Collin County Judge Primary: Hill vs. Grady in GOP Race

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

The Republican primary for Collin County Judge comes at a critical moment for one of the fastest‑growing counties in Texas. Growth continues at a rapid pace. Property values keep rising. Traffic, public safety staffing, and infrastructure demands show no signs of slowing.

Republican voters must now decide whether to keep incumbent Chris Hill or hand the office to challenger Rick Grady.

What the Office Does

Despite the title, the county judge in Collin County isn’t spending the day in a courtroom. The job functions much more like the chief executive of county government, and the judge presides over the five‑member Commissioners Court.

Each member gets one vote. Together, they decide the property tax rate, approve the annual budget, sign off on major road and capital projects, and fund the sheriff’s office, jail operations, courts, and public health services.

The judge also sets meeting agendas and serves as the county’s emergency management director — the person who issues disaster declarations, coordinates during storms or crises, represents the county in regional transportation talks, and oversees bond elections and long‑term debt planning.

With more than a million residents and a budget measured in billions, the decisions coming out of Commissioners Court determine how quickly infrastructure keeps up, how public safety is staffed, and how much taxpayers ultimately shoulder. The judge doesn’t control cities, school districts, or the sheriff, but county funding levels directly shape how those services operate on the ground.

Chris Hill: Incumbent Running on Continuity

Chris Hill was first elected county judge in 2018 after serving as commissioner for Precinct 3. A certified public accountant and former pastor, Hill has built his campaign around fiscal restraint and maintaining existing long‑term transportation and capital plans.

His platform includes:

• Opposition to property tax increases
• Maintaining established transportation plans
• Support for hand‑marked paper ballots
• A development approach tied to infrastructure readiness

In a January questionnaire published by Community Impact, Hill emphasized “limited government, low taxes, and excellence in every aspect of county government.”

According to reporting by The Dallas Morning News, Hill has also denounced the proposed Muslim‑centered development formerly known as “EPIC City,” stating he would not support any development “grounded in discrimination.” He has criticized Rick Grady for participating in a candidate forum held at the mosque linked to the project.

Hill has not proposed restrictions on religious practice. His campaign messaging frames the issue as one of constitutional governance and development oversight.

Rick Grady: Municipal Experience and Infrastructure Pace

Rick Grady, a former Plano City Council member and Vietnam War veteran, has positioned himself as an experienced local government administrator. Before serving eight years on council, he was president of the Collin County Homeless Coalition and served on multiple Plano boards, including the Planning and Zoning Commission, according to The Dallas Morning News.

In January responses to Community Impact, Grady argued that county planning has not kept pace with growth, describing public safety staffing and infrastructure funding as insufficient and county debt as “not affordable.”

Grady emphasizes:

• Accelerating road construction in high‑growth corridors
• Expanding emergency service access, including in rural areas
• Coordinating infrastructure timelines with municipalities
• Strengthening fiscal oversight

Regarding the EPIC forum, Grady has said he attended to engage with constituents and would not approve any development that violates state or federal law.

What Republican Voters Are Choosing

This primary isn’t about which party will run Collin County — both candidates are Republicans. The decision is about what kind of leadership voters want as the county grows larger, more complex, and more diverse.

Chris Hill has aligned himself with broader conservative messaging, including strong criticism of the EPIC development and warnings framed around religious governance. Supporters see that as vigilance and consistency with national concerns. Others see it as a shift toward cultural battles that haven’t always been central to county‑level work.

Rick Grady has taken a different approach, keeping his campaign focused on infrastructure timing, emergency services, and coordination with fast‑growing cities. His messaging avoids cultural or religious framing and stays rooted in administrative issues.

For Republican voters, the choice is essentially about emphasis. Should the county judge’s office reflect the wider ideological debates that have shaped national politics? Or should it stay centered on the practical responsibilities that affect daily life — roads, budgets, emergency management, and service delivery?

The race ultimately asks what kind of leadership Collin County wants as it grows — one that leans into broader cultural debates, or one that keeps the focus on the day‑to‑day work of running a fast‑growing county.

Why the Choice Matters

Collin County isn’t slowing down. Roads have to keep up with growth. Public safety has to keep pace. And the county has to balance rising service demands with what taxpayers can afford.

Republican primary voters will decide whether to stick with Hill’s continuity‑driven approach or move toward Grady’s more city‑style focus on timing and coordination. With primary turnout usually low, the choice will fall to the Republicans who follow county government most closely — the voters who are thinking about how growth, taxes, and development will shape Collin County in the years ahead.