TAC Blog

After two terms guiding Llano County through floods, winter storms and a pandemic, County Judge Ron Cunningham is preparing to take his experience on the road.

Beginning March 16, Cunningham will join the Texas Association of Counties as a county relations officer for West and Central Texas. The position will place him in direct contact with county officials across a wide region, where he will serve as a link between county officials and TAC resources and programs.

“Judge Cunningham’s background in county government and public service makes him an ideal fit for our county relations team,” TAC Executive Director Susan M. Redford said. “As a county judge, he understands the daily realities county officials face and will offer valuable insight to our members.”

Cunningham announced his resignation during the Jan. 27 Llano County Commissioners Court meeting, telling commissioners he would step down as county judge after the March primary elections. Because no Democrat filed to run for the office, the winner of the Republican primary on March 3 will be sworn in once the election is canvassed.

“I’m excited. TAC is a great organization,” Cunningham said during the meeting, according to a report published in Hill Country Focus.

Deep Roots in Public Service

Cunningham took office in January 2019 as Llano County was still recovering from a historic flood that struck just months earlier. Over the next six years, he would lead Llano County through a succession of challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic and severe winter storms to wildland fires and complex legislative and legal issues.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Llano County,” Cunningham said in a statement released by the county. “Together, we have successfully faced major challenges and achieved meaningful progress that will benefit Llano County for years to come.”

A Llano native, Cunningham’s connection to county government runs deep. His father, Rudy Cunningham, served as a Llano County justice of the peace for more than two decades.

After graduating from high school, Cunningham enlisted in the U.S. Army before beginning a career in law enforcement with the San Angelo Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. He later worked as a federal contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, building a resume shaped by public service at multiple levels of government.

A Familiar Partner in a New Capacity

Cunningham’s relationship with TAC predates his new position as county relations officer. During his time as county judge, he served on the TAC Risk Management Pool Board of Directors, an experience he said underscored the organization’s value to counties across the state.

“TAC plays a critical role in strengthening county government in all 254 Texas counties,” Cunningham said. “I look forward to supporting county officials statewide and helping ensure they have the tools they need to serve their communities.”

Cunningham will cover a large swath of Texas that stretches from Bastrop County to El Paso County. He joins a team that includes former Van Zandt County Judge Rhita Koches, former Childress County Judge Jay Mayden and former Lavaca County Judge Tramer Woytek.

For more information about TAC’s county relations officer program, visit county.org.