County Judge
L.M. “Matt” Sebesta, Jr. (R) 2014
First elected: 2014. He is now serving a third term as Judge.
Mr. Sebesta presides over the Commissioners’ Court and serves as the Chief Administrator for the county. He presents as a congenial and interested leader who is knowledgeable on the issues.
Mr. Sebesta is a former Angleton City Councilman, former Mayor, and former County Commissioner. He has 30 years of elected service.
Stated positions: None found
Position on solar:
He has made positive statements in the press and on the Economic Development Alliance website (he is on the board) about both solar utilities and rooftop solar.
“We have become a hot spot for solar development projects,” Sebesta said.
“Brazoria County is a large county with lots of open spaces that is easy to develop into solar farms.” (2021, Houston Chronicle)
Community/board involvement
- He is on the Board of Directors of the Brazoria County Economic Development Alliance
- Current Chair of the Lower Brazos River Coalition. Past Chair for the Conference of Urban Counties
- Licensed Professional Engineer and Registered Professional Land Surveyor.
- Appointed to the Planning Commission for the City of Angleton, 1990.
Education
Texas A&M graduate, degree in Civil Engineering.
County Commissioners
Donald “Dude” Payne (R) 2000
Year elected: 2000
Mr. Payne’s first term began 1/1/2001. He has served consecutive terms since then.
Mr. Payne was elected as a Democrat in 2000 and 2004 against republican challengers, and had no opponent in 2008. He switched parties in 2011, saying he was “the same man as when I was elected 11 years ago”, but felt that as a conservative he could no longer be a part of the Democratic party.
Mr. Payne has been supportive of tax abatements as a development incentive in the past. He attended a 2013 meeting in support of an abatement for Ascend Performance Materials for proposed construction of a $1.2 billion propane dehydrogenation complex that originally asked for a 10-year abatement for 100 percent of its taxes, which was valued at approximately $18.39 million. [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/friendswood/news/article/ACC-Regents-pass-tax-abatement-9411444.php ]
Current employment: None found
Stated priorities are:
Mr. Payne’s precinct includes the entire Brazoria County shoreline and erosion and growth are concerns. He is active in preserving the coast.
Position on solar: None found
Awards and recognition:
- Chamber of Commerce awards in 2010 and 2017.
- 2020 award from the Brazosport Independent School District.
- 2021 award from the Boys and Girls Club of Brazoria County for his 20 years of support.
Community and/or board involvement: None found
Ryan Cade (R) 2014
First elected 2014. Mr. Cade is now in his fourth term. (Re-elected 2022)
Current employment: Mr. Cade owns a construction company, RC Development, and has been a Waygu rancher since 2012 (R-C Ranch Craft Beef). He is a 4th generation county resident.
Stated priorities are:
- Government efficiency, prudent spending, low taxes.
Position on solar: None found
Past employment
- Former Insurance agent (16 years)
Education
General Business degree from University of Louisiana.
Stacy Adams (R) 2008
Year Elected: 2008. Mr. Adams is now serving his fourth term.
Past elected positions: Elected as Drainage Commissioner of Brazoria Drainage District #4 in 2002. Re-elected in 2006.
Mr. Adams seems to have a good sense of humor, from looking at the press.
He is a former Independent Petroleum Landman in the oil and gas industry.
Mr. Adams showed his support for Ascend Performance Materials tax abatement, attending the 2013 vote on it with Mr. Payne.
Stated priorities: None found
Position on solar: None found
Past employment
- Rotary Club member, founder of the Pearland Area Republican Club.
- Owner of Pearland Printing from 1996 to 2006.
- BBA in Finance, Sam Houston State University
David Linder (R) 2014
Elected 2014. He is now in his fourth term.
Stated priorities: None found
Position on solar: None found
Past employment
Former law enforcement: 20 years as a patrol officer for the City of Angleton, and a Deputy Constable with the county.
He has 30 years of experience as a business owner in construction and retail.
Rancher and lifetime member of the Brazoria County Cattleman Association.
Education
Attended Brazosport College and Law Enforcement Academy in Alvin.
Local Officials
County Engineer
Matt Hanks, JD, PE
979-864-1265
This is an appointed position that Hanks has held for more than 10 year prior to a a role at HDR engineering. He is an architectural engineer and a lawyer by education.
County Assessor
Kristin Bulanek
979-864-1838
Context and information: Republican, elected to office in 2020; assumed office in January 2021; term ends in December 2024; certified internal auditor previously worked at Galveston County tax office for 10 years; retired as first assistant county auditor; her husband was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as judge of newly created 461st District Court in 2019; married; 2 children
County Clerk
Joyce Hudman
979-864-1370
Context and information: Republican; first elected to office in 1999; current term ends in December 2026; ran unopposed in 2022; past president of Texas Association of Counties (2011, 2016-17); established the publicly accessible County Elections Database for county-held elections; member of the legislative committee of The County & District Clerks Association of Texas
County Treasurer
Angela Dees
Email: n/a
979-864-1353
Context and information: Republican; first term in office; received campaign funding from state representative Cody Vasut; graduated from Angleton High School; Graduated from Texas A&M University (B.B.A); previously worked as VP commercial lending at Texas Gulf Bank; owns Rocking 6 Construction; life member of Brazoria County Fair Association; married; four children
County Sheriff
Bo Stallman
bos@brazoria-county.com
979-864-2214
Context and information: Republican; lifetime Brazoria County resident; graduated from Danbury High School; graduated from Sam Houston State University (M.A. Criminal Justice) veteran marine; recipient of Navy Achievement Medal; attended Texas DPS Academy; worked as Texas State Trooper; worked as Criminal Investigator with Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office; Active member of Brazos Pointe Fellowship Church; lifetime member of Brazoria County Fair Association; elected as County Sheriff in 2021; married; 3 children
