A special election for the vacant Brownwood City Council Ward 4 position will be held Saturday, June 10. Jim Byars and Draco Miller, Jr. are running to fill the seat of the late Draco Miller, who passed away Feb. 16, 2023.
All eligible voters living within the city limits of Brownwood can partake in early voting, which is slated for Tuesday, May 30 to Friday, June 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 6 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – at the Brown County Elections Office. Election Day is June 10.
The Pecan Valley Republican Women will be hosting a Candidate Meet and Greet at their monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at the Brownwood Country Club.
Ahead of the election, the two candidates took time to answer the following questions for BrownwoodNews.com:
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JIM BYARS
How long have you been a part of the Brownwood community? To what extent have you been a part of local government in Brownwood?
All my life except when I was stationed other counties as a State Trooper. School Board member at Zephyr two terms, Brown County Schools were in a Co-op then. Brown County Community Education Advisory Council. Brownwood Police Officer. Brown County Constable 12 years. State Trooper here 10 years.
What is your vision for the future of Brownwood: What changes would you advocate and why?
To continue the growth and business opportunities to bring in outside tourism to enhance tax receipts for the city. Continue the beautification of parks and keep Brownwood Schools a place where people will want there kids to safely attend and the kids have a big desire to be a part in. I would like to see media recognize kids of different accomplishments and not mainly sports. Not that sports isn’t important but so are those kids that are not in sports.
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
Greatest strengths are my past experiences in government business and how it is run. I don’t consider any weaknesses because no problem is without solution.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? What areas need improvement and why?
I feel the biggest challenge is educating the public as to what and how their government is run and the importance of their voting rights.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? In your personal life?
My by far biggest accomplishments in my opinion has been the saving of lives, known and unknown. And working with kids in different programs. In my personal life, having and helping several foster kids to become successful.
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DRACO MILLER, JR.
How long have you been a part of the Brownwood community? To what extent have you been a part of local government in Brownwood?
I was born and raised in Brownwood. Attending school throughout BISD and graduated in 1999. During my high school days, I was a part of several extracurricular activities including Athletics, Band and Choir. When I wasn’t playing the saxophone, singing, lifting weights, or playing football, I found time to be a part of various leadership and civic clubs on campus. For my efforts I was twice recognized by the Brownwood Rotary Club as student of the month. After high school, I had the opportunity to go off to college on a football scholarship. Although I left Brownwood for college, Brownwood never left me. In 2004 I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in History Education and in 2006 I graduated with my Master of Science degree in Sports Admin. After college I fulfilled my dream of being a football coach. I coached football for 10 years at the college level, before moving to the admin side, for the next 6 years. While coaching, I always came back to my hometown and recruited student athletes. During that time, I recruited 10 scholarship athletes from Brown County. For 20 years I was away from Brownwood and almost 4 years ago I moved back to be the COO of the family business and after the passing of my father in February, I took over running the business.
My experience in Brownwood government has been watching, listening, and learning from many civic leaders and my late father the Honorable Draco Miller Sr., who spent 13 years as a city councilman and 8 as the Mayor Pro Tem. I watched how my father navigated the channels of government to get things done for the citizens of Brownwood. I listened when he either took a call or met with concerned citizens and formulated a plan to solve the issue and I learned to be a servant leader, as I saw my father give of himself time and time again, for the betterment of the city. Learning from others who have been in the arena you want to be in is an invaluable asset. All my life I’ve had a front row seat.
What is your vision for the future of Brownwood: What changes would you advocate and why?
My vision for this great city is simple, continue progressing Brownwood for the betterment of the citizens and wards. I see a Brownwood that feels like home for all. A Brownwood that has a strong economy, where the citizens have great opportunities to succeed professionally and personally. I envision a Brownwood that is the standard for other communities. A community that is fiscally sound, faith driven, and family friendly. I envision a Brownwood that raises the next generation to be great leaders. I envision a future for Brownwood that keeps its family here, by giving the family affordable housing, stable taxes, and places for great family entertainment. A place that has stronger citizens, a stronger economy, which all equal a stronger Brownwood.
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
Regarding being the next city councilman, I consider several areas to be my greatest strengths. One, being a business owner. Owning a business in Brownwood gives me a different perspective and allows me to make broader decisions. I understand what it’s like to make decisions that affect others. Two, I like to use the acronym L.E.A.D, which stands for Leadership, Education, Advancement and Development. Leadership or lead through service. Ever since I was a kid, being a servant leader has always been instilled in me. The greatest thing we can do as a person is to give of ourselves to that in which is greater than ourselves. At 9 years old, I learned this lesson through repainting the entire Cecil Holman Park with my late father and sister. As a nine-year-old, I didn’t understand why my sister and I couldn’t just go play, why we had to spend three days painting the park. As I got older and wiser, I began to see the bigger picture, service is key. Education, the willingness to learn. I’m constantly wanting to learn. I seek every opportunity to gain knowledge about ways to help people and find solutions to problems. I try to speak to people and groups constantly, read at least 4 to 5 books a year (I re-read Dale Carnegie’s 1936 book; How to win friends and influence people each year, as it’s one of my favorite books), listen to Ted Talks and podcast, all to continue learning and never being stagnant. Advancement, having the ability to take what I’ve learned and put it into action. Working for the betterment of others, while being approachable and relatable. Development, develop the next group or generation to succeed. We all have tools in our toolbox, sometimes we need help finding the right tool at the right time, to be successful. I love helping people, groups and organizations pick out the right tool. Finally, the ability to work with others, “reach across the aisle.” Working with others to make decisions is a must, if the city wants to get anything done for the citizens. We don’t always have to agree, but we can always have a conversation. Listening to others without formulating a response is a great attribute to have, it leads to understanding.
My weaknesses or areas I’d like to improve on are understanding that some things can’t be fixed as fast as I’d like. I am a get it done type of guy. I don’t like waiting for long periods of time on anything. Sometimes I must take a step back and understand that the situation may be a cruise ship and not a speed boat.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? What areas need improvement and why?
In the beginning one of the challenges, I will face will be being compared to my late father. I have big shoes to fill. My father truly loved this city and did everything he could to make it the best place to live. He left a great legacy, of getting things done and being a man of the people. I’m ready to take the torch and progress the city even more. Having said that, although I am his name’s sake, not everything I do will be just like my father. I have my own ideas and plans, plans that were shaped and molded by values set forth by my father who taught me to stand on my own two feet and to be a man with great character.
When I think about improvements that are needed, I think about the various conversations I’ve had when I go around and speak to the citizens, groups, and organizations around Brownwood. Each one of them mentions the same things, first, they want transparency with their elected officials. They want to feel like they are in the know about what’s happening in their city. They want their council to be more available and to give them updates on the city, more than the annual state of the city address. Secondly, they talk about improving the streets of Brownwood, especially in front of the schools. Thirdly, they mention the need for affordable housing and revitalized neighborhoods. Driving around there are too many open lots that are run down and an eye sore to Brownwood, many of which are on major corridors of the city. Improving the concerns of the citizens will be my focus. Why? Because a stronger citizen equals a stronger Brownwood.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? In your personal life?
By far the greatest accomplishment to date is giving my life to Jesus Christ, my Lord and savior! Secondly, I’m a family man, so being a husband to my beautiful wife of 14 years Deedy and a father to two amazing daughters, 11-year-old Daija and 8-year-old Dailyn. Professionally, taking over a family business that my father the late Honorable Draco Miller started 33 ½ years ago. Being able to continue his legacy of being a protector and provider for my family, friends, employees, and community. For me it’s never been about me and never will be. It’s about others and how I can serve them.
As the next city councilman for Ward 4, I vow that I will always put the needs of the city and the citizens above mine. I vow that I will always be approachable and listen to any and all comments and concerns. Finally, I vow that you will always have a voice, I will fight every day to make Brownwood and its citizens the very best they can be.