Voters Boost Abatement Foes to Runoff

In the March 3 Republican primary election in Young County, Texas, voters elevated several candidates who have voiced opposition to tax abatements for proposed large-scale projects like the Tapaderos Solar Farm and the Project Saltworks data center. The county commissioner races in Precincts 2 and 4 drew particular attention, with challengers defeating or forcing runoffs against incumbent commissioners who had supported tax abatements. In Precinct 2, landowner Travis Kunkel defeated incumbent Commissioner Scott Shook, who had served one term. And in Precinct 4, Cooper Dodd and Bobby Swetnam, both of whom have publicly opposed the proposed data center and related tax breaks, advanced to a May runoff. The county judge race also featured candidates critical of the tax abatements. Former Young County Judge John C. Bullock, who previously served nearly three decades as both commissioner and county judge, led the field but will face off against incumbent Judge Win Graham in a runoff. Graham has overseen negotiations with the solar farm and data center projects, citing estimates they could bring $15 million annually in new tax revenue. Because no Democrats filed for the countywide races, the winners of the Republican runoffs will effectively decide who will take office in 2027. However, the current commissioners court has already expressed support for the data center project and approved a tax abatement for the Tapaderos Solar Farm, leaving unclear what options opponents would have to alter or block the developments once agreements are finalized.