Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller, newly elected First Vice President, South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
Biographical Information
Ben Zeller is an 8th-generation Texan with deep roots in our state. Ben’s g-g-g-g-g-grandfather, William Smothers, scouted the unsettled lands of Texas in the early 1800s. He later returned with Stephen F. Austin and his “Old 300” settlers, and helped build Fort Bend on the banks of the Brazos River.
A graduate of the University of Houston-Victoria, Ben earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with honors, and later received an MBA from Texas A&M University-San Antonio. As a strong believer in continuing education, Ben has taught various business courses as an Adjunct Instructor at Victoria College.
He worked in the financial sector for several years at Wells Fargo Bank and also Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU). While working as a Loan Officer at TDECU, Ben ran for Victoria County Judge and was elected in November of 2014. He took office on January 1, 2015 as the youngest County Judge in Victoria since reconstruction.
Ben has been passionate about policy and politics since his teenage years, and worked actively in grassroots politics to help elect conservative leaders to state and local office. He has served as an elected member of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) representing Texas Senate District 18, which includes Victoria and 20 surrounding counties. Ben volunteers as a mentor in Victoria’s high schools, serves on the board of the Victoria Economic Development Corporation, and previously served as a board member of Strong Families of Victoria.
An avid hunter and sportsman, he enjoys the outdoors and being on his family’s ranch. Ben and his wife Jamie, a former Victoria ISD schoolteacher, have been married for 7 years. They have two young daughters, and are active members of Christ Presbyterian Church in Victoria.