The Pecan Valley Republican Women’s Club hosted the two candidates running for the city council position for Ward 4. The two candidates running for city council are Jim Byars and Draco Miller Jr. The event was hosted at the Brownwood Country Club.
Both candidates were each given 15 minutes to speak about who they are and why they are running for office. Then those in attendance were able to ask questions.
The first candidate who spoke was Jim Byars. Byars was born and raised in Brownwood and graduated Early High School. He attended Howard Payne University and then started a career in law enforcement. He was a police officer for the city of Brownwood and then went on to Highway Patrol. Bryars was in Brazoria County for 3 years, Brown County for 10 years, and then Eastland County for the remainder of his time as a State Trooper. He was also a Brown County constable for 12 years.
After retiring from the Department of Public Safety, Byars stated he went on to work for an environmental company as the Health and Safety Director with 300 employees under him. His job required him to write all the health and safety plans for multimillion-dollar remediation projects which consisted of removing and disposing of hazardous material. Everything had to be within the standards of OSHA and TCEQ. Byars has been on the Zepher School Board and is a charter member of the Brown County Community Education Advisory Council.
Byars expressed his interest in growing Downtown Brownwood and getting visitors to come here. “I want to go work for the city because I’m interested in the city,” said Byars. “I’ve looked at the Freese and Nichols thing the city (of Brownwood) is starting to do. One of the things I want to see, I would love to see that Montgomery Ward building across the City Hall taken care of; something spectacular put there,” said Byars. “It was a beautiful building when I was a teenager. And I can remember when Downtown Brownwood was booming every Saturday. Nowadays it’s just sitting dead. We need to bring that back.”
Draco Miller Jr. followed Byars. Miller was as well born and raised in Brownwood and went through the Brownwood ISD system. He was involved in football, choir, band, and other organizations. Miller moved from Brownwood to play football at Eastern New Mexico University and later coached at that university. While coaching, Miller was able to lobby for the university and its students at the New Mexico Legislature. He wanted to ensure that the university and its students had what they needed to be successful. Miller has also been an ambassador for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, gathering money to collect funds.
“One thing about me, and you’ll hear this time and time again, I’m a servant leader,” said Miller. “And sometimes people use that as a tag. I use that because that’s who I am. I truly believe that the Lord put me on this earth to lead, educate, advance, and develop people, groups, and systems. I am always one that wants to give of myself to that which is greater than myself. Brownwood is that,” said Miller.
Miller then brought up how his father, the late Draco Miller Sr. who previously held the Ward 4 seat, instilled in him servanthood principles from a young age. Miller said his father taught him that life is about others and how you can work for them.
“Folks, that’s why I want to be your next city councilman because I want to work for the citizens of Brownwood. I don’t have an agenda,” said Miller. “My agenda is the agenda of the people; the will of the people. If I am blessed to be voted in as the next city councilman, I am going to work tirelessly for the citizens of Ward 4, as well as Brownwood,” said Miller.
Miller stated that he wants to make Brownwood feel like home for everyone. The candidate claims if elected he plans to work with the city council to ensure taxpayers’ money is spent well and there is transparency in how that money is being spent. Miller wants Brownwood to grow, attract visitors, and clean up abandoned lots. The candidate believes that Brownwood families should have opportunities to do things with kids downtown. He also would like to see a mentor program in Brownwood for people, such as HPU students, to shadow city hall and city officials.
Miller addressed the rumors that he is running for this seat to ride his late father’s coattails. Miller said, “I am not doing it for my late father. My late father and I never had a conversation about me being a city council member. On his dying day he never knew that I was going to run for city council because I didn’t know.” said Miller. Miller said that he asks God to use him and believes that God pointed him in the direction of the city council.
There was a question if he was eligible in running for office. Miller stated that he has lived here for four years, making him eligible, and slowly taking over his late father’s company Draco Janitorial and Auto Detailing. His wife lives in Katy and is a speech pathologist in the schools and Miller drives there when he can. Miller stated he has been working on getting her into BISD and that they both are very supportive of each other’s careers.
The candidates both answered questions on how they think about the direction the city of Brownwood is going in and if they have anything they would like to work towards.
Byars agreed that the city is doing a fine job and going in the right direction. “When I worked for the city as a police officer we didn’t have the money; we didn’t have the tax base; we didn’t have any of that. We’ve got a lot of that now,” said Byars. “Brownwood is growing and it’s a good thing, but like I said we need to get downtown growing and people coming in.”
Miller concurred that the Downtown Development Master Plan is great. At the same time, he believes the city should not just focus on downtown. They need to focus on other businesses in Brownwood, affordable housing, and neighborhood developments. Miller also wants the city to expand development and events to more than just sports, and do that for other activities. In a later question, Miller further echoed that “You want to have a thriving and booming downtown. Every city needs and wants to have that. But you can’t neglect the other citizens and the other aspects of the city as well.”
Those in attendance also asked if this development would change the town. Miller states he wants to stay close to the Brownwood values and not change what Brownwood is.
There were also questions of, if elected, how each candidate plans to communicate with their constituents. Miller stated he would love to do town halls, Facebook live, or press releases. Miller stated he had visited with the city manager about having a communications director for the city so citizens can get information.
Byars stated that you have to meet people and know what their concerns are. When you learn people’s concerns, you can present that to the rest of the council. Or, the community is encouraged to come to the city council and express their concerns. He does not think that one council member can make all the changes. You need all the city council. He wants to take people’s concerns and talk with the appropriate personnel. Byars stated that anyone can reach him on Facebook or his number.
The audience also wanted to know if the candidates were going to make decisions that aligned with the values of the community and refrain from voting in ways that violated those values. Both Miller and Byars affirmed they will take a stand for the values of Brownwood and recognize that city council positions are dependent upon the people they serve.
Another question from the audience discussed the law in Brownwood regarding sexually oriented businesses. A question was asked to the candidates if they would be in support of citizens amending that law to add a component where having any sexual display out in a public place, street, or library, isn’t allowed in Brownwood.
Miller stated he wants to do what is best for Brownwood families and avoid anything detrimental to children. The candidate also stated that the council would need to get with the city attorney for any situation like that and see what are they legally able to do in those situations. Miller stated he needs to make sure that he is within the city laws of Brownwood as well. Miller also said he would need to read up on the laws and would want to know what the citizens think.
Byars responded that he is well-read in the law from his years as a state trooper and knows that the city can pass the ordinance and the city police can enforce it. Byars said that the citizens can vote for the amendments, pass them, and the city law is enforced.
They were then asked by the audience how they felt about events like that coming to Brownwood. Byars expressed he personally would not vote for something like that. Miller reiterated in taking children and families into consideration in those situations. Miller stated he personally will not be in favor of anything that is detrimental to the city and the citizens.
A discussion also came up about the recent BISD bond vote that just passed. Miller stated that he voted in favor due to the needs the Brownwood facilities had. Miller explained that the facilities were the same that he used when he was at BISD in the late 90s. He affirmed he believes in being fiscally sound and that he focuses on what an entity needs. He thinks that the bond covered needs. He also strongly supported the idea sports do more than just teach kids how to throw and kick. Miller brought up how the new facilities benefit more than just the athletes, and that sports teach youth many principles for success.
Byars stated that he voted against the bond. He explained that the kids whom the bond is supposed to benefit will be the ones paying for it 10 years later. He also stated he did not vote for the bond because the state of the economy today was not the right time for it. He believes that you solve a problem as it comes along, and not wait until there are many needs all at once.
Early voting is from Tuesday, May 30 to Friday, June 2, 8 am-5 pm, and Monday and Tuesday, June 5 & 6 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election day is June 10th.