Liberty Hill Digest • October 2026 by Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC

OCTOBER 2026

CALLED

TO SERVE STEVE SNELL A lifetime of leadership, hands-on approach, and a deep, personal commitment to Williamson County

TEXAS SIT REP Building What Comes Next KIDS & EDUCATION 10th Annual Soirée Coming Together for Kids

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CONTENTS WHO WE ARE Liberty Hill Digest is more than a magazine—it’s a connector, storyteller, and champion for our community. Since 2020, we’ve shared 550+ stories and mailed 400,000 free copies to keep Liberty Hill informed and inspired. Each issue highlights local people, nonprofits, students, first responders, and city events that define who we are. Our annual Giving Thanks & Giving Back edition and rotating nonprofit column amplify causes that strengthen our city. At our core, we celebrate what’s good, foster connection, and help Liberty Hill thrive—together.

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IN THIS ISSUE 3 / COVER FEATURE • Steve Snell is Called to Serve 7 / TEXAS SIT REP • Building What Comes Next 12 / KIDS & EDUCATION • Coming Together for Kids at the 10th Annual Soirée Sponsored by InnerSpace Cavern

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COVER FEATURE

by Char lotte Kovalc hu k an d An n Mari e Ken n o n

Williamson County Judge Steve Snell serving lunch to Sheriff Matt Lindemann during Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

A Responsibility

He Made His Own I

Thirty-one years in public service taught JUDGE STEVE SNELL that leadership means showing up—especially with things get tough.

n the spring of 2025, after 11 years as superintendent of Liberty Hill ISD, Steve Snell was preparing to retire. He and his wife, Amy, were praying about a simple question: How can God still use me? Serving as County Judge had never been part of Snell's plan, but after Judge Bill Gravell resigned to work for the Trump administration, Steve studied the role. The work looked familiar: bring people together, prepare for emergencies, manage growth, protect public resources, and make decisions with consequences likely to be felt for decades. “I feel like my entire career led to this point and prepared me to do the job,” he says. “As weird as it sounds, I really do think God put me in this place for a reason and wants me to serve people as best I can.”

SERVICE BEYOND THE BUDGET Since taking office in April 2025, Snell has approached the position as another form of public service. The work takes place in Commissioners Court and budget meetings, but its purpose is found beyond those rooms: in the deputy answering a dangerous call, the family stranded in traffic instead of gathering around the dinner table, and the child who will inherit the community being shaped today. Public safety is not just a budget line to Judge Snell. It means ensuring people who run toward emergencies have the staffing and support to do their jobs. The county’s 2026-27 budget added 47.5 full-time positions, nearly half in public safety, and includes $1.05 million for law-enforcement raises.

His regard for those officers also appears in quieter moments. On Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Snell helped provide barbecue and stood behind the serving line, handing meals to Sheriff Matt Lindemann (above) and all the Williamson County deputies. It was a small gesture beside the scale of county government, but it revealed something spreadsheets don't: gratitude expressed personally.

WHEN THE WATER ROSE The devastating July 2025 floods put that experience to an immediate test. Three people died in Williamson County, while homes and RV parks were badly damaged. Judge Snell helped direct the county’s emergency response, but he was also boots on the ground in affected communities, working along- 

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COVER FEATURE

We did not wait. We took immediate action, and we felt we saved lives and property by doing that. ~JUDGE STEVE SNELL

side responders and residents as rescue evolved into cleanup, recovery, and repair. “One thing I’m very proud of Williamson County is we took immediate action,” the judge says. Afterward, he partnered with the Central Texas Community Foundation to establish the WilCo Cares Fund, helping displaced residents meet urgent needs and begin rebuilding. He also joined Central Texas leaders testifying before state lawmakers about emergency preparedness, infrastructure, and better flood-warning systems—carrying the lessons learned on damaged Williamson County roads and riverbanks directly to the policymakers.

WILCO IN THE FUTURE Rapid growth presents a slower-moving version of that challenge. Williamson County’s population is expected to double over the next 25 years and Judge Snell has lived that transformation before. As superintendent, he guided enrollment growth from about 4,000 to 11,000 students and oversaw more than $1 billion in building projects. Every new school represented children who needed a classroom before overcrowding became a crisis and county planning works the same way. Roads must be planned before traffic overwhelms a community. Emergency services must grow before response times suffer. Water must be secured before families and businesses discover there is not enough.

Judge Snell is looking even farther ahead on water. He spearheaded a $500,000 study of existing supplies and future possibilities, including groundwater, reuse, and regional partnerships. “I want to make sure we’re securing water for the next 50 years,” he said. His education career also shaped a collaborative style he summarizes in three words: “Communication, communication, communication.” Today, he works with elected officials, department leaders, and municipalities whose cooperation is essential to a county too complex for anyone to lead alone. Still, the most revealing images may be the least formal: talking with schoolchildren on the courthouse steps, celebrating a new community library, or sitting beside a local veteran. He and his wife Amy recently celebrated 30 years of marriage and remain active at Celebration Church in Liberty Hill. “We live here, eat here, play here,” he says. “Community service—it’s in my DNA.” Steve Snell was appointed to complete an unfinished term. Now he is asking voters for the opportunity to continue work already underway. As voters consider who should lead Williamson County, Judge Snell hopes they will look beyond the title to the responsibility he has already made his own.

“As superintendent, you’re locked into the success that they’re building,” Judge Snell says. “Now I get to do it on a bigger scale for so many other communities.” Under his leadership, the county has continued long-range transportation planning and secured approximately $131 million in federal funding for roadway and trail projects. For him, mobility is about returning time to people whose evenings should belong to their families, not to congestion created because government failed to prepare.

ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 3 | EARLY VOTING OCTOBER 19-30 4

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POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR BY THE STEVE SNELL CAMPAIGN

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TRUSTED CONSERVATIVE. FEARLESS FIGHTER. KEEPING TEXAS STRONG. Protecting Seniors: Charles Schwertner passed strong laws to protect seniors from abuse and neglect. Supporting Schools: Charles Schwertner voted to pass the largest education funding bill in Texas history and raise teacher pay. Keeping Texas Safe: Charles Schwertner fought to give law enforcement the support they need to protect Texas families and keep our communities safe. Protecting Kids Online: Charles Schwertner voted to give Texas parents more control over what their kids access on social media. Fighting for Small Business: Charles Schwertner supports policies to cut red tape for small businesses and create high-paying Texas jobs. Protecting Property Rights: Charles Schwertner passed laws to protect private property rights against big government abuse of eminent domain.

Paid for by Texans For Charles Schwertner

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S tor y a n d photos co n t ri b ute d by Rep. Terr y W i l so n , T X D i s t 20 .

TEXAS SIT-REP

TERRY WILSON

 BUILDING WHAT COMES NEXT

Long before Terry Wilson began working on state budgets, education policy, workforce development, or emergency preparedness, he spent 32 years serving his country as an American soldier.

hat experience continues to shape the way Colonel Wilson approaches his work as the Texas House District 20 representative. His record in the Legislature reflects a leader focused not simply on identifying problems, but on understanding the systems behind them, bringing the right people together, and investing in solutions designed to put people over politics and work for the long term. Nowhere is that more apparent than in one of his signature priorities: education.

EDUCATION WITH A DESTINATION Public and higher education became a major focus for Wilson after he was elected to the Texas House. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III in 2021, he helped oversee the portion of the state budget responsible for public and higher education—more than one third of the entire Texas budget. But he has consistently argued that educational success should not be defined exclusively by a four-year college degree. His interest in vocational education began during his Army career. As an acquisition executive, Wilson was responsible for moving completed military research and development into production. He saw defense contractors rely on foreign partners

because the United States lacked sufficient domestic production capacity and skilled workers. For him, the shortage was more than an economic concern; dependence on overseas manufacturing could also put American intellectual property and national security at risk. That experience became a catalyst for his efforts to expand Career and Technical Education in Texas. During his tenure as Article III chairman, Wilson helped direct major investments toward P-TECH programs that allow schools to partner with community colleges, technical colleges, and industry. 

AT A GLANCE RETIRED U.S. ARMY COLONEL 32 years of service • Decorated Combat Veteran TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE House District 20 LEADER IN THE TEXAS HOUSE Chairman, House Committee on Higher Education FOCUS AREAS Education & Workforce • Higher Education Property Taxes • Defense & Veterans • Infrastructure Disaster Preparedness PERSONAL Married to Shannon for 30 years and father to William, a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army, and Benjamin, a member of the TAMU Corps of Cadets. Rep. Wilson earned a BS in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and an MS in Strategic Logistics Plans and Management from the Air War University.

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TEXAS SIT-REP

Identify what Texas will need next, bring the pieces together, and start building before the need becomes a crisis.

Students can explore careers as early as seventh grade and work toward certifications, college credit, associate degrees, and workforce experience while still in school. The goal, he has said repeatedly, is to give students multiple pathways to success while ensuring workforce programs correspond to jobs Texas actually need.

SHE’S ON THE JOB.

That philosophy continues today. Recent state investments include approximately $850 million in a permanent Texas State Technical College endowment, as well as programs supporting equipment and short-term training for high-demand careers. Wilson also advocates greater cooperation among school districts, colleges, workforce boards, and employers rather than asking students to navigate separate systems on their own. Providing that education, advising, and opportunity requires training and retaining highly qualified educators, which is why he has helped pass and fund $4.2 billion this past session to provide raises and competitive salaries for educators statewide.

PROTECTING TEXAS’ FUTURE Wilson’s military background is also evident in his work on defense, emergency preparedness, and higher education research. During his time as Chairman of the House Committee on Defense & Veterans’ Affairs, Wilson focused on protecting Texas military installations while strengthening the communities surrounding them. His priorities have included military family quality of life, professional license portability for military spouses, preventing encroachment around installations, and ensuring Texas remains positioned to attract new military missions. The same emphasis on preparedness extends to natural disasters. Wilson has advocated stronger coordination among local responders and state agencies and, following devastating 2025 Hill Country floods, served on the Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding. He carried legislation in the House requiring outdoor warning sirens in flash-flood-prone areas and supported stronger emergency planning for youth camps. Now as Chairman of Higher Education, his work similarly connects economic growth with national security. Wilson helped lay groundwork for the Texas University Fund, which established a $1 billion investment fund to support university research. More recently, he authored and passed HB 127, creating a Research Security Council to help Texas institutions protect sensitive research and intellectual property from foreign threats.  8

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Current Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector 25+ Years Banking & Financial Experience Experienced in State & Federal Regulatory Compliance

Honored to serve. Working to Earn Your Trust.

Vote Nov 3 VoteCatherineTotty.com Pol. ad paid for by the Catherine Totty Campaign

TEXAS SIT-REP GROWTH WITH ACCOUNTABILITY

appraisals, arguing that meaningful relief requires addressing the appraisal process that drives tax bills higher.

Closer to home, Wilson has also focused on problems created by Central Texas’ extraordinary growth. In Williamson County, that includes the rapid expansion of aggregate production operations—the quarries and facilities supplying the sand, gravel, and crushed stone for roads and construction. He has pushed for reforms addressing air quality, noise, traffic safety, groundwater use, setbacks, and reclamation while acknowledging the industry’s importance to a growing state.

Wilson has also backed efforts to reduce burdensome regulations on small businesses, which he describes as the heart of the Texas economy. On top of having passed the first meaningful property tax reforms focused on small businesses, his approach connects fewer regulatory costs with local job creation and relief from the rising expenses facing employers and consumers alike.

That balance is characteristic of his approach: economic growth and infrastructure are necessary, but so are accountability, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and protection of communities affected by that growth. Across issues as different as school finance, skilled trades, military readiness, research security, disaster planning, property taxes, and infrastructure, a common thread emerges from Wilson’s years in office. The mission may change, but the method is familiar: identify what Texas will need next, bring the pieces together, and start building before the need becomes a crisis.

AFFORDABILITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY As Central Texas grows, Wilson has emphasized the importance of ensuring families and small businesses can afford to grow with it. Reducing the burden of property taxes remain central to that effort. He also supports reining in rapidly rising home

FALL FOR THE

Energy and insurance costs are part of the same challenge. Wilson supports expanding energy production to lower utility bills and prices at the pump, as well as curbing lawsuit abuse that he says contributes to higher health, home, and automobile insurance premiums. He also helped pass the constitutional amendment permanently prohibiting a state income tax in Texas. As new industries reshape the region, Wilson has called for local data centers to be held accountable for their effects on surrounding communities. For Wilson, attracting investment must go hand in hand with protecting taxpayers, managing costs, and ensuring economic growth improves residents’ quality of life.

PROPERTY TAX Property taxes can be complicated, but Rep. Wilson helps make sense of the numbers, policies, and decisions that affect local property owners. Scan the code to review SIT-REP articles and insights on property taxes in one feed.

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S OLDIE R Retired from the US military with over 30 years of service, Colonel Terry Wilson is a highly regarded senior leader within the Department of the Army. His commitment to the security of our state continues through his support for law enforcement, dedication to getting criminals off the streets, keeping boys out of girl's sports, and stopping the scourge of fentanyl. Terry brings his decades of experience serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, military intelligence solutions, and research & development, to secure our state’s borders and support our military families, active duty, reservists, and retirees alike.

S TAT E SM AN Terry has spearheaded, and passed, legislation improving property tax transparency, cutting property tax rates, increasing teacher pay, banning surprise medical billing, promoting affordable healthcare, and defending the rights of parents to have a voice in their children’s education. In 2023, Terry co-authored HB 8, bringing new opportunities to high school graduates and adult learners alike through our community colleges and technical schools. In 2025 Terry passed HB 127, protecting our state's investments in research and development from foreign adversary nations, helping bring industry and manufacturing investment to Texas.

S E RVAN T Active in faith based initiatives, a Rotarian, and former assistant scoutmaster, Terry has continued to serve central Texas in multiple forms. Terry brought together local, state, and military leaders after Winter Storm Uri to bring power, water, and other vital resources to stranded and endangered communities. As State Representative, he works to help the people and small businesses of Williamson County, cutting the red tape of state agencies and making sure no Texan gets left behind.

TerryWilsonforTexas.com

Pol. Ad. Paid for by Terry Wilson Campaign O C rank, TO Bjob E Rtitles, 2 0 2and 6 photographs  L I BERinT Y H I L L D I G ES T Terry Wilson is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Use of his military uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

KIDS & EDUCATION

illiamson County may look prosperous, but some local children still go to school hungry, sleep in cars, or move from couch to couch. The Georgetown Project, YMCA, and Boys & Girls Clubs have brought schools, nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders together to meet those often-unseen needs. Their shared missions support children from their earliest years through their first steps into the workforce. Even providing youth employment programs to help teens gain practical experience while earning a paycheck. One participating student whose family had been moving between hotels and sleeping in their car used his internship earnings to cover the first and last months’ rent on a home. He gained job experience, Georgetown Project's Kelly Manfredini says, “but he also helped his family not be homeless.”

TEN YEARS OF CELEBRATING TOGETHER That collaborative spirit takes center stage at the 10th annual Soirée, presented jointly by all three organizations. Over the past decade, the event has raised more than $2.5 million. This year’s Havana Nights celebration at the Cutter Aviation hangar will feature casino games, auctions, raffles, cocktails, food and live music by Slim and the Fat Tones. Guests can support the work by purchasing tickets, sponsoring a table, donating an auction item or joining the evening’s

by A nn Ma r i e Kenno n

games and raffles. Every contribution helps local organizations provide safe after-school activities, family support and opportunities for children who need them most. Two weeks later, The Georgetown Project and the Williamson County Museum will continue the celebration with the first Evergreen Extravaganza at the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center. Both events offer a joyful way to become involved, but their impact reaches well beyond a single evening. Every ticket, sponsorship and auction bid strengthens a collaborative network working to ensure local children are safe, supported and given a genuine chance to thrive.

10TH ANNUAL SOIRÉE: HAVANA NIGHTS Saturday, November 14 | 6pm Cutter Aviation Hangar, Georgetown Airport 60 S. Terminal Drive

1ST ANNUAL EVERGREEN EXTRAVAGANZA Saturday, November 28 | 5–8pm Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center 1101 Woodlawn Ave., Georgetown Benefiting The Georgetown Project and the Williamson County Museum

COUPON EXPIRES OCTOBER 2026

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