Daugherty seeks reelection

Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty has announced that he will seek a fourth term in office.

Breaking weeks of suspense, the only Republican on the Commissioners Court revealed his plans in an email blast sent out just after midnight on Wednesday morning.

The email quotes him as saying, “When it comes to traffic and other issues in this community, too many of the stakeholders are yelling at each other from across the room instead of coming together to do what is best for Travis County families. I do not believe we have to choose between upgrading our road system and protecting our environment. We can do both.”

Daugherty’s entry into the Republican primary pits him against first-time challenger Jason Nassour. The lawyer and businessman is running to Daugherty’s right and has criticized the incumbent for being too willing to compromise his conservative principles. As his chief example, Nassour pointed to Daugherty’s support for the recently failed $287 million Civil & Family Courts Complex bond.

So far, Democrat David Holmes is the lone candidate in his party’s race for the nomination to represent Western Travis County’s Precinct 3. The filing deadline is Dec. 14.

Daugherty was first elected to a two-year term in 2002. In 2004, he won a four-year term but lost his reelection attempt in 2008 to Democrat Karen Huber. Four years later, he turned the tables and won his seat back. Throughout his career, he has been a champion of fiscal responsibility and road construction. He has also been portrayed as an irascible road warrior, but in practice he has demonstrated a folksy ability to find common ground with unlikely allies, notably Democratic Commissioner Brigid Shea.

“It has been a privilege and honor to serve my neighbors as their Commissioner,” the announcement quotes Daugherty as saying. “I’ve done my dead level best to deliver on the promises that I’ve made to them, and if I’m fortunate enough to be re-elected, I will continue to fight for a comprehensive road system and a fiscally conservative county government that is worthy of the good people of Travis County.”