This article is intended to explain the Kerr County Republican Party Local Candidate Primary Voter Guide. Need a voter guide? Pick one up at the KCRP Headquarters at 1226 Bandera Highway, Kerrville, Texas.
The March 3, 2026 Republican Primary is approaching, and voters will be faced with a long ballot that includes federal, state, and county offices. To help voters navigate both the ballot order and the local candidate evaluations, this article explains what appears on the ballot, how candidates were reviewed, and how to interpret the rankings and labels provided.
Ballot Order
The official ballot order for the 2026 Primary Election has been set by the State of Texas. Candidates are listed by office and appear in a fixed order that will be identical on every Republican primary ballot in Kerr County. This includes high-profile statewide races such as U.S. Senator, Governor, and Attorney General, as well as judicial and local county offices.
Voters should be aware that ballot order is not an endorsement, ranking, or indication of preference. It is determined by statute and random drawing where applicable. Familiarity with the ballot ahead of time helps voters avoid confusion in the voting booth and ensures that no race or candidate is overlooked.
Local Candidate Interviews and Rankings
In addition to the official ballot order, local Republican candidates were invited to interview with the county party. Based on those interviews and publicly available information, candidates were evaluated and, where applicable, ranked in order of recommendation.
Not every race was competitive. Several offices are uncontested, meaning the Republican candidate is running without a challenger and has a clean record while seeking re-election. These races are labeled “Uncontested” to distinguish them from contested races that required deeper evaluation.
Evaluation Criteria
Candidates who participated in interviews were evaluated using five criteria, listed below in order of importance:
- Constitutional values, including protection of individual rights and adherence to Founding Fathers’ principles
- Allegiance to the Republican Party
- Ability to do the job, including basic competence
- Ability to improve life for families through vision, solutions, and leadership
- Professionalism, presentation, and public record
These criteria emphasize constitutional governance and party principles first, while still accounting for competence and character.
Races Covered in the Voter Guide
The Kerr County Republican Party Local Candidate Primary Voter Guide covers the following Republican primary races for Kerr County offices:
Judicial Offices
- District Judge, 198th Judicial District
- County Court at Law Judge
- Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
- Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
- Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
- Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
Countywide Offices
- County Judge
- County Clerk
- District Clerk
- County Treasurer
- County Surveyor
County Commissioner Offices
- County Commissioner, Precinct 1
- County Commissioner, Precinct 2
- County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Party Office
- County Chair
Voters are encouraged to review both the printed voter guide and this article together to fully understand the ballot, the evaluation process, and the meaning of the candidate rankings.
What the Labels Mean
Each interviewed candidate received one of the following labels:
- Certified: The candidate meets most of the evaluation criteria and is recommended without significant concern.
- Reservations: The candidate meets some criteria but raised concerns during the interview process or record review.
- Uncontested: The candidate is the sole Republican in the race, has no known issues, and is running for re-election.
Candidates are ranked within each race when multiple candidates were evaluated. The ranking reflects relative strength based on the criteria, not ballot position.
Certified and Reservations Candidates by Race
The following candidates participated in the Kerr County Republican Party interview process and were evaluated using the published criteria. Candidates are listed by race and label for clarity.
Certified Candidates
County Judge
- James M. “Jack” Stewart
County Court at Law Judge
- Robert Hunter Moose
- Deborah Suzanne Perry
- Thomas J. Hurt
- Brett L. Ferguson
District Clerk
- Eunavae M. Tonroy
County Clerk
- Carl Berthold
County Commissioner, Precinct 1
- Clay Lambert
- George Baroody
County Commissioner, Precinct 2
- Rich Paces
County Commissioner, Precinct 4
- Randy Murphy
- Guy “Bubba” Walters
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
- Frank J. Bigler
- Taylor Robertson
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
- Christine L. Martinez
- Sylvia Foraker
- Devan B. Burns
- Don Harris
County Chair
- Helen Herd
Candidates With Reservations
District Clerk
- Amber D. Longenbaugh
County Clerk
- Denise Vela
County Commissioner, Precinct 1
- Brenda Hughes
- Wayne K. Uecker
Candidates labeled Certified met most or all of the evaluation criteria. Candidates labeled Reservations met some criteria but had identified concerns or limited information that voters may wish to consider.
Several additional offices included uncontested Republican candidates and are noted as such in this article and in the printed voter guide.
Candidates Who Did Not Interview
A small number of candidates chose not to participate in the interview process. These candidates are noted separately so voters understand that no evaluation or ranking could be completed for them.
The following candidates chose not to participate in the KCRP interview process: Tom Jones, Mike Allen, and William Tatsch.
Using This Information as a Voter
This information is intended to help Republican voters make informed decisions, not to replace personal research or conscience. Voters are encouraged to review the ballot ahead of time, consider the evaluations, and weigh them alongside their own priorities and judgment.
Local races often have the most direct impact on daily life, especially judicial and county offices. Taking the time to understand who is running and how they align with Republican and constitutional principles is one of the most important responsibilities of primary voters.
Prepared voters strengthen the party, protect local governance, and help ensure that Republican nominees reflect the values of the community they will serve.