Meet the new WC commissioners: Four new Republicans to be sworn into office

Four newly elected Republicans will be sworn into office to serve on the Washington County Commission next Friday. Among the Republican candidates who won their race in the Aug. 6 county general election are Billy Austin, District 2, Roger Verran, District 5, Harrison Wexler Sr., District 7 and Mike Masters, District 15. The Johnson City Press reached out to all newly elected officials, but did not hear back from Austin by press time. Roger Verran, District 5 Born and raised in Gray, Verran graduated from Daniel Boone High School in 1982. After high school, he dabbled in various trades including electrician work, welding and delivery services. Most of his life has been spent as a truck driver delivering goods across the country, as well as Canada. He said the only state he hasn't been to is North Dakota. Verran has served on the Washington County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Regional Planning Commission for five years after being appointed by the full commission. "I've always looked and studied at what's before me and then gave it preferable consideration before making any kind of decisions and I plan on doing that [on the commission]," he said. A big part of his life, and a factor of his decision making process, is his faith. He said his relationship with God helps guide him to make better decisions. "I feel that God needs to be involved in anything that goes on," Verran said. "Whether it be county matters or just matters in life." While he is still learning the process and procedures of the full commission, he said he does feel an area that can be strengthened is the relationship between the board of education and the county commission. Harrison Wexler Sr., District 7 Wexler has lived in Johnson City for the majority of his life, apart from school. He went to high school in Indiana at Culver Military Academy, obtained his undergraduate degree from Walford College in South Carolina and his graduate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Now retired, he helped run his family business alongside his brother up until they sold it in 2018. Wexler said he has always had a "civic mindset" throughout his life and running for county commission gave him an additional opportunity to widen his impact. "Giving back to my community is just something that I've naturally done over the years," he said. He has served on the board, and as president, for the nonprofit Coalition for Kids, led local boy scouts, volunteered at churches and taught Sunday school classes. Representing District 7 on the county commission feels like the right fit for him, he said, because he knows the community and has a background of being able to lead and make impactful decisions. "We're really lucky that we live where we live, and that there's been so many good-minded, intelligent, long-term thinking people on the board, and in our county and city government over the years that have created the desirable place where we live and I'd like to keep it that way," he said. "That's not saying I want to rest on our laurels and not continue to look for the future and improve, but there's a reason why so many people are moving here." Similar to Verran, Wexler is still learning the ropes of the inner workings of local government, but he said he plans to keep a forward-looking mindset to grow the county for the better. Mike Masters, District 15 Masters was born and raised in Johnson City and currently resides in the Sulphur Springs area where he raised his three children with his wife, Kim. Masters started his career in the trucking business on the management and services side. Today, he works in commercial real estate for Keller Williams Realty. He has served on the Washington County Board of Education since being elected in 2014. "Being on that board taught me patience," he said. "It's taught me to keep my eyes and ears open." Masters plans to approach the county commissioner role with the same strategies he used on the school board. He said he hopes his time spent on the school board has gained the trust of the community to make thoughtful decisions. "The most valuable resource we have in this county is our children, and I feel like the community has trusted me in that," he said. "And hopefully I can take that trust and broaden it to help the residents along with the children still." Same as Verran, Masters wants to strengthen the relationship between the school board and the county commission and said it is vital the two bodies are tight knit. He added he is unsure how to do this yet, and his first goal is to learn how the governing body's procedures work before implementing changes. The swearing in ceremony will occur at 9 a.m. on Friday in the George P. Jaynes Justice Center.