BrownwoodNews.com sent five questions via email to the five candidates running for the position of County Commissioner Precinct 3 in Brown County during the March 2024 Republican Primary. The following are the answers submitted by the candidates:
WAYNE SHAW
How long have you been a part of the Brown County community? – To what extent have you been a part of the local government?
Wayne Shaw has presided in Brown County for most of his life and has served in public office for 12 years. After graduating from Blanket High School, Shaw attended Howard Payne University and completed his graduate studies in Administration and Mid Management from Tarleton State University.
What is your vision for the future of Brown County? – What changes would you advocate for and why?
There aren’t many changes that Shaw would make upon election as County Commissioner for the third precinct. He says that he prefers to live by the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it”. However, his vision for Brown County is for the third precinct’s infrastructure to be of top priority regarding any improvement it may need. Shaw believes that the city ought to fulfill whatever it needs with the dollars it currently has.
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Shaw believes that his greatest strength is that he is steadily available for whoever and whatever is needed of him. He is open to meet with, listen to, and collaborate with the people of Brown County in order to best improve it. In particular to the residents in rural areas, Shaw is more than willing to maintain steady communication and steady relationships. Regarding relationships, Shaw is confident of the solid relationships he has with all running candidates in the 2024 Brown County Election; as well as with the cities of Brownwood, Early, and the respective offices.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? – What areas need improvement and why?
The biggest thing that is both a challenge and an area of improvement for the third precinct County Commissioner is the plan for the infrastructure and roadways, according to Shaw. He believes there is a large need for these things to not only be improved but to also refrain from increasing tax rates in Brown County.
What has been the greatest accomplishment in your career? – In your personal life?
Shaw says that his greatest accomplishment has been the duration of time he has gotten to serve the people of Brown County as their commissioner. Though he has already achieved much for the county in terms of lowering taxes and providing maintenance/upkeep for the roadways, he is looking forward to continuing these projects in order to fully accomplish them.
Click here for Wayne Shaw’s full bio
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PAT DREW
How long have you been a part of the Brown County community? – To what extent have you been a part of the local government?
Pat Drew has presided in Brown County for 63 years. During this time, he has served on the Early City Council where, for 10 years, he worked on numerous projects. Some projects included joining the Brown County Water Improvement District, lowering taxes, and cultivating a steady environment for businesses to flock to Early, Texas.
What is your vision for the future of Brown County? – What changes would you advocate for and why?
Drew would like to see the roadways improved, and the tax rate lowered for owning road equipment versus renting it. He served in the third precinct in the early 1980s therefore, Drew is confident that he knows the needs of the people. Overall, Drew hopes to make Brown County a bigger and better place to live upon election as the third precinct County Commissioner.
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Drew is confident in his ability to listen to the needs of the people by always keeping them at the forefront of his mind. He is ambitious to work harder at lowering taxes and conducting an in-depth review of the budget.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? – What areas need improvement and why?
Throughout his campaign for County Commissioner, Drew stated that the biggest challenge thus far is, “just making it to the November ballot.” He doesn’t believe that much needs to be changed presently.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? – In your personal life?
Drew’s greatest accomplishment to date is his family. He has been married to his wife Marcy for 41 years and together they have raised two children, Mallory and Connor. Drew says that it has been a joy to raise their own kids, as well as see their grandkids grow up likewise.
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DAVID ‘DOC’ REID
How long have you been a part of the Brown County community? – To what extent have you been a part of local government?
David ‘Doc’ Reid has lived in Brown County for most of his life, having graduated from Blanket High School in 1980 and moved back to Blanket where he currently presides after briefly living in Abilene. Though he has yet to take a position in local government, Reid has worked in the field of sales for the majority of his career.
What is your vision for the future of Brown County? – What changes would you advocate for and why?
Reid’s vision for the future of Brown County is to further the community outreach to the young people living in the area. Regarding what changes he would advocate for upon election Reid says that we should “look for different options of careers that will allow our younger generation to grow up in Brown County.”
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Reid stated that though he has never served in local government prior to the elections, he would consider his strength to be his experience in problem solving, management experience, and handling budgets.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? – What areas need improvement and why?
The biggest challenge facing Reid’s campaign for County Commissioner is the inability to help everyone at once. He stated that he “will need to prioritize different issues and stay within the budget.” As far as improvement is concerned, Reid believes nothing can determined until the role of office is filled with a routine schedule that shows what’s going on.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? – In your personal life?
Reid’s greatest accomplishment in reference to his career is the capability to develop consistent loyalty with both the company and the people he has worked for in the past. In reference to his family, Reid’s greatest accomplishment is his faith, family, and health.
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JEFF PRIMROSE
How long have you been a part of the Brown County community? – To what extent have you been a part of local government?
Jeff Primrose has been a resident of Brown County for 33 years. He has been involved in local government via exercising his right to vote, establishing a positive rapport with local elected officials, and encouraging other members of the community to do likewise.
What is your vision for the future of Brown County? – What changes would you advocate for and why?
Primrose believes that his vision for the county is to keep people safe, secure, and confident as they carry out their daily plans and activities. “As concerns deepen with the open border situation, I see a great need to advocate for competitive salaries for the Sheriff’s office in order to keep and recruit seasoned law enforcement,” said Primrose.
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Primrose says that his strengths stem from his work experience with the TxDOT for 26 years. While working there he gathered skills in creating and managing multi-million-dollar budgets and contracts, conducting audits, managing logistics of organizing jobs spanning over 5,000 lane miles throughout nine different counties. In contrast, Primrose believes his weakness is having a hard time saying “no” when it comes to helping others.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? – What areas need improvement and why?
The most challenging area and the greatest need is maintaining and improving the structural integrity of the county’s infrastructure, according to Primrose. He concludes that the reason for such improvement is due to the ever-changing weather conditions combined with wear and tear of the constant flow of traffic which leads to deterioration. “For these reasons, one must be proactive in budgeting for future repairs and maintenance needs,” said Primrose. An additional area that Primrose believes could use attention is the communication between county officials and the public. He believes the public ought to be informed as much as legal matters allow.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? – In your personal life?
Primrose contends to say that his greatest career accomplishments have been problem solving in areas involving the public, contractors, and governmental agencies “with the best interest of the taxpayer in mind, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.” Regarding his personal life, Primrose’s greatest accomplishment has been his relationship with Jesus “who is the Anchor that holds everything in place.”
Click here for Jeff Pimrose’s full bio
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PAT McLAUGHLIN III
How long have you been a part of the Brown County community? – To what extent have you been a part of local government?
Pat McLaughlin moved to Brown County in 1981 to help manage and administrate a local nursing home. This was where he met his wife, Vicki Medlock, and together they have raised four children – Ashley, Patrick, Cameron, and Alex. Ashley graduated from Howard Payne University and married her high school sweetheart, Zack Lundy, who serves as a Texas State Trooper. They have also raised two children, Mason and Remi. Pat and Vicki’s son Alex is currently a junior at Brownwood High School. McLaughlin has served in leadership for many non-profit organizations that use Roberts Rules of Order like that of the Brown County Commissioners Court. He has additionally been employed at the Brown County Courthouse since 2021 under the supervision of the Brown County Judge. McLaughlin stated that his position is the Brown County Director of Governmental Affairs. He has developed a positive relationship with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and FEMA, where he submits grant applications to the TDEM, FEMA, the Governor’s office, etc. “I am tasked to manage these grants from beginning till completion,” said McLaughlin. Regarding his management and construction background, McLaughlin has overseen work conducted on buildings within Brown County and has been recognized by FEMA and Texas A&M Engineering for completing ICS 100, 200, 300, and 400 Basic Command Systems through Advanced Incident Command Systems for Complex Incidents training.
What is your vision for the future of Brown County? – What changes would you advocate for and why?
McLaughlin contends that there are few areas were change in Brown County is needed. First, he believes that every occupied office ought to be willing to change with the times. “When FEMA or the government changes the rules, we need to identify how to implement those changes to make things work smoothly. We can’t just say “Well, that’s the way we’ve always done it”. Let’s do it the right way the first time,” said McLaughlin. He also stated, “I will never vote to give tax abatements to companies that do not bring a substantial number of permanent jobs to Brown County, no matter how this affects the land I own or that of my donors.” An additional point of change that McLaughlin believes necessary for Brown County is that the County Commissioners Court needs to modernize with large TV monitors in order to see documents, maps, financial reports, and proposals that are being presented more clearly. “Allow not only the Commissioners to see the documents as presented, but the audience as well,” he said. A last point of change the McLaughlin advocates for is the renewal of Brown County Purchasing Policies. According to McLaughlin, they “do not protect Brown County when dealing with FEMA grants.” He has already prepared a purchasing policy approved by the TDEM to replace the current policy.
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
McLaughlin believes his greatest strength is that he hopes to hear all sides of an issue in order to make the most informed decision with the presented facts; not just listen to the loudest opinion or those of his colleagues.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? – What areas need improvement and why?
The biggest challenge that faces McLaughlin is the fact that five good people are running for the same job. “Often you only have three minutes to explain why I am more qualified and can do better at the job,” said McLaughlin. “I do feel that with my professional and non-profit experience, I am most qualified to hit the ground running.”
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? – In your personal life?
In terms of his career, McLaughlin believes his greatest accomplishments to be obtaining his license and working as a licensed Administrator by the State of Texas in 1981, successfully executing his duties as a Field Project Manager for Cajun Contractors and Engineers, owning & operating several businesses in Brown County (most of all BCI Computers), managing the Riverside Comfort Inn Hotel and the Quality Inn Convention Center in Abilene, serving as President of the Brownwood Jaycee’s (leading chapter to #1 in the world0, and serving as President of the Texas JCI Senate (leading Texas to #1 in the United States). Regarding his personal life, McLaughlin believes his greatest accomplishments have been to marry into a God-loving family and make Vicki Medlock his wife, working alongside Vicki to raise their four kids, and to have chosen to plant roots in Brown County.
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Early voting will take place Feb. 20 through March 1 at the Brown County Elections Office, located at 613 N. Fisk. Election Day is Tuesday, March 5 and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Keep up with all of the Local election news HERE.