angelo but moved away in 1980s. He returned to the county in 2019.

"I am running for the Tom Green County Judge position because our community faces many challenges and amongst those challenges are citizen access to our court system, which now has a tremendous back log of criminal and civil cases due to the pandemic," stated Usery. "We are, as a community, facing increased crime, homelessness, and individual mental health crisis. The county jail and our mental health care facilities are both operating at capacity or over capacity. Future strategic planning, with the courts, law enforcement and our mental health care partners, is required to meet the needs of these burgeoning challenges while working within the county budget."

Usery said other issues facing the county include the criminal justice system and the tax rate. 

"For the Fiscal Year 2022, the County Commissioners lowered the county property tax rate from $.54980 to $.54880 per $100.00 valuation," stated Usery. "Given the growth of population, new construction and rising property values, which generate more revenue, further property tax rate reductions are in order. I look forward to working within the Commissioner’s Court to achieve lower property taxes for the citizens of Tom Green County."

Usery has selected his wife to be the treasure of his campaign, a very common tactic used in local politics.

"My wife, Patricia, and I were raised in San Angelo where we attended high school. We have two adult children and two grandsons. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Angelo State University and Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law – Houston. Having served in both the San Angelo Police Department and in the Texas Department of Public Safety – Highway Patrol provides a perspective of law enforcement and the courts," stated the release. "I have practiced law for the past 26 years all across the State of Texas, having tried more than 100 civil cases to jury verdict and hundreds of administrative law cases before State Administrative law jurisdictions. I believe these experiences provide a perspective involving government, the courts and citizens in complex administrative and legal issues."

Currently there are two other candidates who have announced their bids for Tom Green County Judge; Joe Hyde and Todd Kolls. All three candidates are running in the Republican primary.  No candidate has announced for the position as a Democrat.  

The Republican Primary election is set for Mar. 1, 2022.  The general election is the first Tuesday in Nov. 2022. n