Alex Villalobos, a Kyle city councilman and chief of staff for Hays County, announced his filing to run for county sheriff on Thursday.
Villalobos, who has filed to run in the March 3 Democratic primary, previously worked for the Texas State University Police Department and has over 12 years of law enforcement experience.
“As sheriff, I will seek to modernize our department — from ensuring our frontline deputies and civilian employees possess the equipment and training that enables them to successfully engage with a diverse population — but also through renovating policies that reduce both arrests and our unreasonably large jail population,” Villalobos said in a statement. “I believe the principles of integrity, impartiality, modernization and dignified interactions with our community are critical pillars for our department’s success, and I look forward to the opportunity of guiding our Sheriff’s Office into a promising new era.”