County · County Judge · term ends 2026-12-31
· Rusk County
Republican incumbent Joel R. Hale defeated Democrat Nicholas Bennett in the Nov 3, 2026 general, 12,365 (72.70%) to 4,643 (27.30%) (unofficial, pending canvass; Kilgore News Herald). Four-year term; current term ends Dec 31, 2026.
Not yet reviewed
--kept rate
0 / 0kept / rated
1in progress (not in rate)
1promises tracked
In progress: 1
Urge the Legislature to reallocate one cent of the existing state motor-fuels tax, plus 5 percent of electric-vehicle registration-fee revenue, to the County and Road District Highway Fund, without raising tax rates.
In progressTransportation · stated 2026-05-02 · promise source · #166
“One penny of the motor fuels tax would generate roughly $190 million annually for county roads statewide. This is about fairness and safety. Counties have been asked to do more with less for over 70 years, and the math simply no longer works.”
Stated: Promise as stated in the cited source.
Stalled no milestone activity in 6 months
Why In progress: On May 2, 2026, The Henderson News reported that Rusk County Commissioners Court had adopted a resolution urging the Legislature to reallocate one penny of the existing state motor-fuels tax and 5% of EV registration-fee revenue to the county road fund, without raising taxes. Judge Hale is quoted by name in support. The resolution was to be forwarded to legislators and the Texas Association of Counties for the upcoming session. Bill filing for the 90th Legislature opened in November 2026; the session itself convenes January 2027. This is a stated, adopted county position, not yet enacted law. (rusk-research, 2026-11-10 15:31:09 UTC)
- cited 2026-05-02 · news · The Henderson News: Commissioners Court adopted a resolution for statewide county-road funding reform; Judge Joel Hale is quoted supporting a one-cent reallocation of the existing motor-fuels tax and 5% of EV fees, without a tax increase. — source
History (append-only)
- 2026-11-10 15:31:09 UTC · Not yet rated (superseded 2026-11-10 15:31:09) — Newly tracked; not yet reviewed against evidence.
- 2026-11-10 15:31:09 UTC · In progress (current) — On May 2, 2026, The Henderson News reported that Rusk County Commissioners Court had adopted a resolution urging the Legislature to reallocate one penny of the existing state motor-fuels tax and 5% of EV registration-fee revenue to the county road fund, without raising taxes. Judge Hale is quoted by name in support. The resolution was to be forwarded to legislators and the Texas Association of Counties for the upcoming session. Bill filing for the 90th Legislature opened in November 2026; the session itself convenes January 2027. This is a stated, adopted county position, not yet enacted law.
- 2026-05-02 · step Stated (current) — source — Promise as stated in the cited source.