About Me:
My name is Ryan Hanson, and I’m a proud, tax-paying citizen of Van Zandt County. I was born in Alberta, Canada, and raised on a large cattle ranch (6th generation had I stayed) headquartered in Southern Alberta, one of the oldest ranches with some of the oldest registered brands in the country. I spent a good part of my early life nearby on another family ranch in Montana. Because of that background, I hold dual citizenship in both Canada and the United States (I feel like I should add “legally” to this).
When my father passed away in 2002, the ranch was pulled into a long and painful stretch of family lawsuits. Instead of choosing sides, I asked my grandmother for a small loan and left for a warmer, less liberal place: Texas.
Although I’m not formally educated and don’t have credentials attached to my name, I am educated in hard work and common sense. I was given the chance to solve problems - lots of them - starting at a very young age, from horses to computers. That work ethic, combined with the ability to think and reason independently, pushed me through my early ventures off the ranch, placed me in leadership positions, and is a large reason for any success I’ve had to this point. The path here wasn’t easy, and still isn't, but I also like a challenge.
I met my wife, Sheila, at Southern Junction in Royce City during a rare stretch when I was back in Texas from working out of state with a geochemical company based in Dallas. She didn’t believe in love at first sight, so it took some convincing to win her over. She already had two amazing kids, Tyler and Kalah, so as luck would have it, I started my family life with a ‘prefab template’. We later went on to add three boys: Bradley, Boe, and Boomer. A true mixed family… or a mixed-up family, depending on the angle you’re looking from.
I’m self-employed, and some may remember our restaurant, 3 Knocks Speakeasy Bar, BBQ & Bistro, which we recently closed but plan to build in a new, larger site in the future. Prior to that, I served the City of Van on the City Council from 2020–2022, coming in right at the onset of COVID. I learned a lot about government, good and bad. I started out as a firm believer in “the government knows best, just comply,” and by the end of my term had shifted toward “you should know your rights and never be afraid to ask questions to your elected officials.” I also learned after my term that there is power in the people, at least those that get involved and speak up.
I’m not running to oust Brandon Barton, that’s the voters’ job if they truly want change. I don’t agree with everything the Commissioners Court has done, and I certainly don’t agree with some of Brandon’s stances. But Brandon also coached a few of my boys in baseball, and I respect him as a person and for his willingness to serve, especially when it would’ve been easier at times for him to quit. I know firsthand that being a public official is not for the faint of heart. You won’t please everyone, and people can be downright mean. Simply put, I’m here as the alternative option. It’ll be up to ya’ll decide if it’s the better one.
Most that know me, and even a few that don’t, know I wasn’t, and never will be, a “get along” guy. I’m the one asking a lot of questions, sometimes tough cringe worthy questions. Beyond that, I can confidently say that I'm well-versed in Government Code 552 (Public Information Act) and Government Code 551 (Texas Open Meetings Act). Transparency is critical in local government, and these two codes lay out how. I’m not about pushing meetings into closed session and if it’s public record - I’ll likely post it, good and bad. Transparency is key, full stop - PERIOD.
A quick look into my past will show that I can be outspoken; that I am a strong supporter of the Constitution and Bill of Rights; that I firmly believe if I pay taxes, my voice matters; that government should be transparent and accountable; and that I’m tired of effectively renting my paid-off property from the government through taxes. I’ve always voted Republican, not because I always loved the agenda or the candidates, but because sometimes that’s been the better of two bad choices. I can lean either direction, and I vote issues over party lines, every time.
I’ll narrow down my platform issues next, but that’s enough about me for now.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and I hope I can return the favor. If you have questions or want to reach out, email me at ryan@easyhanson.net . I want to hear from you.
Ryan
