Office of Travis County Judge
Andy Brown
Andy serves as the Travis County Judge. The County Judge presides over the Travis County Commissioners Court which oversees the county’s $1.4 billion annual budget, acts as the County’s chief administrator, and is the Director of Emergency Management for the County.
Since taking office, Judge Brown has significantly increased resources to historically underserved communities, including starting a mass COVID-19 vaccination effort prioritizing communities of color. During winter storm Uri, Judge Brown directed additional food, water, and utility support to the hardest hit areas in Travis County. Judge Brown focuses on investing in mental and behavioral health to help people receive care outside of the jail system, improving access to affordable housing, and increasing transparency and community participation in County business. Under Judge Brown’s leadership, the Commissioners Court voted to fund $110 million for housing for people experiencing homelessness which is anticipated to create as many as 3,000 additional housing units in Austin and Travis County through models like the Community First Village.
Before taking office, Judge Brown helped create the Sobering Center-Austin to serve as an alternative to jail for intoxicated people, started a successful law firm, and served on local boards and commissions. He grew up in Austin and graduated from The University of Texas School of Law. Andy served as a legislative aide to former Texas Speaker of the House Pete Laney, a campaign manager for Congressman Lloyd Doggett, a law clerk for the US District Court in McAllen, finance director and senior advisor to Beto O’Rourke, and Travis County Democratic Party Chair.
Judge Brown lives in Austin with his wife, two kids, one dog, two cats, and three chickens.
County Judge Staff
Chief of Staff
Kate Garza
(512) 854-9555
Kate Garza serves as Judge Brown's Chief of Staff. A lawyer, Kate started her career as a second-grade teacher in the Cabrini Green housing projects in Chicago where she saw firsthand how our broken social safety net impacts our communities and can push working families into crisis. She believes that together we can fix it.
Kate has spent the past twenty years working in health, education, and labor policy to give voice and build power to improve the lives of working people, children, and communities of color. Kate has worked for the United States Senate HELP Committee, House of Representatives Education & Workforce Committee, and the Departments of Education and Labor, where she served as an official in the Obama Administration. In Austin, Kate served as senior counsel to Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and then as Director of Advocacy & External Affairs for the Ascension Seton Hospital System.
Kate lives in Austin with her husband José, two kids, and dog, Bizzy.
Communication Advisor
Tom Vazquez
(512) 854-9555
Tom Vazquez serves as the communication advisor to Judge Brown. Before coming to Judge Brown's office, Tom spent nearly three years working in Television news. He spent the first part of his TV career working in Wichita Falls, Texas where he covered rural Texas politics, including the overnight coverage as Winter Storm Uri moved into Texas. He recently worked at KXAN-TV, in Austin, as its Weekend and Weekday Morning Show Producer. Tom contributed to significant coverage of events like the 2022 March Tornado Outbreak in Williamson County and helped lead coverage of the Robb Elementary mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Originally from Houston, Texas, Tom graduated from Texas State University, majoring in Electronic Media and Mass Communication. Tom likes to exercise and try new restaurants around Austin in his free time.
Agenda Coordinator
Elizabeth Medina
(512) 854-9229
Elizabeth currently serves as the Agenda Coordinator in Judge Brown's office. She has over 17 years of experience working for Travis County. Elizabeth started her career at the District Clerk’s office where she served as the Training and Education Coordinator and Liaison to the Family and Civil District Courts. A proud St. Edward’s graduate, she will receive her MBA in December 2021. She has deep ties in our community and has demonstrated servant leadership though her many volunteer efforts which include the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, Austin Chapter, where she previously served as Chair and where she received the prestigious Estrella award.
Policy Counsel
Emma Hilbert
(512) 854-9555
Emma Hilbert serves as Policy Counsel to Judge Brown. Prior to coming to the Travis County Judge’s Office, Emma worked as an attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, where she used litigation, advocacy, and community lawyering to defend voting rights and advance racial and economic justice. Emma came to Texas after a fellowship with the Legal Aid Justice Center in Virginia, where she advocated for clients in the organization’s economic justice and youth justice programs. She is a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law and Haverford College, where she majored in anthropology. Emma lives in Austin, and is excited to continue a career in service to the community with Judge Brown’s Office.
