I am Stephen Germann, the current Guadalupe County Precinct 4 Commissioner. I have been married to my wife, Shirley, for 33 years. We have an Air Force veteran son, his teacher wife, and 3 grandchildren. I was born and raised in Guadalupe County and graduated from Marion High School. I obtained my Bachelor of Science with honors from Texas A&M Kingsville. I have been in agribusiness my entire life and currently own a cow/calf, goat, and pheasant operation with my wife. I worked in the poultry business 26 years as a manager.
Q&A Responses
1. Infrastructure and economic competitiveness
Q: How will you prioritize road, bridge, and infrastructure investments so businesses can move goods, serve customers, and grow without delays or added costs?
A: Guadalupe County has a unit road system like many larger counties. This fact means we have staff that continually look at road needs whether it be repairs or rebuilds based on projections of growth and current needs. I work hand in hand with these people to ensure that projects stay on track. I am also the lead commissioner on several multimillion-dollar grants for flood mitigation and culvert rebuilds. I initiated conversations and petitions to secure the light at FM1044/78.
2. Fiscal policy and predictability
Q: How will you balance responsible budgeting and tax rates with the need to invest in services and infrastructure that support a strong business environment?
A: Guadalupe County is the epitome of conservative spending. Our tax rate is .345 cents and our borrowed money is only $28 per capita. Our fund balance remains high in the $30 to $40 million range. All this allows us to spend money when we need to and puts us in a good position to borrow money when needed. This scenario creates an environment where business will want to come to us due to the incentives.
3. Growth management and development certainty
Q: How will you support sustainable growth while providing clear, consistent policies so businesses and developers can plan and invest with confidence?
A: Guadalupe County is currently doing a total re-write of its subdivision and development rulebook. The process will be finished sometime in late spring. Our old one was not clear and concise. The new one is being written by a contract engineer that specializes in writing these policies. It will give investors an accurate map to follow. We also have predevelopment meetings every Wednesday when our staff discusses new developments, large or small with investors. I never miss these discussions because of their importance to my precinct and the people I represent.