Meet David

Governor Ann Richards and DavidOf the 1,016 County Commissioners in the state of Texas, few could have taken office more prepared to serve in county government than David Holmes. When one examines David’s background and that of his parents, it becomes clear what drives David toward public service.

David entered political involvement at the age of 8 when his father, Mike Holmes, ran for and won the position of Ector County District Attorney. During that campaign, David helped his parents walk block after block. Every door that opened brought new insights about the kind of community that his neighbors wanted. He has remained involved in every election cycle since.

Mike HolmesDavid remembers his mother serving on the Governor’s Commission for Women and leading a variety of community organizations. And he recalls that while his father served as District Attorney, his mother transitioned from being the first female bank Vice President in Odessa to becoming the county’s Purchasing agent. Not long after becoming the Purchasing Agent, Narita Holmes became recognized as an expert in Texas on local government procurement and helped start a state Purchasing association that trains county personnel and County Commissioners on how to conduct their jobs within the law.Narita Holmes

In 1993 while in college, David moved from Odessa to Austin and began his public service career in the office of Lt. Governor Bob Bullock. There, he gained understanding of the biggest problems facing state and local governments and acquired valuable experience in intergovernmental relations. He went on to work in the offices of Secretary of the Senate Betty King, Senator Leticia Van de Putte, and other leaders over 12 years in the Texas Legislature.

Lt. Governor Bob Bullock and DavidAfter a detour into the music industry from 2008 to 2011, David now works as a Mediator and Crisis Communication Consultant. Additionally, he serves as a volunteer in the Travis County Sheriff’s Victim Services Unit where he recently won the awards of “Volunteer of the Year, South,” and “Most Shifts,” serving over 1,200 hours on-call in 2015.

While serving in the Victim Services Unit, David has seen the intricate web of government, nonprofit, and private interests that work together to keep our community safe and prosperous. After bearing witness first-hand to the gaps and inefficiencies of our local government systems, David began to feel a familiar calling: that of public service.LVP

David commented, “I have done a variety of things throughout my life and career, but nothing has been more fulfilling than those times I have been in positions of service. Public service has always been a focus in my family, so I guess it isn’t surprising that it’s my calling too.”

David has lived in Precinct 3 for almost 15 of the 23 years he has lived in Austin and sees Precinct 3 as critical to Travis County’s future. The Commissioner in Precinct 3 has flipped back and forth the last three elections between Republicans and Democrats. David is excited to be running in a seat where he will talk to people on both sides.

Representative Buddy West and David in the Texas HouseDavid looks forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of Travis County as their next Commissioner in Precinct 3 where he will focus on the issues of Mobility, Affordability, Conservation, and Ethics reform. With his upbringing in  public service, his proximity to county government his entire life, his experience navigating government processes, and his activism in the community, David will hit the ground running as the next Travis County Commissioner in Precinct 3.