A FOUNDATION OF VALUES

Patrick and his wife, Happy, have been married for twenty-nine years and have raised nine children in Bexar County. He is a 5th generation Texan, a Parishioner at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, a fighting Texas Aggie (’92) and a successful financial advisor.

About - Vote Patrick Von Dohlen For Bexar County Judge

Patrick von Dohlen is a fifth-generation Texan and a parishioner at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. He is married to Happy, and they have raised nine children in Bexar County.

Patrick has spent twenty-eight years practicing values-based financial planning — a methodology that places the client's values at the center of every financial decision. Before any recommendation, before any numbers are formulated, the first question he asks is: What do you value?

Patrick von Dohlen works as a financial advisor and practices values-based financial planning.

Patrick von Dohlen works as a financial advisor.

He has tried to represent City Council District 9 on the North Side three times: in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Patrick Von Dohlen files to run for Bexar County Judge

Von Dohlen also unsucesfully tried to win the Republican nomination to finish DeBerry's term representing Precinct 3 on Commissioners Court.

Patrick ran for City Council District 9 in 2017, 2019 and 2021. He also unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination to finish a term representing Precinct 3 on Commissioners Court.

2026 Texas General Election

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Bexar County's budget has exponentially outgrown residents' ability to pay. The problem is too much spending and virtually no saving. As Judge, I will protect and serve citizens first – that means making cuts to non-essential expenses, working to lower taxes anywhere we can and encouraging economic growth that makes sense for those who live here.

Vote Patrick Von Dohlen For Bexar County Judge

Commitment #2
### Results Oriented Budgeting (ROB) Process Directive

The ROB three-question framework — Is it working? Can we prove it's working? Does it justify its full cost? — becomes the required standard for every budget presentation before this court, effective Day One. A presiding officer directive. No vote required. Every department answers these questions on the record before any appropriation is approved.

Contract - Vote Patrick Von Dohlen For Bexar County Judge

Commitment #1
### 72-Hour Agenda Transparency Policy

All backup materials for every Commissioners Court session will be published a full 72 hours before the gavel falls. No last-minute agenda insertions. No thousand-page documents dropped the morning of a vote. A $2.83 billion budget belongs to the public. They will see it before I call the vote — because it is your government.

Commitment #4 — 90 Days
### Public Accountability Data Portal

Within 90 days, all contracts over $50,000 posted proactively online without requiring a public records request. Vendor names, amounts, renewal dates, performance outcomes. Bexar County residents should not have to file paperwork to find out how their money is spent. That ends Day One. The portal launches within 90 days.

BUSINESS-FRIENDLY REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

Entrepreneurship is key to a strong Bexar County and it should be easy to start and operate a business here. Permitting processes, county fees and regulatory requirements should be reviewed under the same framework applied to every county expenditure: Is it working? Can we prove it’s working? Does it justify its cost?

Issues - Vote Patrick Von Dohlen For Bexar County Judge

MILITARY EXCELLENCE

Our military presence – Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) and its tenant commands - represents one of the largest concentrations of defense infrastructure in the United States. Together with the cybersecurity and intelligence community that has grown around it, we have a natural economic cluster that Bexar County should be actively recruiting to expand.

Defense technology, cybersecurity, aerospace and logistics firms that complement JBSA's mission are the right targets for Bexar County. These businesses bring high-wage jobs, stable employment and align with the community's existing strengths.

Commitment #17 MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE

### No Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying by the County

Bexar County will not be spending taxpayer dollars to hire lobbyists or fund lobbying efforts at the state or Federal level. If county government wants to advocate for a position in Austin or Washington, county officials and their staff can make that case directly and on their own time. Taxpayer money is not a lobbying fund.

Plans to cut nonessential expenses, lower taxes where possible, and encourage locally appropriate economic growth.

Plans to require budget presentations to show whether spending works, whether its effectiveness can be proven, and whether its cost is justified.

Plans to publish Commissioners Court backup materials 72 hours before sessions and bar last-minute agenda insertions.

Plans to post county contracts over $50,000 online within 90 days, including vendors, amounts, renewals, and performance outcomes.

Advocates for reviewing county permitting, fees, and regulations for effectiveness and cost to make it easier to operate businesses.

Plans to recruit defense technology, cybersecurity, aerospace, and logistics firms that complement Joint Base San Antonio.

Pledges not to use county taxpayer dollars to hire lobbyists or fund lobbying at the state or federal level.

- Plans to cut nonessential expenses, lower taxes where possible, and encourage locally appropriate economic growth.
- Plans to require budget presentations to show whether spending works, whether its effectiveness can be proven, and whether its cost is justified.
- Plans to publish Commissioners Court backup materials 72 hours before sessions and bar last-minute agenda insertions.
- Plans to post county contracts over $50,000 online within 90 days, including vendors, amounts, renewals, and performance outcomes.
- Advocates for reviewing county permitting, fees, and regulations for effectiveness and cost to make it easier to operate businesses.
- Plans to recruit defense technology, cybersecurity, aerospace, and logistics firms that complement Joint Base San Antonio.
- Pledges not to use county taxpayer dollars to hire lobbyists or fund lobbying at the state or federal level.

Economy

ASSIST ALL CITIES IN BEXAR COUNTY

The Bexar County Judge serves all 22 jurisdictions within Bexar County's boundaries — not just San Antonio. Smaller cities and unincorporated communities deserve the same quality of county services and same access to the county judge's office as the largest municipality. This is a priority from Day One.

Prioritizes equal-quality county services and access to the county judge's office for smaller cities and unincorporated communities.

- Prioritizes equal-quality county services and access to the county judge's office for smaller cities and unincorporated communities.

Public Services

JAIL CRISIS & PUBLIC SAFETY

Eighty-five people have died in the Bexar County jail since 2020. Let that sink in. Eighty-five people. This facility has come and in out of compliance and costs $95M/year to operate. Bureaucratic red tape and management failures make this issue an emergency. As Judge, I will advocate for a full audit to ensure efficiency as well as an interim facility to better accommodate inmates with mental health challenges.

Within 90 days, I will publish a complete jail operations and mental health diversion center audit. That audit is unilateral. Implementing the staffing model it recommends requires a court vote. The public will have access to both the audit and the voting record.

Commitment #7 — 90 Days
### Emergency Management and 911 Coordination Plan

A comprehensive emergency management and 911 operations coordination plan delivered within 90 days. Bexar Metro 911 serves 22 jurisdictions and 2 million residents. Coordination gaps between city police, county sheriff, constables and EMS are not acceptable at this scale. The plan will be public, tested and updated on a defined schedule.

Advocates auditing jail operations and establishing an interim facility for inmates with mental health challenges.

Plans to publish a complete audit of jail operations and the mental health diversion center within 90 days.

Plans to deliver a public, tested emergency-management and 911 coordination plan within 90 days.

- Advocates auditing jail operations and establishing an interim facility for inmates with mental health challenges.
- Plans to publish a complete audit of jail operations and the mental health diversion center within 90 days.
- Plans to deliver a public, tested emergency-management and 911 coordination plan within 90 days.

Public Safety

Commitment #5 — 90 Days
### Flood Infrastructure and Drowning Prevention

No resident should die because of inadequate flood drainage infrastructure in Bexar County. Within 90 days, I will direct a comprehensive audit of flood-prone roadways, drainage systems and high-risk crossings where fatalities have occurred or are predictable. No unnecessary human death is an acceptable outcome of deferred infrastructure maintenance. The audit is unilateral. Capital improvements require a court vote and budget appropriation.

Plans to audit flood-prone roads, drainage systems, and high-risk crossings within 90 days.

- Plans to audit flood-prone roads, drainage systems, and high-risk crossings within 90 days.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of July 22, 2026, Patrick Von Dohlen’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

Bexar County is spending jail money on people who do not belong in jail and hospital money on people who do not need a hospital. An intermediate care center provides the right level of care at the right cost while redirecting resources away from the most expensive interventions and toward the most effective ones. I am committed to delivering a funding plan that works. This is not a wish list item — it is a promise.

County employees and their families deserve health insurance options that work — and a benefits structure that does not consume the wages they earn. A comprehensive review of Bexar County employee health insurance will identify options to reduce costs to employees and their families while maintaining quality coverage. As an experienced financial adviser, I understand that health insurance costs are not an abstract budget line. They are a real burden on real families.

Plans to develop a funding plan for an intermediate care center as an alternative to jail or hospital care.

Plans to review county employee health insurance options to reduce costs while maintaining quality coverage.

- Plans to develop a funding plan for an intermediate care center as an alternative to jail or hospital care.
- Plans to review county employee health insurance options to reduce costs while maintaining quality coverage.

Public Health

At a news conference Tuesday, Von Dohlen said local officials failed to adequately oppose the designation and warned that working families could face costly repairs if their vehicles fail the emissions test.

"The city and the county could have spoken at numerous, different public hearings to say, 'this is not going to help Bexar County residents.' But nobody did. As far as to my knowledge, I am the only one that has."

County judge GOP nominee says local officials should have done more to oppose emissions testing

RESPECT BOTH AQUIFER PROTECTION AND PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS

Respecting both the Edwards Aquifer AND private property rights for development are not opposites. They require careful, honest policy that does not sacrifice either. Patrick believes both can be protected through thoughtful land use policy. Pitting property owners against land developers or conservation efforts are false choices created by poor governance.

Opposes vehicle emissions testing expected to affect Bexar County, saying it will not help county residents.

Supports land-use policies intended to protect the Edwards Aquifer while respecting private property rights for development.

- Opposes vehicle emissions testing expected to affect Bexar County, saying it will not help county residents.
- Supports land-use policies intended to protect the Edwards Aquifer while respecting private property rights for development.

Energy & the Environment

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Patrick Von Dohlen

As of July 22, 2026, Patrick von Dohlen’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Patrick von Dohlen

- Supports land-use policies intended to protect the Edwards Aquifer while respecting private property rights for development.

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Howdy Bexar County Residents! I’ve faithfully served my clients for over twenty-seven years as a financial advisor understanding that how our firm handles someone’s money reflects how we see them as a person. Every client who trusted me with their family’s savings deserved and received my commitment to their goals (that require money and planning to achieve), best effort and prudent advice. Bexar County taxpayers deserve the same.

My wife, Happy, and I during our twenty-six years of marriage have raised our nine children here rooted in our community. I’m 56 years old, a Parishioner at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church since 1997, a 5th generation Texan, an Aggie ‘92 with a degree in Agricultural Economics, a business owner, and I’ve spent my career helping people make sound decisions to achieve their financial goals based on what’s most important to them.

Patrick Von Dohlen | 2026 candidate for Bexar County Judge - San Antonio Report

Patrick von Dohlen is a fifth-generation Texan. He has a degree in agricultural economics. He and his wife, Happy, have raised nine children.

Patrick Von Dohlen | 2026 candidate for Bexar County Judge

Howdy Bexar County Residents! I’ve faithfully served my clients for over twenty-seven years as a financial advisor understanding that how our firm handles someone’s money reflects how we see them as a person. Every client who trusted me with their family’s savings deserved and received my commitment to their goals (that require money and planning to achieve), best effort and prudent advice. Bexar County taxpayers deserve the same.

My wife, Happy, and I during our twenty-six years of marriage have raised our nine children here rooted in our community. I’m 56 years old, a Parishioner at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church since 1997, a 5th generation Texan, an Aggie ‘92 with a degree in Agricultural Economics, a business owner, and I’ve spent my career helping people make sound decisions to achieve their financial goals based on what’s most important to them.

Patrick von Dohlen is a financial advisor and business owner.

Patrick Von Dohlen, a conservative activist and three-time City Council candidate, is the only Republican running for Bexar County judge in the March primary.

He has tried to represent City Council District 9 on the North Side three times: in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Patrick von Dohlen ran for City Council District 9 in 2017, 2019 and 2021. He also unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for a term representing Precinct 3 on the Commissioners Court.

Property taxes have grown eight times (8x) faster than family incomes. That’s unsustainable and it’s a burden that falls hardest on seniors who are on fixed incomes and working families who can least afford it. My priorities are:

First, fiscal discipline that treats every tax dollar as an individual’s or family’s sacrifice.
Second, addressing the jail crisis—not just the $15 million in overtime costs, but the fact that 85 people have died in our custody. Those individuals aren’t just statistics, they’re human beings.
Third, transparency where the people funding this government deserve to know what their money accomplishes. That’s basic stewardship.

Success means these projects genuinely serve the whole community—measurable job creation, economic returns that exceed public investment, and agreements that don’t stick taxpayers with the bill when things go wrong.

We must avoid arrangements where the risk is public but the profit is private. Taxpayers deserve a positive public-private partnership where the community never subsidizes wealth that never reaches residents or achieves essential needs.

Patrick von Dohlen for Bexar County Judge | Issues

Prioritizes fiscal discipline in county spending.

Opposes public-private partnerships that shift risk to taxpayers while private parties keep profits.

Proposes reviewing county permitting, fees and regulations to make it easier to start and operate businesses.

Advocates recruiting defense technology, cybersecurity, aerospace and logistics firms that complement Joint Base San Antonio's mission.

- Prioritizes fiscal discipline in county spending.
- Opposes public-private partnerships that shift risk to taxpayers while private parties keep profits.
- Proposes reviewing county permitting, fees and regulations to make it easier to start and operate businesses.
- Advocates recruiting defense technology, cybersecurity, aerospace and logistics firms that complement Joint Base San Antonio's mission.

Prioritizes equal county services and access to the county judge's office for smaller cities and unincorporated communities.

- Prioritizes equal county services and access to the county judge's office for smaller cities and unincorporated communities.

First, fiscal discipline that treats every tax dollar as an individual’s or family’s sacrifice.
Second, addressing the jail crisis—not just the $15 million in overtime costs, but the fact that 85 people have died in our custody. Those individuals aren’t just statistics, they’re human beings.
Third, transparency where the people funding this government deserve to know what their money accomplishes. That’s basic stewardship.

EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATION ACROSS ALL JURISDICTIONS

Emergency preparedness does not stop at city limits. Flood response, disaster coordination and 911 operations affect every Bexar County resident regardless of what municipality they live in. As Bexar County Judge, Patrick will work to ensure emergency management is the most efficient it can be because every resident deserves to live and work in a safe environment.

Prioritizes addressing jail conditions, including overtime costs and deaths in custody.

Plans to improve the efficiency of county emergency management, including flood response, disaster coordination and 911 operations.

- Prioritizes addressing jail conditions, including overtime costs and deaths in custody.
- Plans to improve the efficiency of county emergency management, including flood response, disaster coordination and 911 operations.

Prioritizes county projects based on greatest need rather than publicity.

Thirteen (13) people have been confirmed dead from floods this past year. Families are still grieving. When residents pay a dedicated tax for flood control, they’re trusting Bexar County to protect them and that trust means we must respond now and plan ahead going forward.

Above the budget and certainly above politics, this is about people especially the most vulnerable to flooding, often in lower-income areas, are actually being protected.

An audit is needed to determine where current funds are going and whether they’re reaching the areas with greatest need. I’d accelerate delayed essential projects and dramatically improve warning systems.

With $18.50 vehicle emissions testing set to begin in Bexar County on Nov. 1, Republican county judge nominee Patrick Von Dohlen is blaming local officials for not doing more to oppose the federal designation that triggered the requirement. The new requirement applies to most gasoline-powered vehicles between 2 and 24 years old.

At a news conference Tuesday, Von Dohlen said local officials failed to adequately oppose the designation and warned that working families could face costly repairs if their vehicles fail the emissions test.

"The city and the county could have spoken at numerous, different public hearings to say, 'this is not going to help Bexar County residents.' But nobody did. As far as to my knowledge, I am the only one that has."

County judge GOP nominee says local officials should have done more to oppose emissions testing | TPR

Believes land-use policy can protect both the Edwards Aquifer and private property rights for development.

Proposes auditing flood-control funding, accelerating delayed essential projects and improving flood-warning systems.

Said vehicle emissions testing “is not going to help Bexar County residents.”

- Believes land-use policy can protect both the Edwards Aquifer and private property rights for development.
- Proposes auditing flood-control funding, accelerating delayed essential projects and improving flood-warning systems.
- Said vehicle emissions testing “is not going to help Bexar County residents.”

Patrick von Dohlen is from Texas. He has a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Happy, have nine children together. He is a parishioner at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Patrick is a financial adviser with 28 years of experience.

Patrick is currently a Bexar County judge.

Ron Nirenberg to run against Patrick Von Dohlen for Bexar County ...

Patrick von Dohlen's campaign for Bexar County Judge is his first entry into politics.

Buket Urgen

Isaac Brickman

Ron Nirenberg

- Presides over commissioners court, county’s policy-making body. Helps adopt county budget, sets county tax rates, oversees building and maintaining county infrastructure, and other county government operations.
- Serves as judge of county court, taking on misdemeanor criminal and small civil cases, probate matters, and appeals from the justice of the peace court.
- Performs administration duties, ranging from hearings for beer and wine license applications to calling elections. Can serve as budget officer in counties with a smaller population.
- Serves as county’s emergency management director, with authority to designate an assistant to emergency management issues as emergency management coordinator.
- Represents county at ceremonial occasions and on various boards and committees, including Election Commission, Workforce Governing Board, and Bail Bond Board.
- County Judges are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for county judges range from $47,425 to $198,921, set by the county’s commissioners court.

Leads your county’s policy-making board.