About me

Born right here in Bastrop Memorial hospital, I am a Bastropian through and through. From shopping as a child at Winns and Super S, to when Walmart was not super and every thing but the Oyster Bar was shut down in this town by 8 Pm.... I have lived and loved Bastrop County my whole life.

I have lived in Cedar Creek since it was a one stop sign town. The town consisted of Cedar Creek Store which held our post office and Betty's Burger Barn, owned and operated by my grandmother, Betty Purvis. My Mother , Brenda Cox worked for the school district, and that means you never knew where she was going to be so best be on your best behavior and if you grew up in a small town everyone's Momma was your Momma so make good choices. My Dad, Cecil Cox, was a truck driver, he hauled cattle from local ranches, picked up from sale barns across Texas and spent his later years hauling liquid base asphalt as an owner/operator.

My sister Betty Cox, married to David Faz, and I are very close. We often get mistaken for one another and get asked if we are twins. She gave me my "mini me" niece Paisley Faske. Paisley is a senior at Cedar Creek this year. She is active in Rockne 4-H as the President and Sweetheart, this year she is showing goats and has taken on a show steer.

I am a 2002 graduate of Bastrop High School. Go Bears! In high school I was a member of FFA, and showed market chickens. My husband, Tracy (Stedo) Gonzales and I started dating in 2004. Tracy is also a Bastrop native and Bastrop alumni. His family came to Bastrop in the very early 1900's to work in the coal mines, You can visit the Bastrop County Historical Society Museum where Vidal Soza, his Grandfather, is showcased in the Phelan coal mine exhibit.

In 2007 Tracy and I welcomed our only child in to the world. Our son, Bryden, is a 2025 Cedar Creek High School graduate. He will follow in his father's career path and join him at the City of Austin Water Utility Department. During Bryden's school years we spent many afternoons and Saturdays at the fields whether it was a baseball, soccer or football field. As Bryden entered high school his focus became rodeo and we dedicated weekends to traveling across central Texas and making memories. We raised our son on hard work and traditional values, with the same hometown fellowship his father and I both grew up with.

Family time is where we invest our hearts. We are very family oriented and spend as much time as we can together.

As a Bastrop native, I miss our small hometown but also enjoy the convenience the growth has brought. The expansion of our town has no end in sight and I am excited to watch it continue to flourish.

My values

My values are traditional and rooted in small town community, below are a few words I strive to guide my moral compass:

Integrity: Acting in accordance with moral convictions, being honest, and ethical in all actions.
Compassion: Showing kindness, empathy, and care towards others.
Growth: A commitment to continuous learning, improvement, and personal development.
Responsibility: Being accountable for actions, decisions, and following through on commitments.

My experiences and qualifications

After high school, I worked as a preschool teacher at Sweet Pea Learning center under the ownership of Mrs. Rolanda Marshall. At night, I attended a trade school in Austin earning my Registered Dental Assistant license through the state of Texas. Upon graduating with honors, I joined a cutting edge, advanced technology periodontal office as a surgical assistant.

When our son was born, I made the decision to leave the dental field and return to early child education where I could continue to contribute financially and maximize the time with our son. This decision lead to partnering with my sister to open our own child care learning center in Cedar Creek, Lil Texans Childcare Center. Our self created curriculum focused on kindergarten readiness, cognitive development and developing each child individually through play based learning.

That business venture lasted 5 years, in February 2015 we closed the center. July 1st, 2015 I found my main career passion, the legal field! I took a position as a paralegal at a downtown Bastrop law firm. I quickly surpassed the managing partner's expectations as a fast learner and became an asset to the firm as a multi- area practice paralegal. In 2018 the firm partnered with a real estate closing / title insurance company and my focus became curative work for real estate titles and preparing legal documents for real estate transactions.

In May of 2021 I transitioned to the judicial side of the legal field as a Deputy Civil District Clerk. As a deputy clerk you are the front line between the judicial system and the public. As the first point of contact and sometimes the only contact a self represented person might have with the court systems the service and guidance a deputy clerk provides is essential. I listened and witnessed first hand the need for improvements of resources, processes and procedures.

In September of 2025, I was terminated for informing the current District Clerk I would be campaigning for Bastrop County District Clerk.

So, how do these wildly different career paths qualify ME to be your next Bastrop District Clerk?

Each career certainly taught me a wide spectrum of responsibility, appreciation of service and leadership skills.

Periodontal surgical assistant

Precision & Compliance: Worked in a highly regulated surgical setting where accuracy, protocols, and attention to detail were critical.
Confidential Records Management: Handled sensitive patient records with strict confidentiality—experience directly relevant to safeguarding court records.
Calm Under Pressure & Teamwork: Supported surgeons in high-stress environments, coordinating with a team and responding efficiently when it mattered most.

Early Childhood Development, Local Bastrop Business Owner, Lil Texans Childcare Center

Leadership & Accountability: Managed staff, training, scheduling, and daily operations in a highly regulated environment where families depend on consistency and trust.
Fiscal & Operational Management: Oversaw budgets, payroll, records, and compliance—making responsible decisions while meeting strict state standards.
Public Service & Problem-Solving: Delivered clear communication, resolved issues quickly, and balanced compassion with structure to serve families effectively.

Legal Assistant

Worked directly with clients from intake to settlement
Court Filings & Case Flow: Prepared and tracked pleadings, orders, and deadlines—understanding how cases move through the court and where delays occur.
Records, Accuracy & Compliance: Worked daily with official court documents, deadlines, and confidentiality—experience essential to protecting court records.
Judicial, Attorney & Public Interaction: Communicated with judges, court coordinators, clerks, attorneys, and clients—experience navigating between the courtroom, the clerk’s office, and the public

Deputy District Clerk

Hands-On Knowledge of Office Operations: Worked daily in case intake, filings, record management, and courtroom support—understanding what actually happens behind the counter and in the courtroom.
Judicial & Courtroom Support: Assisted judges, coordinators, and attorneys with dockets, hearings, and orders—knowing how critical accuracy and timeliness are to keeping the courts moving.
Statutory Compliance & Deadlines: Applied Texas rules, local rules, and statutory deadlines—experience essential for ensuring the office stays compliant and audit-ready.
Public Service & Problem Resolution: Helped attorneys, self-represented litigants, and the public navigate court procedures—balancing service with firm adherence to the law.
Records Integrity & Confidentiality: Managed sensitive and protected records with precision—understanding the responsibility the District Clerk holds as custodian of court records.
Jury & Case Management Systems: Worked within jury management, e-filing, and case management systems—experience that informs smarter implementation and training.
Identifying Inefficiencies: Saw firsthand where processes were delayed, duplicated, or resisted—insight that drives meaningful, practical improvements.
Leadership from the Ground Up: Experienced the impact of leadership decisions on staff morale, training, and performance—knowledge that shapes better leadership choices.

FUN FACTS! My parents raised us on the standard of if you want something you work for it!

Here are some of my high school jobs and side jobs through out the years starting at age 13!

Dish washer at a small restaurant that was located at FM 535 and HWY 21, Sharon's Place.
Traveling pony ride and petting zoo attendant, including learning to tie balloon animals and offering face painting
Subway sandwich artist---YES ---it certainly is an art!
Custom wooden furniture prep tech- hand sanded commissioned wood furniture in preparation for finishes
Kennel Tech at Non profit dog and cat center
Land Surveyor Rod-man- worked out in the field as the person holding the prism pole
Clay skeet and archery instructor at Bastrop's Lost Pines Hyatt, also included supporting the horseback services with saddling and hauling the trail horses