“Conversations with City Leadership” brings you closer to the individuals at the helm of our
community’s growth and resilience. From pioneering development projects to enhancing local policies, on these pages, our city leaders have shared their insights and the visions that shape Georgetown today and for the future.
As much as major media drives focus to big elections on the horizon, join us as we explore
the dynamics that drive our own city forward, uncovering the stories and achievements behind
the people we know personally, and who truly have the greatest impact on our daily lives.
Josh Schroeder was elected mayor of Georgetown in 2020 and has a strong background in civic leadership, having served as chair of the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning & Zoning Commission as well as a member of the city’s 2030 Steering Committee and current chair of the Historical and Architectural Review Commission. He continues to serve on the boards of various nonprofit and civic organizations including the Georgetown Development Alliance and Brookwood in Georgetown.
Mayor Schroeder also works as an attorney at Georgetown-based Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C., where he focuses on transactional business law with an emphasis on real estate development. His clients include Georgetown ISD, Georgetown Health Foundation, Extraco Bank, and several prominent real estate developers. He has been named a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers and Citizen of the Year by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced during your last three-and-a-half years
as mayor?
Just keeping up with the growth pressure, from infrastructure (water, wastewater, roads), to human resources (police, fire, engineers), to concern from the community that our town is changing so fast. We are blessed to be living in an economically thriving area, but the need to keep up is an ever-present reality.
What do you consider your biggest achievement as mayor?
I don’t say this to feign humility, but no one person can accomplish anything in our system. Any success we achieve is a team effort.
When doing my job, I am at my best when I am in my lane and encouraging vigorous civil debate. This enables me to help foster an environment where council and city staff can do their jobs at a high level.
Tell us about Georgetown’s growth and your efforts to lead the city through this ongoing period.
It really just comes down to addressing growth pressures. We have to have the water, roads, police officers, and all the other city services that make a community function but we must do it in a way that ensures our culture won’t be altered by new growth and population increases.
There are plenty of places with large populations in which people still feel connected and safe. We have to keep the small-town charm that is drawing people to our no-longer-small town.
What do you love most about being mayor of Georgetown?
I love getting to meet so many people who love this town — especially people who have lived here for generations and can tell the history of the town like it’s their own family history. People who moved here without really knowing what it was and found out how lucky they were to be here. Folks who meticulously researched the best community for them and their family and have a great story about the moment they knew Georgetown was going to be their home.
What are some current or future city projects residents should know about?
Our water treatment plant is the largest project in our history. It’s not something folks see happening every day, but they’ll see the benefits once it’s completed. And there’s also some great and more visible projects in the works like our downtown parking garage and new customer service building coming soon.
What are you excited about during your second term as mayor?
Water, water, water. We are making huge progress and will continue to make progress on addressing our water needs. We are primed for even more wonderful things to happen in Georgetown, but we have to address our most basic need first and foremost.