Women have historically been outsiders in politics, legally barred from voting until the 20th century and subsequently handicapped in running for office by lack of campaign funds and exclusion from the inner sancta of political parties.
As outsiders, women become involved in politics to promote causes, especially those relating to family and community welfare, rather than to build careers and be leaders. But things changed through the years across the nation, state and even in Hockley County and Levelland. Women have stepped up and are now a factor in key government and top organization roles.
The city of Levelland and Hockley County are no strangers to electing women to take on the challenges of leadership in recent years, with several now in charge, from judges, the police chief, fire chief, mayor, Chamber of Commerce and multiple other top positions.
The first woman judge in Texas was Sarah Tilghman Hughes who served in the Texas House of Representatives in 19311935 and was appointed the first female state district judge in Texas 1935-1961 and was the first woman to serve as a federal district judge in Texas (1961-1975; senior status until 1982).
Texas has 1,054 female judges out of 3,151 according to data from the Texas Courts, making up 33% of the state judiciary. Hockley County has both a female county and district judge, marking a first in the county’s history, with County Judge Sharla Baldridge and the 286th District Court Judge Anna Hord.
Sharla Baldridge has been proud to call Hockley County home her entire life. She graduated from Levelland High School and South Plains College before beginning a 26-year career as a legal assistant in a couple of local law offices, where she worked from 1985 to 2011. Her time in the legal field gave her a deep understanding of the county’s judicial system and the needs of the people they serve.
In 2011, she began working at the courthouse as the County Court Coordinator, serving five years under Judge Sprowls and the Commissioners Court. Those years strengthened her commitment to public service and prepared her for the role she holds today. On Sept. 1, 2016, she took office as Hockley County Judge.
“As I enter my tenth year of service as the Hockley County Judge and as the first woman to serve as County Judge in our county’s history, I remain deeply honored by the trust placed in me. This position has been both the most challenging and the most rewarding of my career,” said Baldridge.
Baldridge feels the love and gratitude from the community everyday.
“Serving the people of Hockley County, the place where I was raised, and the community that shaped me, is a privilege I never take for granted. Every day, I strive to make a meaningful and lasting difference for the constituents who make this county such a special place to live,” said Baldridge.
Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Hockley County’s newest district judge Anna Hord , grew up in Levelland and graduated from Levelland High School. She attended SPC out of high school and went on to receive her bachelor of arts in history from Texas Tech and later from Texas Tech Law School, After graduating law school, she moved back to Hockley County where she was the assistant Hockley County attorney for four years and the county attorney for 13. Hord is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
“I don’t really think of myself as a female leader. I am just so grateful for the opportunity to serve my community and for the trust placed in me. My focus has always been on doing my job well and serving the people who entrusted me with it,” said Hord.
She is thoroughly impressed by the strong female leaders here in Levelland.
“I am continually impressed by the dedication of our leaders across the board. It takes many people, working together, to serve our community effectively. We have a wonderful group of leaders right now, men and women,” said Hord. Municipal Court Judge Esmeralda Rowand started at the court house in January of 2000 where she was hired by Norma Garza as a clerk for 24 years. After Sean Wilson retired, she was honored with the title of Municipal Court Judge. She got her degree at South Plains College and got her associates in medicine.
“I love it, I want to make a difference with our juveniles,” said Rowand. “I want to have a heart and listen to what’s going on but at the same time I have firm consequences for what they do.”
After being the municipal court judge for a year, Rowand said she feels the love from not only her female peers but the community.
“I appreciate Judge Baldridge and Anna Hord, the fact that both of them, as women, don't put each other down,” said Rowand. “ We help each other, do what we can for each other. Same with Chief O’Bryon, I love her - she helps me so much. It’s amazing to see women in power.”
Mayor Breann Buxkemper was elected to serve Levelland in May of 2024 and is serving her first three year term as Mayor. Mayor Buxkemper previously served as Council Member for District C and Mayor Pro Tem. She is involved in many city organizations and has served on multiple committees before running for council. She is an advocate for the City of Levelland and works hard to make it the best community possible. Buxkemper works at the Hockley county Credit Union and is married to Matt Buxkemper.
“I’m proud to stand among the growing number of women in leadership roles in Levelland, Texas, helping move our community forward. As a mother to a daughter, I hope she will one day grow into a strong leader herself. I’m grateful for the leaders who came before us — both women and men — whose dedication helped shape the culture and values of our community,” said Buxkemper.
A first for the city is Levelland is Chief of Police for Erica O’Bryon. She was unanimously approved by the city council and sworn into office in November 2024 after a 19-year law enforcement career in New Mexico and Texas. Her previous experience includes serving in roles such as patrol officer, public information officer, and captain at other police departments.
O’Bryon holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Texas A&MCommerce and her master’s degree in public administration from Tarleton State University. Additionally, she has a Master Peace Officer License from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and received the Dr. Tory Caeti Award for Academic Excellence from the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration’s 60th School of Executive Leadership. Chief O’Bryon was selected as the City of Levelland Employee of the Year for 2025.
“I’ve worked in this organization for so long with male counterparts I see it runs the same,” said O’Bryon. “I had one of my troopers tell me that they think it’s so cool that I’m a female and chief.”
O’Bryon does find it impressive that there’s a large number of women in charge in West Texas.
“Being in West Texas versus being in a metroplex where there’s more population and bodies to choose from, I find it impressive,” said O’Bryon. Patricia Byars-Faulkner has been tasked with serving as the Interim Fire Chief at the Levelland Fire Department (LFD) as the city seeks candidates for a fulltime fire chief. Byars-Faulkner, born in Lubbock, said she started her fire service career at the Dallas Fire Department in 1989. At a certain point in her career, she took a hiatus to raise her children.
Byers-Faulkner eventually returned to firefighting and found herself working as a fire chief in a little city outside of Waco. Byars-Faulkner retired last year after an extensive career before the City Levelland asked her to return as the interim fire chief while seeking another to take over. She said her interest in firefighting was piqued when she met fire fighters who loved their job, which led her to pursue her career in firefighting. What drove her career was the fact that she never had the same two calls. She said she is now a tricertified paramedic, cop and firefighter.
Being one of many female leaders here in Levelland has been immensely rewarding for Byars-Faulkner.
“Honestly, since I started in the fire service, I never thought of myself as anything other than a fireman. Sure there were differences. When I started everything was men sized and basically you wore a man's uniform. I don't even know my size outside of a man's size in uniforms. Being a leader here has been such a blessing because of the people I work with. My team welcomed me when I got here, I never felt like an outsider. They say I am a girl, but really I am one of the guys. I never felt like we weren't a team. Outside of my firehouse, no one in the community, no one at city hall, no one in other departments has ever treated me differently. This is an incredible community to be a part of,” said Byars-Faulkner.
Byars-Faulkner said working with other strong female leaders here in the community has been so refreshing.
“It is really cool to work with other women. They bring a different thought process to the game. It is easy to bounce ideas off of them as well as the guys because of that thought process. Getting the bigger picture, not just the big picture. The downside is that now there is a line at the bathrooms at training and such, when there wasn't before,” said Byars-Faulkner.
“On a personal note, it affords me some bonding time and learning new skills in a woman's realm that may not exist with men. Sure I hunt, fish, do guy stuff, but I also have been able to learn soapmaking, pass around recipes, and borrow accessories I don't have here when I need to dress for a special event.”
The president of the Levelland Chamber of Commerce, Mary Siders got her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech in Hotel, Motel and Rest management in 1983. She was appointed President in May of 2004 and has been here ever since. She is also part of the Keep Levelland Beautiful foundation and is determined to keep representing females in the workplace. The Chamber used to be very male dominated and that’s changed completely.
“We have a lot of strong, determined female leaders in our community,” said Siders. “Regardless of gender we are successful because of partnerships.”
The Chamber over the years has become female dominated but without the community's help and support they wouldn’t be where they are today.
“This community prospers because of partnerships,” said Siders. “Women are just very attentive to detail and that makes a strong difference. There are some amazing females working in this community and males as well. I love that females are out of the home and able to do more.”
Although the female politician did not emerge until the 20th century, a long political tradition of advocacy and activism predated women’s admission to formal electoral politics. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries middleclass women used their voluntary associations to voice opinions on public policy and seek legislative remedies for social problems. Since gaining the right to vote in 1919, Texas women have made their voices heard as voters and as legislators and elected officials. Representative Edith Wilmans became the first woman elected to the Texas Legislature in 1923. Today, women make up 21% of the legislature, with 31 representatives and seven senators. Women serve in congressional delegation and in high elected offices.
Women began to push forward in politics after the Texas Women’s Political Caucus was organized in 1971. At the time ,Barbra Jordan and State Representative Frances Farenthold were the only women in the legislature. By the 1980s women candidates had overcome the image of being long shots for office and established themselves as serious contenders. Travis county commissioner Ann Richards became the first woman in 50 years to win statewide office when she was elected to the first of two terms as state treasurer in 1982.
By 1977, when the National Women’s Conference met in Houston to formulate a political agenda, 11 women were serving in the legislature and María Elena Martínez had been elected to head the Raza Unida party. More important in the long run, women had begun to compete successfully for local elective offices. In 1975 Lila Cockrell, who had been the third woman elected to the San Antonio City Council, became the city’s first woman mayor. Carole Keeton McClellan, the first woman president of the Austin school board, won the Austin mayoral race in 1977. Over the next 15 years, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, and Corpus Christi elected women mayors. By the 1980s women candidates had overcome the image of being long shots for office and established themselves as serious contenders.
In 1986 three women were elected to the state Senate, which had never before had more than one female member. Ann Richards gave the keynote address at the Democratic national convention in 1988 and in 1990 won an acrimonious race for governor. Women also captured both parties; nominations for state treasurer. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s victory marked the first time a Republican woman had won statewide office; it was also a triumph for the Texas Federation of Republican Women.
Because of these women and the many others laying the groundwork, women have been able to take hold of leadership positions in male dominated fields and thrive for generations.
More than 5.7 million Texas women voted in the 2024 presidential election, accounting for at least 50% of the state electorate. In all regions of Texas, women vote and are being elected, and being trusted in top leadership roles.
Changes in the times and political climate have offered women in the state big opportunities - and in Hockley County.