The retired Lubbock firefighter said his experience managing emergencies and working with public boards prepared him to address southeast Lubbock County’s infrastructure and budget challenges.

Kevin Pounds entered the 2026 race for Lubbock County commissioner in Precinct 2 arguing that several basic government responsibilities had been neglected: supporting rural fire departments, maintaining roads and protecting county buildings from expensive deterioration.

Pounds, a retired Lubbock Fire Rescue battalion chief, presented his campaign as an extension of his public-service career. Rather than emphasizing political experience, he pointed to 24 years as a firefighter, work with community organizations and experience overseeing retirement benefits as preparation for the Commissioners Court.

That message ultimately carried him through a three-candidate Republican primary and a runoff victory, positioning Pounds to become the next commissioner representing southeastern Lubbock County.

Pounds is a fourth-generation Lubbock County resident with family connections to the Acuff, Idalou and Roosevelt communities. His campaign biography says he graduated from Roosevelt High School, South Plains College and Angelo State University. He and his wife, Tammy, have three sons.

When he announced his campaign outside the Lubbock County Courthouse in September 2025, Pounds described himself as a problem-solver accustomed to working as part of a team. His initial priorities included county roads, the long-running closure of Horseshoe Bend near Slaton and the future needs of the Lubbock County Detention Center, according to KCBD’s announcement coverage.

Fire departments became a defining issue

Pounds’ firefighting background made public safety a natural focus of his campaign.

He criticized reductions affecting Lubbock County’s volunteer fire departments, saying those organizations already operated with limited resources while responding to emergencies across large rural areas. Volunteer departments protect homes, farms and businesses outside municipal fire-service boundaries, making their funding particularly important to Precinct 2 residents.

In his candidate questionnaire, Pounds said reducing volunteer fire department budgets during the latest budget cycle was a mistake. He promised to work toward restoring support and ensuring the departments had the equipment and resources necessary to respond safely.

Pounds did not argue that public-safety departments should be exempt from financial oversight. His position was that commissioners must distinguish essential needs from optional spending, with first responders receiving priority when the county builds its budget.

After winning the Republican runoff, Pounds said first responders would be at the front of his budget considerations. He acknowledged, however, that he would need to meet with department heads and examine the complete budget before identifying specific reductions elsewhere.

That caution reflected one of the realities of the commissioner’s job. Commissioners establish the county budget and property-tax rate, but they must weigh requests from the Sheriff’s Office, courts, roads department, volunteer fire departments and numerous administrative offices.

The county’s official description of the Precinct 2 office lists budget adoption, tax rates, county facilities, contracts, rural government and road maintenance among the Commissioners Court’s principal duties.

Closed road became an example of broader frustration

One road in particular illustrated Pounds’ criticism of county infrastructure management.

County Road 3600, commonly known as Horseshoe Bend, had remained closed for years without what Pounds considered a clear plan for reopening it. The route connects residents in the area with Slaton. Its closure pushes some drivers onto Gentry Lane, an unpaved road that includes a steep climb out of the canyon.

Pounds argued that residents deserved a firm explanation, a realistic timeline and safer access. His focus was not limited to repairing individual roads after complaints arose. He called for a long-term plan that would anticipate growth, establish maintenance priorities and use road funds more efficiently.

His campaign website summarized the position as fixing roads while managing them responsibly and avoiding waste. Pounds connected that approach to public safety, noting that road conditions affect emergency response times as well as everyday travel.

Maintenance before replacement

Pounds applied a similar philosophy to county-owned buildings and equipment.

He argued that delayed maintenance had allowed relatively small problems to develop into expensive repairs. County facilities include the courthouse, jail, office buildings and other properties required to provide public services. Commissioners must decide whether to repair, renovate or replace those assets—and how to finance the work.

Pounds proposed developing a long-range facilities plan that would identify maintenance needs before they became emergencies. Such a plan, he said, could extend the useful life of county property and reduce the likelihood that taxpayers would face large, unexpected costs.

His professional background also included financial oversight. Pounds said he chaired the Lubbock Fire Pension Fund, which manages benefits for more than 750 active and retired firefighters. He also represented members on a legislative committee connected with the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act.

Outside the fire service, Pounds founded the Lubbock County Meat Goat Association in 1999 and served for more than 14 years on the Idalou Stock Show Board. He cited those roles as evidence that he could work with boards, build consensus and complete projects without the personal conflicts that had increasingly characterized Commissioners Court meetings.

Pounds emerged from a crowded race

Pounds faced political consultant M. Trey Newton and Slaton businessman Justin Martin in the March 3 Republican primary. He led the field with more than 39% of the vote but did not reach the majority required to avoid a runoff.

Newton narrowly secured the second runoff position, finishing roughly 120 votes ahead of Martin. Pounds then defeated Newton in the May 26 runoff with about 60% of the vote.

No Democrat competed for the office, leaving Pounds positioned to succeed Commissioner Jason Corley after Corley’s term concludes at the end of 2026. KCBD’s runoff report said Pounds planned to begin meeting with department leaders and preparing for the county’s 2027 budget process.

His victory turns his campaign priorities into measurable expectations: stronger support for first responders, progress on long-closed roads and a maintenance strategy that prevents county buildings from becoming even more expensive problems.