Loughmiller and Day sworn into office on McKinney Council

By Brandi Hart
McKinneyUpdate.com editor
Created at 11:30 p.m. on June 1, 2009

Loughmiller replaces Bill Whitfield, who could not run for mayor as he exhausted his term limits in the mayoral seat. Day replaces Gilda Garza, who ran for the at-large council seat and lost to council member at-large David Brooks, who was previously sworn into office before the votes were canvassed by the council on May 18. Brooks did not attend the June 1 meeting as he is on a three week vacation out of town.

Pictured in the above photo is Mayor Brian Loughmiller taking the oath of office and getting sworn into office by City Secretary Sandy Hart on June 1. Photo by Brandi Hart / McKinneyUpdate.com

Loughmiller said he was looking forward to serving the residents as their mayor, working with neighboring city leaders on regional issues and was very proud to represent McKinney. Loughmiller also thanked his wife, Donna, and his children for supporting his return to public service. Loughmiller previously served as the District 4 Council member for six years until May, 2007, when his term ended. Loughmiller said McKinney citizens want open and transparent government and he wants the council to schedule a town hall meeting to introduce the newly elected council members to the public. Loughmiller also said that he wants realistic benchmarks to be established in the next 12 months.

Day said he was very proud to serve as the District 1 Council member and that there is a lot of work to be done.

District 3 Council member Travis Ussery was also sworn in as he was elected to a three year term on the council. He ran unopposed in the May 9 election.

Congressman Ralph Hall attended the meeting and thanked Whitfield for his service to the community. Former McKinney High School counselor and longtime McKinney ISD employee Jesse McGowen thanked Garza for her dedication to District 1.

An emotional Whitfield praised community and city leaders for organizing an emergency shelter out of the former Wal-Mart building that used to be located where the Sam's store is north of US 380 to house displaced residents from Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.

"I had calls from Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Florence Shapiro calling us and we made headlines," Whitfield said.

Pictured in the photo below are former Council member for District 1 Gilda Garza, Council at-large and former Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cox, former Mayor Bill Whitfield, City Manager Frank Ragan, and former District 3 Council member Bill Vitz, who resigned from the council in the fall of 2008 due to health issues. Courtesy photo by Juan Carlos Cortes / Entertainment Photos

He also praised the city turning the Historic Collin County Courthouse into the McKinney Performing Arts Center. Whitfield also said that being mayor has taught him a few lessons, including don't believe everything you hear as the expansion of US 75 wasn't even on the radar six years ago during Regional Transportation Council discussions at the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Now, construction work is ongoing at the intersection of SH 121 and US 75.

"McKinney is a great city with a great past and a bright future," Whitfield said. He also thanked his wife, Jo Ann and his daughters who attended the meeting.

City Manager Frank Ragan described Whitfield as being a "terror in the hallway" and is known as "Wild Bill" in the North Texas region. Ragan said he will miss Whitfield as he has helped the city receive millions of dollars in water conservation grants, is an avid supporter of trees and also works well with neighboring cities and leaders.

Garza, who was in high spirits had advice for her fellow council members. She told Council member District 2 Geralyn Kever that she would have to help discipline the rest of the council members, who are all men, as Garza has had to "settle out" the group of boys over the years. She also gave Council member for District 4 Ray Ricchi advice and said, "think about what you're gong to say before you say it." On a more serious note, Garza thanked Ricchi, who is the executive vice president of The Ballfields at Craig Ranch, for the use of the ballfields for various community events.

She then told Council member for District 3 Travis Ussery, who is the most reserved council member, seems to be "coming out of the closet", meaning that he seems to be speaking more at council meetings on topics and issues. Garza also thanked Whitfield for all of his work that he did on the transportation issues, such as representing McKinney on the US 75 and State Highway 121 corridor and his efforts on water conservation.

Garza also praised the city's Finance Department and John Kessel, Executive Director of the Development Services Division and Brian James, Deputy Director of the Development Services Division, and the entire Planning Department's work on the city's comprehensive plan.

Cox thanked his wife, Wendy for allowing him to run for office and serve on council. He also thanked the city employees, of which he has made an effort to thank at every regular council meeting for the last three years. "I truly mean that we have the best city staff around. You guys make us look better than we are. You're a value and asset to McKinney," Cox said.

Pictured in the photo above is Council member for District 3 Travis Ussery being sworn into office by City Secretary Sandy Hart. Photo by Brandi Hart / McKinneyUpdate.com

Cox also thanked former Council member for District 3 Bill Vitz's for his service on the council. It was Vitz's first time to visit the council chambers after he resigned from the council in the fall of 2008 after advice from his doctor due to health issues.

City Manager Frank Ragan said Cox is a worthy torchbearer of the Cox name, as Cox's family is a stalwart in the McKinney community, carries on his family's legacy well in his work in the community, knowledge of the Texas Legislature, as Cox is a former lobbyist, and a real estate broker who knows much about who owns pieces of land in McKinney.

Vitz was also in good spirits and told Kever, Ricchi, Loughmiller and Whitfield, whom he said, "liked to talk", that he was going to read from a 15 page paper he wrote for his outgoing comments about being on council. Vitz said thanked everyone who sent him get well notes from people after he had a quadruple bypass.

"I really appreciated hearing from all of you. The city staff is great," Vitz said.

Vitz, Cox, Garza, and Whitfield all received an engraved keepsake to commemorate their time on council.

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