Meet the two candidates for Hays County Sheriff

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Early voting for the 2024 election begins next Monday, Oct. 21. Voters who live in Hays County will see two candidates for sheriff on the ballot – Republican Anthony Hipolito and Democrat Alex Villalobos.

Candidates (listed in alphabetical order)

Anthony Hipolito

Anthony Hipolito brings 25 years of law enforcement experience to the ticket. He retired as a sergeant from the Austin Police Department in 2021, then moved over to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, where he has been a community outreach deputy for the last three years.

He said his robust law enforcement experience and relationship with the sheriff’s office make him ideal for the job.

“Whether it be taking 911 calls, being promoted to corporal, being promoted to sergeant, [or] working in criminal interdiction, there are so many things I did at the Austin Police Department because I knew I was going to run for sheriff at some point,” Hipolito said. “I wanted to learn different facets of policing.”

Hipolito said his top priorities as sheriff would be to increase collaboration across all Hays County law enforcement agencies to improve efficiency amid the county’s growth; continue to bring awareness of fentanyl in schools to reduce overdose deaths; increase public safety at Hays County schools and focus on recruitment and retention efforts in the office.

“I firmly believe that you have to have knowledge and experience if you want to lead the people at the sheriff’s office,” Hipolito said.

“The split-second decisions I had to make over the last 26 years [while in the Austin Police Department] has given me that knowledge – has given me that confidence – to put my name on the ballot,” he continued.

Alex Villalobos

Villalobos currently works as Hays County’s Chief of Staff. Before that, he worked with the Texas State University’s Police Department for over a decade and was a Kyle city council member.

Additionally, Villalobos holds a Master Peace Office Certification and has received current FEMA training, he said.

He ran against current Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler in 2020 and lost by a thin margin.

“I have been serving and protecting people in this community,” Villalobos said. “My education and training, from a frontline standpoint to a policy standpoint, and also from a budget [standpoint], sets me up to be the best person for this particular position.”

“Being a student of the criminal justice system my entire career has put me and placed me as the best option for this position,” he continued.

Villalobos cited his top priorities if elected sheriff as reducing crime through community outreach initiatives and building trust with the community; “modernizing” the Hays County Sheriff’s Office with new technology and programs, and continuing to bolster school safety throughout the county.

“I want to lead [the Sheriff’s Office] for the best interest of this community,” Villalobos said.

“I have been promoted through my law enforcement career because of hard work, making the most of my opportunities, being present, seeking the training and the education and making that extra effort to be there to get it,” he added.

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