Hays County Judge - About

Below are the bios of the staff of the Office of the Hays County Judge:

  • County Judge Ruben Becerra
  • Chief of Staff Alex Villalobos
  • Community Liaison Anita Collins
  • Executive Assistant Alison Castillo


Judge Ruben Becerra


Judge Ruben Becerra, a long-time resident of San Marcos, was the Chair of the San Marcos Art Commission and San Marcos CISD Bond Oversight Committee. He was also President of the San Marcos Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos. He served on the San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commission, Parks and Recreation Board, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, and was a Board Member of the Texas Bobcat Athletic Foundation.  He also proudly served for many years on the Gary Job Corps Community Relations Council.  


In his first term as Hays County Judge, he served on the Capitol Area Council of Governments Executive Committee, CAPCOG Criminal Justice Executive Committee, and the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition Board. He is currently serving on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Justice and Public Safety Policy Steering Committee, the CARTS Board of Directors, and the Hays County Election Board. He is Chair of the Hays County Election Commission, Records Management Officer, Director of Homeland Security, Director of Emergency Management and Vice-Chair of the Bail Bond Board.  As the Hays County’s Chief Budget Officer, he proposed and adopted the lowest tax rate in over thirty years. 


Also in his first term, he created a Criminal Justice Task Force, an Elections Citizens Advisory Commission, the Census Complete Count Committee, the Council for the Indigenous and Tejano Community, the Citizens Advisory Commission for Redistricting, and a Film Advisory Board. 


He continues to work on a Center for Mental Wellness, Education and Research, a centralized Center for Pet Resources, Education and Research, and has taken steps to modernize the criminal justice system in Hays County by creating a Public Defenders Office and Pre-Trial Services. 


 Judge Becerra and his wife, Monica Mendez Becerra, have been married for more than 30 years. She owns a medical supply business providing prosthetics and orthotics to military veterans and breast cancer survivors.  They have two sons, Ruben Jr., and Cristian, who manage the family’s business, Gil’s Broiler Restaurant and The Manske Roll Bakery, the oldest restaurant and bakery in San Marcos.  


KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Chief of Staff Alex Villalobos


Alex Villalobos has been a resident of Kyle, Texas, since 2004. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master's Degree in Public Administration.  Alex is a 2011 Leadership San Marcos Alumni and a 2015 Senior New Leadership Fellow through the National Institution of Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.  


Alex is a member of the Capitol Area Council of Governments, Homeland Security Taskforce and Clean Air Coalition Advisory Council. He also an active member of the Hays County Criminal Justice Commission. Alex Villalobos has been married to his wife, Jamie, for more than 25 years and is the father of two children, Viviana and Alexander.

Community Liaison Anita Collins


Raised throughout the US and Spain as the child of a United States Air Force Sergeant, Anita joined the U.S. Navy out of high school and made home where the Navy sent her. She is now settled in San Marcos where she served on the San Marcos Arts Commission. She currently serves on the San Marcos Main Street Board, the Downtown Association of San Marcos Board, the Hays County Historical Commission, is a Founding Member of the Council for the Indigenous and Tejano Community, Chair of the Film Advisory Board and is on the Board of the Lost River Film Festival.


Anita received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema and Television from California State University. In addition to her position as Community Liaison for the Office of the Hays County Judge, Anita is also a screenwriter and filmmaker. 


Anita has two children: Bianca was a professional actress for over twenty years and is now Director of Public Programs at Zocalo Public Square in Los Angeles, and Connor, who is a Senior Business Development Team Lead for Cornerstone OnDemand in New York City. She also has a grandson, Jackson, who is now serving with the U.S. Army.

Executive Assistant Alison Castillo


Alison Castillo serves as the Executive Assistant to the Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra. With a strong academic foundation and a deep commitment to community involvement, she joined Judge Becerra’s team in early 2023. She attended Texas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Latino Studies, followed by a Master of Public Administration.


Her dedication to public service was further exemplified when she served as Student Body President, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to making a positive impact. During her time at Texas State University, Alison was an active participant in various campus initiatives that championed voting rights, student involvement, and community service.


She credits moving to Hays County for allowing her the opportunity to gain such a strong passion for criminal justice modernization, political participation, public policy, and community engagement. Her primary objective is to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment in our county, where every community member’s voice is heard and valued.

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