Happy January 2025! 

Your Horseshoe Bay POA Board of Directors sincerely wishes you a healthy and happy new year. The board of directors sought to make progress in different fronts. We have continued to commit ourselves in attending monthly City Council Meetings in order to remain up to date in city governance matters. We have worked diligently to comply with relevant state law by attending enrichment programs, continued with clean-up and updating our common areas, updating our bylaws in order to meet quorum for our election, maintaining legal counsel, improve internal processes by digitizing and coordinating records while identifying and addressing any gaps in our documents, consistently updating our website with new material, pertinent information, and postings and building social media platforms to help our community stay informed.

As we start a new calendar year, with a new board, we welcome our newly elected board directors, Cynthia Clinesmith and Joe Dan Rowland. We are eager to start this new year with our new board and look forward to the opportunities that 2025 will bring while working towards a harmonious and productive relationship with the Resort and the City. 

Following last month’s election, at our Organizational Meeting, the board elected its new officers.

Karen Calderon-Schweitzer, HSB POA President

Bryan Roach, Vice President

Yuki Graves, Secretary

Belinda Roberts, Treasurer

Rick Overholt, Director

Cynthia Clinesmith, Director

Joe Dan Rowland, Director

Committee Chairs will be appointed in the coming weeks to continue work on critical and overdue projects in an effort to maintain and enhance our neighborhoods as well as building a strong community core.

Another important responsibility has been bringing the community together and community outreach. We have accomplished that by organizing engaging community events throughout the year. Our Community Educational Series reached its second successful year. This series aims to keep our residents engaged and informed with pertinent topics that affect our community. Another addition to our events calendar is the HSB POA Consumer Showcase aiming to bring local businesses that support our Information and Phone Directory into Horseshoe Bay to interact with our community. 

Our main goal goes beyond entertainment as our focus has been getting our residents involved and engaged in our planned yearly events which contribute to help facilitate local awareness, act as a vehicle or starting point for connection, bring economic benefit for local vendors and artisans and to build a strong community spirit. The HSB POA’s yearly Spring Fling, Independence Day, Fall Fest and Chili Cook Off and our Member’s Holiday Event will continue to engage and entertain our community. 

We welcome your involvement, your thoughts, your ideas and your continued support. We urge our residents to become involved, and attend your POA monthly meetings to stay informed. We are currently seeking volunteers that want to donate their time to the benefit of our community.  If you are interested in volunteering, please reach Karen via email at karen@hsbpoa.org and include your area of interest. We look forward to a New Year and the opportunities it will bring!  

Marquis Cantu: A Life of Service, Dedication, and Leadership

by Whit Holcomb

Llano County has a new Sheriff. Today, Marquis Cantu is being sworn in, and we gain a leader whose life has been defined by service, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. A Horseshoe Bay resident, Marquis brings decades of law enforcement experience to his new role and a passion for the community he calls home.

Marquis’s journey began in San Angelo, where he graduated from Central High School in 1989. Inspired by his father, a United States Marine, Marquis enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Gulf War. Stationed in Hawaii and later deployed to Desert Storm and Okinawa, he served with distinction, earning multiple commendations and achieving the rank of Corporal. This military foundation shaped his discipline and commitment to service, which he carried into his career in law enforcement.

In 1994, Marquis joined the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and became a Texas State Trooper, where he began to excel in various roles, including as a Narcotics K-9 handler. With his loyal partner, a Labrador named Kilo, Marquis helped seize hundreds of pounds of drugs and played a pivotal role in narcotics investigations. His success led to a promotion to DPS Narcotics Sergeant, where he conducted undercover operations that dismantled major criminal enterprises. In 2008, Marquis achieved his dream of becoming a Texas Ranger, one of only eight officers selected that year.

As a Texas Ranger, Marquis served in multiple capacities, investigating violent crimes, providing security for high-ranking officials, and leading critical operations along the Texas-Mexico border as part of the elite Ranger Reconnaissance Team. His career spanned over 25 years with DPS, and in August 2020, Marquis retired from the Rangers, bringing his wealth of experience to Llano County.

After briefly serving as Justice of the Peace in Horseshoe Bay, Marquis ran for Sheriff of Llano County with the endorsement of retiring Sheriff Bill Blackburn. Elected in March 2024, Marquis is being sworn in today, January 1st, as Sheriff. Residing in Horseshoe Bay with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Marquis is dedicated to keeping the Hill Country safe and cherishes the community's support. "To serve as Sheriff is an honor," Marquis shares. "I will do all I can to protect our community and uphold the values of Llano County."

With Sheriff-Elect Marquis Cantu at the helm, Llano County can expect strong leadership grounded in integrity, experience, and a deep love for the people he serves.

Thank you Horseshoe Bay!

Recently in our Community Corner series, we’ve proudly featured the new leaders shaping Horseshoe Bay: Police Chief Jason Graham, Fire Chief Doug Fowler, Justice of the Peace Sam Silver, and now Sheriff Marquis Cantu.

These profiles highlight the dedication and expertise these individuals bring to their roles, ensuring the safety, well-being, and justice for our community. At HSB POA, we strive to keep our members informed and connected, showcasing the people who make Horseshoe Bay an exceptional place to live.