Heather Jefts, a Cedar Park City Council member first elected in 2017, is running for Williamson County judge with a platform focused on property tax relief, fiscal responsibility, public safety, infrastructure improvements and government accountability.

Jefts and her family moved to Cedar Park in 2005, where she and her husband raised their two sons. A small business owner, community leader and nonprofit volunteer, she has emphasized applying her municipal government experience to the challenges facing a growing Williamson County.

Her campaign platform highlights affordability, transportation, water access, conservation, economic development, parks and trails, and public safety. In responses to Style Magazine's questions, Jefts outlined how she would approach the county's financial obligations, coordinate regional infrastructure projects and make county government more accessible to residents.

Property Tax Relief and Fiscal Responsibility

Property taxes and the cost of housing are central to Jefts' campaign. She said she would use the administrative, budgetary and policymaking authority of the Williamson County Commissioners Court to expand housing options and improve affordability across the county.

Jefts said housing costs have made homeownership unattainable for many young people. She believes increasing housing options at different price points could help stabilize the market and provide more opportunities for residents.

She also identified county debt as a significant concern, stating that Williamson County has the highest debt per person of any county in Texas. Jefts said she would work with Commissioners Court to begin paying down debt ahead of schedule.

Her approach would focus on reducing debt service obligations to create additional flexibility in the county budget. She said this could allow the county to lower its tax rate while saving money on interest and maintaining funding for essential services.

Jefts said a consistent program of early debt repayment would provide financial flexibility without requiring cuts to vital services. She also outlined a way for residents to measure progress through annual budget reports showing how much debt the county has paid down and how much has been saved.

Her experience in Cedar Park is a central part of her argument for this approach. According to her campaign website, Jefts helped decrease the city's tax rate annually while paying off more than $21 million in city debt ahead of schedule. Her campaign also credits her with helping secure a AAA bond rating and saving taxpayers more than $7 million in interest.

Jefts also points to Cedar Park's first-ever Homestead Exemption as part of her record on property tax relief.

At the county level, she said her objective would be to balance tax relief with the resources needed to support public safety, roads and other essential services.

Growth, Traffic and Regional Infrastructure

As Williamson County continues to grow, Jefts said infrastructure planning must keep pace with the needs of residents and businesses.

She identified three areas for attention: expanding and integrating water and wastewater systems, closing broadband access gaps, and investing in transit that moves people and goods safely and efficiently.

Jefts said her experience working on regional issues involving water, air quality, transit and transportation would help her pursue solutions that extend beyond individual city boundaries.

Water availability is a particular concern in her infrastructure plans. Jefts pointed to the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority and Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System as examples of regional cooperation involving Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock, with Austin participating in the wastewater component.

She said regional systems can reduce costs for participating communities and help address recurring drought concerns. Rather than requiring every city and municipal utility district to independently manage water sourcing, treatment, wastewater treatment, pipelines and delivery, Jefts advocated for a countywide water project.

According to Jefts, such a project could help smaller communities, distribute costs more fairly, strengthen drought resilience and establish consistent conservation and water-quality standards throughout the county.

She also raised concerns about the financial pressures communities face when developing water infrastructure independently. In her view, regional coordination could reduce competition over resources and help protect communities from outside entities seeking to control water supplies.

Transportation and congestion are also priorities. Jefts said she wants to expand coordinated transit systems throughout Williamson County, pointing to regional planning efforts that include suburban transit and infrastructure improvements.

She cited the regional Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, which includes infrastructure projects intended to address regional needs while reducing environmental impacts. Jefts said she has laid the groundwork for expanding coordinated transit systems across the county.

Her experience in Cedar Park also includes work on a Mobility Master Plan and support for technology-based traffic signals designed to improve traffic flow and safety. She said these types of initiatives could benefit communities throughout Williamson County.

Jefts' broader transportation goals include addressing congestion, improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and reducing air pollution associated with increasingly congested roads.

Leadership, Public Safety and Countywide Representation

Jefts said her experience on Cedar Park City Council has prepared her to work with elected officials who have different perspectives and priorities.

She said much of her time on council involved working with Democratic minorities or councils with closely divided membership. Despite those differences, she said council members were able to work together on initiatives for the city.

If elected county judge, Jefts said she would seek to establish a collaborative working environment on Commissioners Court while maintaining a focus on fiscal responsibility, public safety and sustainable growth.

Her campaign points to several Cedar Park initiatives as examples of her approach to local government. These include investments in fire and police facilities, construction of Fire Station No. 5, funding for a Public Safety Training Facility, and the creation of a joint Mental Health Task Force involving Cedar Park police, the Williamson County Sheriff's Department and Bluebonnet Mental Health Services.

She also cites voter-approved drainage improvements, reclaimed water initiatives, expanded parks and trails, and the development of Lakeline Park, a 200-acre park in Cedar Park.

Jefts serves on the Capital Area Council of Governments, where her work includes emergency response and disaster preparedness. She is also First Vice Chair of the Clean Air Coalition, which works on regional air quality and public health issues.

She said public safety and community well-being would remain central to her countywide agenda, alongside the infrastructure and financial decisions needed to support continued growth.

Transparency, Ethics and Public Participation

Increasing public access to county government is another component of Jefts' platform.

She said she would seek changes to Commissioners Court meetings to allow residents to provide comments both online and in person during agenda items. She also proposed holding one evening meeting each month to make participation easier for residents whose work schedules prevent them from attending during regular business hours.

Additional proposals include expanding constituent services, increasing opportunities for community input and pursuing ethics reforms intended to keep residents at the center of county decisions.

Jefts' campaign website emphasizes accessible representation and public engagement. It describes her experience holding hundreds of constituent office hours and increasing public outreach around major Cedar Park projects.

Her municipal record also includes financial disclosure requirements for city council members and a more stringent revolving-door policy for council members and staff, according to her campaign website.

Jefts said she would bring the same emphasis on transparency and ethical leadership to county government, with residents given more opportunities to understand county decisions and participate in the process.

Background and Campaign Priorities

Jefts holds a degree in Sustainability Studies and Economics from The University of Texas at Austin. Before and during her public service, she worked as a small business owner and volunteered with community and nonprofit organizations.

She served six years on the board of the Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, including two terms as president during its capital campaign and construction of a new facility. Her community involvement has also included literacy initiatives, diaper ministry and other volunteer activities, according to her campaign website.

Her campaign brings together three central commitments: economic responsibility and tax relief, public safety and community well-being, and sustainable growth and connectivity.

As county judge, Jefts said she would seek to reduce debt, improve infrastructure coordination, expand opportunities for residents to participate in government and maintain the services families rely on as Williamson County grows.

More information about her background and campaign platform is available at jeftsforjudge.com.