Commissioners Court replacement for Patricia Miller likely won’t be selected until the general election

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - It’s been 2 ½ months since the death of Precinct 2 McLennan County Commissioner Patricia Miller, and it appears now that her replacement won’t be selected until the Nov. 5 general election.

McLennan County Judge Scott Felton has the statutory authority and the option to select Miller’s successor. However, he is taking a wait-and-see approach because the precinct chairmen from the local Democratic and Republican parties who live in Precinct 2 also have the right to select nominees for the position to square off in the general election.

Felton, who is side-stepping possible negative fallout from a potentially volatile political situation, says he likely will wait to see who the respective parties nominate for the Precinct 2 job. However, he wants to make it clear that he is keeping his option to appoint open.

“I have been in discussion with both the Democratic Party leadership and Republican Party leaders and I feel confident that they are moving forward,” Felton said. “One challenge if I appointed somebody would be if the precinct chairs don’t select the same person, and then we would have wasted all our time. I’m confident that they will appoint someone who is qualified to do the job. If they select somebody who isn’t qualified, I would want that option to appoint.”

Miller, 65, was sworn in as Precinct 2 commissioner in January 2019 after serving more than two decades as the late Commissioner Lester Gibson’s administrative assistant. She was the first woman to be elected to the commissioners court and the first Black woman to serve on the court.

McLennan County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Hayes said Travis Gibson, Lester Gibson’s son and a Bellmead City Council member; Tracy Guillory, Miller’s administrative assistant; and Jeremy Davis, a Waco school board member, have expressed interested in succeeding Miller.

Hayes’ Republican counterpart, Brad Holland, said he has received a number of calls from those interested in the nomination, but he declined to name them. Former Department of Public Safety Trooper D.L. Wilson, who twice ran against Miller, has expressed interest in the nomination.

Hayes said his party will form a committee on June 17, with plans to meet June 24 to select the Democratic nominee. Holland, who is handing over the local party reins to Chris DeCluitt, said they will have a nominee at least by the end of July.

“I think as time gets shorter, it is a difficult position to fill , and I think leaving it to the will of the voters for such a short period since there is no immediate urgency makes sense,” Holland said. “I think it just makes sense to leave it to the voters. That’s the most democratic way.”

Hayes said the Precinct 2 seat historically has been held by a Democrat and remains the party’s “highest ranking county official.” There are a couple of constables and justices of the peace who are Democrats, and Hayes said the party is trying hard to retain the Precinct 2 seat.

“Commissioner Miller was very valuable to the commissioners court because she provided a different viewpoint on things,” Hayes said. “She provided a more diverse background and alternative ideas. If everybody on the court is a white male, 60 years old or older, everybody is the same, and we need someone who brings a different perspective and outlook.”

Local Democrats also will be given the opportunity to gain a countywide seat because of the timing of Gov. Greg Abbott’s appointment of Judge Ryan Luna as judge of 414th State District Court.

The commissioners court appointed veteran attorney Pat Atkins to succeed Luna as judge of County Court-at-Law No. 3. The Democrats can appoint someone to run against Atkins, assuming the Republican precinct chairs stick with Atkins as the nominee in November.

Felton said Miller’s fellow commissioners, their road and bridge crew foremen, County Engineer Zane Dunnam and other county officials have been working with Guillory and her Precinct 2 staff to offer them support since Miller’s death.

“The most important thing that we needed to do, and we started within a few days after the sad news about Commissioner Miller’s passing, is we said we need to get our arms around and support the employees of Precinct 2 as well as take care of the residents who live in Precinct 2,” Felton said. “So we have to keep moving forward and working on ongoing projects and being sure that the Precinct 2 road and bridge crew has the equipment and materials to do that job.”

Felon said the Precinct 2 crew is completing a few low-water crossing upgrades and will proceed with road work now that it’s getting warmer.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Ben Perry has offered to help with oversight and the foremen from each commissioners’ precinct have met and have offered any assistance Precinct 2 workers may need in the interim, Felton said.

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