Williamson County GOP Politics 2024: The Grassroots Uprising and The Williamson County Two-Step An Editorial
The Current State of Affairs in Williamson County
Williamson County, once a beacon of conservative values, finds itself in a precarious position as the 2024 elections approach.
Facing $1.2 billion in debt—a stark rise from $500 million in 2014—local leadership continues to push the narrative that "growth pays for itself," despite mounting evidence to the contrary. The county's rapid expansion has created immense pressure on infrastructure and resources, yet the establishment seems to brush aside concerns, leaving citizens to bear the burden.
The county jail, a prime example of neglected infrastructure, is crumbling and needs replacement. A new $335 million facility has been proposed for the same site, further adding to the financial strain. While Williamson County may be the most prosperous in the state, the cost of unchecked growth is becoming undeniable, and unsustainable in the long run, that is not without what some propose will be the need for a substantial increase in property taxes.
Grassroots Movement and the Run-Up to 2024
The conservative grassroots movement, which began in 2021, has faced numerous challenges but also seen significant victories. Conservative grassroots activists banded together, successfully electing several of their slate to local positions and even securing a conservative majority within the Williamson County Republican Party (WCRP).
However, the grassroots found themselves at odds with their own party during the 2022 county elections, where the establishment GOP worked to stymie their efforts. In 2023, the movement faced a minor setback when Gabrielle Hanson, a once-trusted conservative voice, made a series of inexplicable decisions and public missteps. Her speculative affiliation with extremist groups via mainstream media outlets determined to sabotage what success she was having in her campaign against Mayor Ken Moore, left the grassroots base a bit disjointed.
The Williamson County Two-Step: A Threat to Fair Elections
One of the most concerning trends in Williamson County is the "two-step" appointment process, where officials are appointed to key positions and then run as incumbents in subsequent elections. This method effectively consolidates power within a small elite circle, bypassing the will of the voters and entrenching establishment figures in office for years, if not decades.
Numerous examples illustrate this process:
· Betsy Hester was appointed as Williamson County District 2 commissioner in 2005, then ran in 2006 as the incumbent.
· Deanna Johnson became a judge in the 21st Judicial District after being appointed in 2014, securing her role through a subsequent 2016 election.
· David Landrum (District 10 commissioner), Anne McGraw (District 4 school board), and Eric Welch (District 10 school board) all followed similar paths.
· Most recently, Dusty Rhoades was appointed as sheriff in 2019, then easily won in the 2020 election. Meghan Guffee and Josh Brown followed this pattern as commissioners and school board members, respectively.
This tactic allows the establishment to maintain control, locking out grassroots candidates who might challenge their authority.
The most recent example is the District 10 County Commission seat, where former WCRP chair Cheryl Brown was installed over objections from conservative activists.
The grassroots, not content to let this stand, demanded a caucus style nomination convention where local activist Bill Petty stepped forward to challenge the establishment’s choice.
In a decisive vote, Petty won the GOP nomination by a margin of 153-78. Yet, instead of accepting the result, the establishment pivoted, putting up an independent candidate to challenge Petty, mirroring their tactics from the most recent District 7 school board race.
In that race, Melissa Wyatt a documented supporter of Democrat causes, ran as an independent and thus was used to eliminate grassroots and chosen Republican candidate, Angela Beaton.
An unprecedented occurrence in Williamson County where the R’s running in any county level race, have always had a distinctive and powerful advantage.
The upcoming special election on November 5th, which coincides with the presidential election, is crucial. Bill Petty needs robust support from the grassroots conservative base—through donations, volunteers, and word of mouth—to ensure a victory.
Growth and Fiscal Irresponsibility
The rapid growth of Williamson County, often praised by local leadership, has created financial headaches that threaten the county's future prosperity. The idea that "growth pays for itself" has proven false, as the county’s debt has skyrocketed. In addition to the decaying county jail, the issue of annexation and city growth continues to add stress to public resources.