A local mayor will throw his hat in the race for the Llano County judge’s position.
Sunrise Beach Rob Hardy has started taking steps to ready his upcoming campaign vying for the Republican nomination.
“I did file my campaign treasurer’s report, that is requirement prior to announcing candidacy,” he told The Highlander. “Scott Miller is my treasurer and is listed on my campaign treasurer’s report.”
The officials filing window for the county primaries is Nov. 8 to Dec. 8. The primary election is March 3, 2026; The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
In anticipation of his official filing in a couple of months, Hardy offered a closer look at his experience, expertise and vision for Llano County.
Q: What prompted you to run for the position?
A: “To be honest, I had never considered running for this position. When Llano County Judge Cunningham announced that he would not seek a third term, my first reaction was sadness, as I know him as an honest, humble, and thoughtful person who exemplifies servant leadership.
“That Monday, I resolved to call him and see if he had anyone in mind for his replacement, as I would appreciate his insight as to who to support.
“That same day, I had several very well known and notable members of the Llano community approach me and ask me if I would consider running.
“You could call me a very reluctant politician, as I really enjoy supporting the folks who really do the work in our community. I was very humbled and honored, and spent that week discussing this very important position with other community leaders.
“After much reflection, and encouragement from people whom I consider role models and leaders, I decided to explore running for the position.
“Scott Miller, a friend and IT specialist in Sunrise Beach and my treasurer during my council and mayor races, agreed to be my campaign treasurer. The Campaign Treasurer Appointment form is a requirement before formally announcing candidacy.
That was filed with the Llano County Elections Office before addressing Llano County Commissioner’s Court last Monday.”
Q: What expertise/experience would you bring to the position?
A: “I have spent my adult life in public safety and health care. My positions have included C-level positions in several health care organizations, having primary budget responsibility for these institutions.
“I began my health care career as a paramedic and district commander for Austin EMS. Degrees include a bachelor of science from UT Austin, a master’s degree from Texas State University and additional graduate training from UT Austin.
“I am currently the mayor of the City of Sunrise Beach, having held the position of council member prior to being elected mayor.
“We currently have no city manager, so my duties include managing city departments, including finance, police, water, and facilities.
“I currently serve as the vice chair of the Llano Regional Hospital Board of Directors, and spent two months as interim CEO while we conducted a search for our current CEO, the very capable Linda Walker.
“I am also a volunteer with the Sunrise Beach/ESD 5 Fire Department, holding the rank of commander.
“Probably most importantly, I firmly believe that
the most important attributes of a leader is to lead by example, understand the importance of teamwork and the value that each team member brings to the organization, and to provide those who actually do the work the tools they need and then get out of their way.
“A true leader exhibits servant leadership and provides advice, resources, and direction when needed. “I have worked very hard to help folks in our community understand that Sunrise Beach is part of the larger community of Llano County, and have developed relationships from the east side of the county to the west.”
Q: What do you think are the top three issues facing the Llano County Commissioners Court?
A: “Without a doubt, change and growth are happening to our county, whether we want it or not.
“I have always believed that we can be proactive and manage change, or have someone else manage it for us.
“Second, continuing to provide much needed services for our residents, from Horseshoe Bay to Castell, while managing the sometimes disparate expectations from different areas of our county.
“Coupled with that is the very real understanding that paying for these services is a continuing issue, and we are always tasked with doing more with less, whether you are managing your family’s finances or managing the resources that are provided by the taxpayers. Finally, continuing to support and develop our law enforcement and health services, ensuring public safety and access to health care, must be a top priority.”
Q: What are your thoughts about the operations of the county jail and sheriff’s office?
A: “I am not very knowledgeable of the county jail, but am a huge supporter of Sheriff Marquis Cantu and his staff.
“I believe he has made a huge difference in the professionalism and competence of his department, and interact regularly with him in my role as mayor and first responder. I pledge to learn more about, not just jail operations, but Emergency Management and the county’s Emergency Communications Center, with Sheriff Cantu’s help and expert assistance.
“Not asked in this question, but I will spend next year learning about the other county departments as well.”
Q: “How will growth (subdivisions, etc.) impact the county?
A: I believe I addressed some of this in questions #3, but I have been to many commissioners court meetings and have observed how the court makes thoughtful and informed decisions regarding growth. For instance, water is a critical infrastructure need, which is impacted by growth.
“Once again, I believe that managing growth is a critical issue, which the county and its partners must address together and proactively.
Q: (In general) what are your thoughts about the current county tax rate, budget and debt?
A: “Having attended commissioners court meetings that address the tax rate, budget, and debt, I believe in continuing county and partner cities’ leadership passion for conservative fiscal management.
“Managing a municipal budget teaches you to be constantly aware of not only your tax rate, but the impact of other taxing entities on your citizens.
“In watching the court through the most recent budget deliberations, I believe that the county delivers great value for the cost, especially in comparison to similar public institutions.
“All of this discussion is directly impacted by the growth our county is experiencing, which further highlights the requirement for communication and transparency with all citizens.
“In Sunrise Beach government, all expenses and revenue sources are examined in great detail, and we like to say we squeeze every nickel until they scream.
“With that being said, it is sometimes easy to scrutinize the pennies, while forgetting about the dollars.
“I believe a financial management plan is crucial, and requires a very flexible approach which anticipates issues both expected and unanticipated.”
