Ballotpedia, Wes Benedict

Wes earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from UT Austin and his master's degree in business administration and manufacturing from the University of Michigan. He lives with his wife and son in Avery Ranch and attends St. Philips United Methodist Church.

Wes previously owned a countertop business and served as executive director of the National Libertarian Party. 

Wes Benedict previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2020 and Williamson County Judge in 2022, but he did not win either race. 

Candidate website

Opposes providing subsidies to large corporations, believing it harms existing small, medium, and large businesses.

Opposes providing subsidies to large corporations, believing it harms existing small and medium businesses.

Opposes "corporate welfare" and supports free markets and fair competition for all businesses.

Plans to reduce the Williamson County budget by 50% over the next ten years.

Promises to lower tax rates so property tax bills decrease even if property values increase.

Supports ending the "war on drugs" to reduce taxes related to the judicial system and law enforcement.

- Opposes providing subsidies to large corporations, believing it harms existing small and medium businesses.
- Opposes tax cuts for corporations. 
- Plans to reduce the Williamson County budget by 50% over the next ten years.
- Promises to lower tax rates so property tax bills decrease even if property values increase.
- Supports ending the "war on drugs" to reduce taxes related to the judicial system and law enforcement.

Economy

Opposes the incumbents' policies on transportation infrastructure, believing they lead to more traffic, overcrowded schools, increased flooding, and higher taxes.

Believes subsidies designed to attract new businesses lead to more traffic, overcrowded schools, increased flooding, and higher taxes.

- Believes subsidies designed to attract new businesses lead to more traffic, overcrowded schools, increased flooding, and higher taxes.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports decriminalizing drug offenses and ending drug prohibition.

Believes in reducing law enforcement expenses while maintaining community safety.

Believes law enforcement should focus on violent crimes and theft.

Believes law enforcement should focus on violent crimes and theft instead of arresting marijuana users. 

Supports marijuana legalization, noting "most polls show an overwhelming majority of Americans support legalization."

Opposes "the wall" and supports simplifying legal immigration.

Opposes a border wall and supports simplifying legal immigration processes. 

- Supports decriminalizing drug offenses and ending drug prohibition.
- Believes in reducing law enforcement expenses while maintaining community safety.
- Believes law enforcement should focus on violent crimes and theft instead of arresting marijuana users. 
- Supports marijuana legalization.
- Opposes a border wall and supports simplifying legal immigration processes. 

Public Safety

As of September 7, 2024, Wes Benedict’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Services

Public Health

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Wes Benedict

Wes previously owned a countertop business and served as Executive Director of the National Libertarian Party. 

Wes Benedict previously ran for US Senate in 2020 and Williamson County Judge in 2022, but did not win either race. 

Believes decreasing spending on Public Safety and the Judicial system would help lower taxes.

Believes the Williamson County Commissioners Court, which includes four County Commissioners and a County Judge, should determine tax and spending rates and other policies for Williamson County.

Supports ending the war on drugs to reduce taxes related to the judicial system and law enforcement.

- Opposes providing subsidies to large corporations, believing it harms existing small and medium businesses.
- Opposes tax cuts for corporations. 
- Plans to reduce the Williamson County budget by 50% over the next ten years.
- Promises to lower tax rates so property tax bills decrease even if property values increase.
- Supports ending the war on drugs to reduce taxes related to the judicial system and law enforcement.

Believes that overcrowding in schools and roads is "unfair."

Said, "a considerable amount goes towards interest on debt, with a smaller portion dedicated to roads and infrastructure."

Believes police should stop arresting marijuana users.

Believes marijuana legalization is being blocked by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, despite bipartisan support.

Supports marijuana legalization, noting that "11 states have made marijuana legal for all adults, and an additional 15 have 'decriminalized' simple possession."

Supports ending federal marijuana prohibition and encourages state legislation for marijuana cultivation, sale, and use.

Believes that marijuana use leads to criminal records that hinder future employment opportunities.

Supports ending marijuana arrests and prosecutions to reduce the Sheriff and Judicial system's budget and lower taxes.

Supports legalizing marijuana, saying "Arresting people for marijuana costs a lot of money...Marijuana prohibition causes violence...You can’t call the police if someone steals your marijuana."

Believes marijuana is safer than alcohol and has medicinal uses, and supports its legalization given that "over 20 million Americans used marijuana in the past year, many in states where it’s still illegal."

Believes most immigrants come to escape poverty or violence, to work, and to improve their families' lives.

Believes the rapid population growth in Williamson County is positive, but is concerned about the effects of incentivizing people to move there.

Belongs to St. Philips United Methodist Church.

Sued the Secretary of State for ballot access.

Believes in maintaining and improving public services such as parks.

Supports providing facts and figures on marijuana and legislation.

Supports legalizing marijuana at both federal and state levels.

Supports decriminalizing drug offenses and ending "prohibition of all drugs."

Supports marijuana legalization and uses resources from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and the Marijuana Policy Project for facts, figures, and legislation on marijuana.

Said, "I don’t advocate using marijuana. That’s a choice individuals should be able to make for themselves."

Believes drug abuse is harmful, but "the war on drugs is even more harmful."

Wes Benedict has a mechanical engineering degree from UT Austin and an MBA and Masters in Manufacturing from the University of Michigan. Originally from Baton Rouge, he lives with his wife and son in Williamson County in the Avery Ranch Neighborhood. He is a member of St. Philips United Methodist Church.

Wes Benedict has a mechanical engineering degree from UT Austin and an MBA and Masters in Manufacturing from the University of Michigan. He previously owned a countertop business in south Austin and served as Executive Director of the national Libertarian Party in Washington, DC.

As of September 12, 2024, Wes Benedict’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes politicians may "tout the idea of bringing new businesses to Williamson County for job creation and tax base expansion."

Believes that supporting county commissioner plans rarely leads to lower taxes, as "home valuations rise, causing actual tax payments to increase, often surpassing inflation rates."

Believes taxes are too high and that leaders are "more focused on taxing existing residents and businesses to support population growth instead of helping the people who already live here."

Believes in fostering a culture of tax and spending reduction.

Believes in questioning the necessity and cost of economic decisions.

Believes department leaders should find ways to provide important services but spend less money.

Believes in reducing both taxes and spending.

Plans to reduce the Texas budget by 50% over the next ten years.

- County commissioners vote on the budget and appropriations, which fund essential county services like road maintenance.
- They create and enforce civil and criminal laws that align with state regulations, including land use and construction codes.
- Commissioners implement state and federal mandates while overseeing county agencies and public buildings.
- They also set tax rates for the county and its subdivisions.
- Each Texas county has four commissioners and a county judge, forming the local governing body known as the Commissioners Court.