THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES THAT MATTER
Dan Smith is a proud fifth-generation Texan who has called Katy and Southern Waller County home since 2015. With more than two decades of professional experience in Fortune 100 companies, Dan brings a strong background in leadership, finance, and operational accountability. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA.
Throughout his career, Dan has led large teams and managed complex, multi-million-dollar budgets—experience that shapes his approach to public service. He believes government should be efficient, disciplined, and responsive, with every decision focused on delivering real value to the people it serves.
Dan was elected to Katy City Council in 2021 with overwhelming support and earned the trust of voters through steady, results-driven leadership. His time in office reinforced a simple philosophy: local government works best when it stays focused on core responsibilities, listens to residents, and spends taxpayer dollars wisely.
Dan and his wife Kathy have been married since 2007 and are raising their son, Bennett, in Katy ISD. They are active in the community and worship together at Katy Community Fellowship. Faith, family, and service are central to their lives and guide Dan’s approach to leadership.
Dan Smith is running for Waller County Commissioner to bring proven leadership, conservative principles, and a commitment to thoughtful, responsible governance to Southern Waller County.
Priorities
Southern Waller County is home to dedicated law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders who work every day to protect our families and communities. As our area continues to grow, we must ensure public safety remains a top priority by making smart, responsible investments that give these professionals the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.
During his service on Katy City Council, Dan Smith consistently supported increased funding for public safety—voting for every budget that added police officers, firefighters, and paramedics to meet the needs of a growing community.
Dan also understands the safety risks posed by increased commercial truck traffic cutting through residential areas and local roads. He has supported targeted enforcement efforts to address these violations, including the addition of a dedicated Commercial Motor Vehicle officer to improve safety and compliance.
Strong public safety requires proactive planning. Dan believes in budgeting responsibly for modern equipment, vehicles, and resources so first responders across Southern Waller County are prepared to respond quickly and effectively—today and in the years ahead.
Dan stands strong with our first responders and unapologetically Backs the Blue!
The condition of many roads in Southern Waller County is critically poor. Years of rapid growth have overwhelmed infrastructure that was never expanded to meet demand, leaving roads that are unsafe, undersized, and inadequate for the population we already have—let alone the growth that is already coming. While the 2023 mobility projects will help, they will take years to complete and won’t be enough to handle our projected growth.
Transportation and mobility is a top priority for Dan. He believes the county must find efficiencies and cost savings in its operations and direct those resources toward road repair, widening, and improvements.
Real progress will require partnership. Dan has the relationships and will work with neighboring counties and local municipalities to deliver projects faster and more cost-effectively.
Growth must pay for growth. Developers who wish to build in Waller County must be required to contribute their fair share toward the infrastructure needed to support that growth, rather than shifting the burden onto existing residents.
Today’s taxpayers should not be forced to pay for tomorrow’s residents.
Finally, Dan supports smarter development and job creation that reduce traffic at its source—encouraging development patterns that place homes, services, and jobs closer together so fewer residents are forced into long daily commutes.
Dan Smith brings a strong background in finance and business, along with a proven record of conservative fiscal leadership. During his tenure on Katy City Council, the city achieved historically low tax rates while continuing to deliver high-quality services—demonstrating that responsible budgeting and strong service can go hand in hand.
As Southern Waller County continues to grow, Dan believes it is critical to apply those same conservative principles at the county level. That means passing balanced budgets, exercising discipline with taxpayer dollars, and ensuring government lives within its means.
Dan is committed to prioritizing essential services while keeping costs as low as possible for families, seniors, and businesses in Southern Waller County. Every dollar spent should be justified, transparent, and focused on providing real value to the people who pay the bills—the taxpayers.
Dan Smith witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of the Tax Day Flood and Hurricane Harvey—events that made clear how vulnerable our communities can be during major rain events. For families across Southern Waller County, flood control is not theoretical; it directly affects homes, safety, and quality of life.
Flooding is a complex challenge, but smart planning and disciplined execution can significantly reduce its impact. During his service on Katy City Council, Dan supported practical, engineering-driven solutions focused on moving water efficiently while respecting the responsibilities and constraints of upstream and downstream partners.
As Waller County Commissioner, Dan will prioritize:
Investing in high-quality engineering, drainage studies, and flood planning that maximize water movement while coordinating responsibly with neighboring jurisdictions.
Ensuring county crews have the equipment and resources needed to keep ditches, culverts, and drainage infrastructure clear so water can flow as intended.
Encouraging responsible development that results in a net benefit to drainage, including greater retention and detention capacity than the natural ground absorption being replaced.
Dan believes proactive flood mitigation—done responsibly and collaboratively—is essential to protecting property, infrastructure, and families throughout Southern Waller County, both today and for future generations.
Dan has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives aimed at fostering smart, managed business growth for both residents and business owners in Southern Waller County.
In 2020, Dan campaigned for the creation of an additional role at Katy City Hall to assist business owners. This effort led to the establishment of the Community Development Director role—a first in the area. In addition to working directly with business owners, this Director position oversees both the planning and permitting, creating a more seamless experience for everyone involved.
Dan also spearheaded significant technology updates to enhance the experience of residents and business owners during the permitting process in Katy. He will bring this same focus and initiative to making all interactions with Waller County better.
Large business investments are critical components to the financial security and future of Waller County. Dan has a proven track record of working with developers in a collaborative way that benefits residents. Growth is inevitable, but smart growth that benefits residents requires intention. Developers must pay their fair share to improve infrastructure, mobility, and quality of life.
Katy is home to many outstanding parks and green spaces. We should continue to invest in these areas. Dan voted to approve the creation of a Master Parks Plan, which has been completed and implementation is underway.
The 3B Learning Center is under development and will provide beautiful greenspace that will serve as a place of education and historic preservation for generations to come.
Leyendecker Landing is under development and will provide greenspace, walking trails, regional flood mitigation, connection to Katy through a trail system, and more.
Large developments, through MUD funding, must have flood mitigation and accompanying green spaces in their plans. Substandard developments that cannot meet these requirements should not be approved.
Dan Smith is a principled conservative who believes county government should focus on its core responsibilities—not social activism or political agendas that fall outside its proper role. Commissioner’s Court exists to manage roads, public safety, infrastructure, and taxpayer dollars responsibly, not to engage in ideological causes better left to individuals, families, churches, and civic organizations.
Dan is a strong believer in personal responsibility, limited government, and the protection of private property rights. He supports conservative budgeting, low taxes, and policies that respect the freedoms of individuals while holding government accountable to the people it serves.
Dan and his wife Kathy are conservative Republicans who have both served as voting delegates to the Texas Republican Party Convention. Their conservative values are rooted in faith, family, and service to others. They are God-fearing Christians who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
Dan is unapologetically pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-family. He believes strong families, faith-based communities, and respect for individual liberty are the foundation of a strong county and a strong state.
As Waller County Commissioner, Dan Smith will govern with integrity, humility, and a clear commitment to conservative principles—focused on serving the people of Southern Waller County, not advancing political distractions.
