Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape decides against reelection, announces run for state House District 17

Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape has decided not to seek reelection to the county’s top administrative office and instead has announced his Republican candidacy for Texas House District 17.

“During my tenure as county judge, Bastrop County has experienced six federally-declared natural disasters, including devastating wildfire and flood events,” Pape said in his announcement. “Leading major response and recovery efforts and making our community safer and more resilient has proven among the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life. Doing this while also working to grow our local economy, preserve our quality of life, and pass fiscally conservative county budgets has prepared me to be an effective advocate for the families and communities of our district.”

John Cyrier currently represents District 17 — which covers Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Lee and Milam counties — but he announced in November he would not seek reelection to a fifth term. The primary elections will be held March 1.

Pape was first elected county judge during a special election in 2012 and won reelection to the seat in 2014 and 2018.

As county judge, Pape has overseen the development of nine county budgets and led the Commissioners Court to lower the property tax rate by 17.4% during his tenure. However, though the county has voted to lower the tax rate, homeowners often would pay more in property taxes than in previous year as property valuations increased and commissioners did not lower the tax rate to a rate that would not increase taxes.

Pape said the budgets the Commissioners Court passed under his watch increased support for law enforcement by 55.2%. And he effectively lobbied the Legislature to set up a special appropriation to fund critical disaster recovery efforts after the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, the most destructive wildfire in state history.

Pape and his wife, Barb, own and manage 321 acres of ranchland in McDade and Smithville, including a cow-calf operation and miniature horse breeding. They previously owned and expanded Bastrop RV Park.

Pape is a graduate of West Texas A&M University and has lived in Bastrop County since 1983. As an elected official, he currently serves as chair of the Capital Area Council of Governments and the Juvenile Probation Board. He is an ordained minister and has served congregations in Texas, Indiana and Tennessee for 10 years.

“I am passionate about putting conservative values to work,” Pape said. “As a husband, father, grandfather, business owner and public servant, I want to make sure that future generations have the freedom, safety, and opportunity to live their American Dream right here in Central Texas. As your representative in the Texas House, you will have an experienced advocate to get results on the biggest challenges we face, including securing the border, defending our Second Amendment, protecting human life, supporting law enforcement, growing our economy, and providing top-quality education and opportunity.”

Though Pape has announced his bid for a state office, he said he will continue to serve as county judge through 2022, when his current term ends, as per the state constitution’s holdover provision which allows an elected officer to continue the duties of the office for which he was elected until a qualified successor takes office.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Election: Paul Pape announces run for Texas House District 17