AUSTIN, Texas — Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell has resigned from his position to take a job in President Donald Trump’s administration. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gravell announced his resignation on Tuesday just before a meeting of the Williamson County Commissioners Court

  • Shortly after his announcement, Gravell was sworn into his new position as the Region 6 advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration

  • The Williamson County commissioners will now have to select a person to replace Gravell until the next general election, which is in November 2026

  • According to Williamson County, the Commissioners Court will have a special session on Friday at 11 a.m. to officially accept Gravell’s resignation and discuss who to appoint to the position

Gravell announced his resignation on Tuesday just before a meeting of the Williamson County Commissioners Court. 

Shortly after his announcement, Gravell was sworn into his new position as the Region 6 advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The region he will now be in charge of for the federal agency includes New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. 

The SBA was created by Republican President Dwight Eisenhower as a resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs. 

“It is a great honor to serve as the voice for the 4.5 million small businesses that make the South-Central region of the United States their home,” Gravell said in a news release. “Growing up at 1402 East Main Street in Round Rock, Texas, I never could have imagined that one day I would have the opportunity to serve the United States. This is truly an honor, but I will never forget where I came from.”

Under Texas law, the county judge is the chief executive officer of the county and presides over the commissioners court. Gravell was sworn into that position in January 2019 and led the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic among other crises. 

The Williamson County commissioners will now have to select a person to replace Gravell until the next general election, which is in November 2026. 

According to Williamson County, the Commissioners Court will have a special session on Friday at 11 a.m. to officially accept Gravell’s resignation and discuss who to appoint to the position.