Meet Marie Fellhauer, Candidate for County Commissioner in District 11
Today, our Grassroots Spotlight features Marie Fellhauer, who is running for election as a County Commissioner in District 11.
“My husband and I sat down and we prayed about this, and I asked, ‘God, please let me know if this is something I should do.’ And I’m going to cry saying this, but I honestly feel like I’m called for this right now. I’m called to be in this fight... I want to protect and preserve Williamson County… So it matters to me. It matters to my heart.”
Q: Can you give us a quick overview of where you're from, your family, and your career?
I was raised by a single mom as the youngest of six. I've been married 24 years, and after years of fertility struggles, we joyfully adopted our son.
I have a degree in mathematics with a minor in physics and astronomy from Humboldt State University, where I was actually the president of the Republican club on a very liberal campus.
My career took an unexpected turn into law enforcement, where I proudly served 25 years before retiring as an LAPD lieutenant. In 2020, when department leadership compromised my core values, my husband and I knew it was time to leave California.
We fell in love with the beauty and southern hospitality of Middle Tennessee and bought property in Williamson County to build our life here.
Q: Every candidate has a platform, but what was the specific "why now" moment that prompted you to run for county commissioner?
It happened in 2023. I am the group leader for the Moms for America chapter in Williamson County, and I started receiving calls from moms about gay and trans flags being displayed in elementary school classrooms.
I strongly believe the government has no place talking to children about sex at school; that is for the family to address.
I attended a school board meeting to speak out against it, but I was vastly outnumbered by dozens of people waving gay and trans flags. When I got up to speak, I argued that the only flag that should be flown in classrooms is the American flag because it is truly inclusive of everyone.
I went home that night and realized that the same changes I saw slowly transform my conservative hometown in California were starting to happen right here in Franklin.
Like a frog in slowly boiling water, you don't realize it's happening until it's too late. That was my pivotal moment to step up.
Q: You spent 25 years in high-stakes law enforcement. How would you apply that leadership to local civil governance?
I am a graduate of the West Point Leadership Program, which essentially serves as a master's program in leadership. Law enforcement teaches you a lot about listening to people, which translates incredibly well to politics because most people simply want their voices to be heard.
Politics is fundamentally about conflict management, which usually stems from a difference of opinion, a misunderstanding, or miscommunication.
The absolute core of addressing conflict is ensuring that everyone walks away with their dignity intact, even if you fundamentally disagree with them.
Q: You served as both a planning commissioner and a city council member. What unique outsider perspective do you bring to Williamson County's debt and budget issues?
I bring a perspective rooted in faith and the core belief that government money is the people's money, not the politicians'.
When I look at Williamson County, the richest county in the state, and see $1.2 billion in debt that costs $109 million annually just in interest, it is mind-blowing.
When I was an elected official in El Segundo, the city was on the verge of declaring a fiscal emergency. At the time, the Chevron refinery was paying only about $185,000 a year in local taxes due to a sweetheart deal made 20 years prior.
Smaller local businesses were essentially subsidizing a multi-billion dollar corporation, which wasn't fair. Our lawyers had been arguing with their lawyers for months with no resolution.
So, I personally called the general manager of Chevron, sat down with him for coffee, and built a Gantt chart. I laid out our timeline, told him we needed to call off the lawyers, and insisted we find a solution before the city had to file for a fiscal emergency.
A week later, we had a deal that created a fair tax structure to keep the city afloat. It takes strong leadership and the courage to sit down and get things done.
Q: How do you balance the need for better roads and schools with the desire to maintain Williamson County's distinct rural charm?
It’s a highly nuanced issue that requires collaborative governance.
I do not want to advocate for bigger government. I want to advocate for smarter government.
Because decisions made by individual cities directly impact county schools and roads, there has to be a regional approach that respects the areas outside city limits.
Regarding schools, we need to carefully evaluate if there is an actual need for new facilities, as my understanding is that some current schools are operating at 40 or 50 percent capacity. We should not go into massive debt just to build fancy brick-and-mortar buildings.
Function and student outcomes are far more important than the outside appearance of a school.
It’s like putting new stone on the outside of your house when you are drowning in personal debt. It’s simply irresponsible with the people's pocketbook.
Q: With your background in mathematics, how do you plan to identify inefficiencies in the current county budget?
I believe there are significant efficiencies and savings to be found in our current county contracts. My analytical skills allow me to take complex information, process it, and create charts to clearly explain issues.
In governance, it’s critical to use staff effectively by giving them clear direction on what data is needed, while always reminding them that they work for the people.
I also strongly believe in explaining my perspective publicly. If there is a split vote or a controversial issue, I will use numbers and data to explain to the public exactly why I am voting a certain way.
Even if I get twelve emails supporting one side and only one email supporting the other, I will analyze the data to find the right answer, rather than just voting with the loudest crowd.
Q: You frequently mention constitutional values. How do those principles translate into practical decisions at the county level?
Constitutional rights are God-given, and the Constitution is just there to codify those rights.
I fundamentally believe that government should be limited and as small as possible. At the county level, this applies to everything we do, whether it’s managing your tax dollars, protecting your property rights, or defending your liberty.
It’s our primary job to protect those God-given rights at every single level of government.
Q: What is your stance on economic development and using government money to incentivize large businesses to move to the county?
I strongly support economic development, but I struggle with giving government money or tax cuts to incentivize large businesses to move here.
It’s fundamentally unfair because it means all the other existing small businesses are essentially subsidizing their new competition.
We want to bring in good jobs, but I cannot get behind giving away the people's money to offer a large corporation a sweetheart deal, especially when we are not struggling to attract businesses in the first place.
Q: How do you plan to ensure clear communication with the residents of District 11?
I put my cell phone number right on my campaign flyer, and I am as accessible as people want me to be. Constituents can pick up the phone and call or email me directly.
Going forward, I plan to push out information regularly, whether through a website or a weekly email newsletter, to ensure there is a clear and consistent line of communication.
Q: Looking forward, what is your ultimate vision for Williamson County and your final message to voters?
My ultimate vision is that in four years, Williamson County will be in a much stronger fiscal position than we are today. Turning a big ship takes time, but I am confident I can get the nose turning in the right direction.
My top three priorities are public safety, responsible growth through collaborative governance, and fiscal responsibility.
I will never forget that every dollar we spend belongs to the people. I have the courage to call politicians out publicly if they refuse to sit down and work with us.
I care deeply about protecting this county and preserving its traditional values.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share with the voters that we haven't covered?
When I finished my time on the city council in California, I said I am never running for office again.
I genuinely care about this county because we moved everything of ours here. Williamson County is wonderful. It has so many great qualities, and I want to protect and preserve it and keep its traditional values here.
When the issue came up with the trans and gay flags in classrooms, I started paying attention and learning about things. I went to the Williamson County Republican Party election event to take a look, and my husband and I discussed whether I needed to get involved. I didn't really want to do this; I am trying to run a business, I have my son, and I thought we would be traveling.
But my husband and I sat down and prayed about it, and I asked God to please let me know if this was something I should do. I honestly feel like I am called for this right now. I don't know if I will get elected, but I know I am called to be in this fight.
To learn more about Marie's campaign and her stance on different issues in Williamson County, you can view her campaign website here: Marie4WilliamsonCounty11.com.
You can also email her at elect@marie4williamsoncounty11.com and connect on Facebook.
You can also view all the information on the upcoming Elections here.
If you’re not sure if which district you reside in, check out our Maps here.
