City hires Dwyer as City Administrator
Simon Dwyer, a former Olney police officer, went to work as Olney’s new city administrator on Friday, a day after the Olney City Council agreed to hire him in an executive session on May 3.
Mr. Dwyer emerged as “the premier candidate for the position after the Council reviewed over 16 applications,” Mayor Rue Rogers said. “He owned his own IT business prior to getting also won re-election in a special election to fill the unexpired term of Brad Simmons, who left the Council after moving outside City limits.
Mrs. Sullivan won 61.4 percent of the vote, followed by Corel Vorel with 23.3 percent of the vote.
Steven J. Nurre captured 8.7 percent of the vote; and Lita Browning won 5.5 percent of the vote.
Mrs. Sullivan will serve for one year before the seat comes up for re-election.
Two seats vacated by Mr. Parker and Council member Tommy Kimbro were filled by Mr. Cowart, a former city employee, and former Council member Terri Wipperman.
Mr. Cowart was the lead vote-getter, with 36.9 percent of the vote. Mrs. Wipperman was next with 23 percent, followed by Jackie Griffith-Voyles with 14.8 percent. Challenger Kathy Muncy won 9.5 percent of the vote, Mona Bernhardt won 9 percent, followed by Melissa Ann Scott with 4 percent and Ruben Torres with 2.4 percent.
Mayor Rogers, first elected to the Council in 2017, said his priorities for his upcoming term are continuing “the momentum the City and City Council has established over the past several years.”
He plans a renewed emphasis on policing and code enforcement, and forging relationships with state legislators and the Texas Water Development Board.
Mrs. Wipperman, who served as a City billing clerk and Council member, prioritized the City’s water supply and cleaning up Olney’s dilapidated structures.
Mr. Cowart, who served as a City code enforcement officer, emergency management coordinator and in other city roles, prioritized the water treatment plant, street repair and debris pickup.
Mrs. Sullivan, a certified public accountant and Keep Olney Beautiful board member, prioritized “usable water ... the water department and the aging system requiring updates and repairs.” Her second priority is repairing city roads.