Candidate Profiles: Stephens County Commissioner, Precinct 4 — 2026 Republican Primary
Below you’ll find the Candidate Profile Questionnaires that were returned to the Breckenridge Texan by the candidates for the Republican nomination for Stephens County Commissioner, Precinct 4.
The candidates’ profiles are listed in the order that they will be listed on the ballot.
Incumbent Tanner Wade and Donald Perry are running for the Precinct 4 County Commissioner nomination in the Republican Primary election next month, with early voting starting next week. There are no Democratic candidates for the County Commissioner position.
At the end of this story is an editor’s note that explains how the questionnaires were distributed, compiled, etc.
Click here to read the main election article.
Tanner Wade
Tanner Wade
What office are you seeking? County Commissioner of Precinct 4.
What is your current occupation?
I currently serve as the County Commissioner of Precinct 4 for Stephens County.
Tell us a little about your family.
I am married to Jessica Wade, and we have two sons, Jace Holmes, age 16, and Ashton Holmes, age 13. Jessica owns Halo Cosmetics and participates in many civic organizations. Jace is a junior at Breckenridge High School and is active in the band. Ashton is a seventh-grade student at Breckenridge Junior High School and participates in athletics as well as band. We enjoy family activities together such as physical fitness, church fellowship, camping, hunting, trips to the mountains, and snow skiing.
What are your community involvements/civic affiliations?
My family and I attend One Church and also volunteer doing yard maintenance at the church. I am a member of the Breckenridge Lions Club and a previous member of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce. I have helped with the Stephens County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. My position as County Commissioner allows me to take an active role in meeting the needs of the community. As an elected official, the citizens of our county employ me, and I take my responsibility of servanthood very seriously.
What is your education?
I attended Breckenridge schools from grades K-12 and graduated from Breckenridge High School in May of 2012. I attended Tarleton State University starting the fall of 2012 and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in May of 2015.
What training, experiences, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I was raised by James and Donna Wade who I believe are two of the hardest working people I know and instilled a strong work ethic in me from an early age. A hard honest day’s work was never an option in my family; it was an expectation. I began working in the family oilfield business and on our farm at an early age. We always had heavy machinery on hand, so I learned how to operate a backhoe, excavator, tractor, skid steer, dozer, maintainer, etc. during my youth. I have operated equipment from that time on. During my high school and college years, I worked at our equipment rental business and managed the store upon graduation. I bought and sold equipment, managed employees, and customer service, performed equipment maintenance, transported equipment, and managed finances. I then moved to Colorado to work at Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers as an equipment inspector and assistant yard manager. I was employed there three years traveling across the country to auctions and inspecting equipment for upcoming auctions. I then returned to Breckenridge with my wife and sons and started my own excavation business called TW Dozer building tanks, roadways, and clearing land. I ran my own business up until the time I was appointed as County Commissioner.
First off, I plan on being a working commissioner and that this job entails being out in the county personally operating equipment and doing road maintenance. This is at least a 40 hour per week job and should be treated as one. I am the best candidate for this job because I am a man of integrity and I do what I say I am going to do. I pride myself on hard work that produces positive results. I have addressed many roadway concerns during my current term as Precinct 4 County Commissioner. I will be a good steward of county funds, and I will do my absolute best to work hard to maintain and improve our roads and infrastructure. You will see me maintaining roadways alongside my employee. I know the values of heavy machinery and how to properly maintain the equipment. I have my Class A CDL certification which allows me to drive a semi to haul rock and equipment to jobsites. I have worked under budgetary constraints in business and have made well-informed decisions regarding fiscal management. I possess effective communication skills, and I lead by example. Above all, I am committed to Stephens County and dedicated to addressing the needs of its citizens, and I am grateful for the chance to serve.
What do you think are the most critical issues facing Stephens County and what would you do to address them?
Starting with Precinct 4 I believe we must take immediate action on paved county roads in the precinct which are mostly located around Hubbard Creek Lake. The county owns a distributor truck and chip sealing machine and we learned the process over the summer and completed 1 mile in October. I expect to chip seal several miles per year in the precinct until they are all completed. As for the county as a whole I would like to figure out ways to attract more businesses into the county and working with the EDC. As a county we need solutions that will bring more opportunities to our community for us to continue to grow. Transparent leadership is an important quality because it allows us in Precinct 4 to understand what jobs we are wanting to complete and other county business that arise because the people deserve to know. By planning wisely and working together, we can strengthen Stephens County while preserving the rural values that make it home.
Describe a personal accomplishment of which you are proud and how it makes you the best candidate for the job?
A personal accomplishment I have is running my own construction business and putting the time and hard work into making it successful. From late nights on a dozer building tanks to long days hauling rock and road materials, I was able to complete my tasks. I believe it made me stronger as a person, and I will carry these skills over to Precinct 4 and represent the citizens of Stephens County. I promise to always work hard for the people and be as transparent as possible. I greatly appreciate the opportunity of being Precinct 4 County Commissioner and hope to continue that role.
Donald H Perry
Donald H Perry
What office are you seeking? County Commissioner Precinct 4
What is your current occupation?
Retired
Tell us a little bit about your family.
In 1968, my parents, Herman and Evelyn, relocated my brother Dwayne and me to Breckenridge after my father was transferred from Brownwood by Sears. Dwayne and I both graduated from Breckenridge Buckaroo High School. Although I like to joke that we’re not from here since we’ve “only,” been here for 58 years, we genuinely feel like lifelong members of the community. In 1982, I married Cindy—now Dr. Perry—and became part of her family, which included her two sons, Doug and Steve. Their sister Amanda was born in 1984, and eventually, all three children graduated from Breckenridge High School. Amanda and her husband, Micheal Halari, have called Breckenridge home for more than twelve years. Their four children—Evelyn, Shane, Savannah, and Eli—are active members of the First Baptist Church, attend local schools, and frequently participate in sports, 4-H, and UIL academic competitions.
What are your community involvements/civic affiliations?
My involvement in community service primarily revolves around ONE Church Breckenridge, formerly Bethany Baptist, where I actively support the Celebrate Recovery program. Additionally, I participate in outreach initiatives organized by ResourceCare Breckenridge, assisting with holiday meals and activities for individuals without family members. I have volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Food Bank, and I regularly contribute to local fund-raising efforts. Overall, I strive to remain available to offer support to those in need through our church.
What is your education/military service?
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Texas at Brownsville, an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences with a focus on Business from Cisco Junior College, and a Mechanics Degree in HVAC from Texas State Technical Institute (TSTC).
What training, experiences and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I have experience in factory work, gas company roustabout duties, sales, office management, and special education teaching. Collaborating with intelligent colleagues taught me valuable lessons. These roles helped me understand Stephens County’s challenges, and I have researched solutions for our local government and community. Above all, I aim to seek God’s wisdom in all my actions. I am confident in my ability to learn new activities and to collaborate with people as a team.
What do you think are the most critical issues facing Stephens County and what would you do to address them, if elected?
Stephens County is dealing with several major issues, including a fluctuating or stagnant tax base caused by population loss, exemptions on large properties, and heavy dependence on unpredictable oil and gas revenues. These challenges often lead to tight budgets, making it difficult to maintain essential services. There are also ongoing concerns about infrastructure development, emergency response, access to healthcare, drought, economic diversification, and balancing property rights with community growth.
To tackle these problems, it is wise to seek out legitimate new sources of income like grant funding and attracting businesses, while working to mitigate unfunded state or federal mandates. Promoting sustainable growth without losing Stephens County’s unique character is crucial. I hope to assist in recruiting new doctors by informing them about loan repayment programs available and pointing out advantages like shorter travel times as well as many small-town benefits that we take for granted also important to anyone considering Stephens County. I have also investigated affordable road maintenance methods to ensure efficiency despite budget constraints. I understand there are many ongoing challenges, but I am committed to working hard and being fully transparent as we search for solutions.
Describe a personal accomplishment of which you are proud of and how it helps make you the best candidate for the office.
Selecting a single personal accomplishment relevant to this role is challenging, as the position demands a well-rounded candidate with diverse experience. My time as a field representative for NFIB provided me with unique insight into the complexities faced by independent businesses. As part of our Fort Worth division’s recognition, I had opportunities to travel to Washington, D.C. and Austin to engage directly with cabinet members and congresspeople, effectively conveying the concerns and recommendations of local business owners. My input was positively received, and these experiences are directly applicable to working with both state and federal officials. Additionally, completing my college degree later in life shows my lifelong commitment to learning, adaptability, and flexibility.
Editor’s Note:
Each candidate in a contested Stephens County race in the 2026 Primary Election was presented with a list of questions via email.
All of the questionnaires were exactly the same. We asked the following questions:
- Name:
- What office are you seeking?
- What is your current occupation?
- Tell us a little bit about your family.
- What are your community involvements/civic affiliations?
- What is your education/military service?
- What training, experiences and characteristics qualify you for this position?
- What do you think are the most critical issues facing Stephens County and what would you do to address them?
- Describe an accomplishment of which you are proud and how it helps make you the best candidate for the office?
Each candidate responded to our questionnaire with their answers and a photograph. If a candidate’s profile does not include a specific question, it is because they didn’t answer that question.
The only editing we did was to run a basic spell-check on the files and to put the questionnaires in a standard format.
If you have any questions about the profiles or our procedure, send an email to: news@breckenridgetexan.com
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