ACE Wine Room co-owner Eric Cothran, McMullan Auto Insurance owner and Bandera Chiropractor massage therapist Betheny Tankersley were unanimously appointed by the Bandera City Council to the Bandera Economic Development Corporation at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The trio replaces EDC President Deana McCabe, and board members Andrew Jankoski and Tom McEachin.
Letters of consideration and applications were submitted to the council for a place on the EDC. Jankoski applied for a reappoint, but McCabe and McEachin did not. Although council member Debbie Breen made a motion for Jankoski’s reappointment, it was not seconded.
Bandera resident Tammy Morrow and City Treasurer Allyson Wright withdrew their names from consideration before the appointments.
When Morrow asked why the council chose three new members instead of reappointing Jankoski, councilmember Brett Hicks responded, “I don’t know how we got to a point where there’s so much conflict between the EDC and the City Council. I, for one, want that to stop. We need to figure out the best way to serve our citizens. We have checks and balances in place, and I’m excited for new blood.”
Although not explicitly referenced by name, statements by the council, including by Hicks was referenced by Jankoski and categorized as “false” and “in poor taste” during a statement from Jankosi at the city’s March 11 meeting.
“I would imagine that my coming forward will have an effect on my reappointment to the EDC,” she concluded. “It would not surprise me if the council appointment themselves or a city staff member in an attempt to seemingly diminish the voices of the people of Bandera.”
Jankoski preferred to make no comment about losing her reappointment to the EDC.
Tankersley expressed her surprise and appreciation at her own appointment and discussed her hopes that the businesses in the strip mall would now be more involved in future events for the city.
“It’s a shocked honor,” Tankersley said. “I’m excited. Having been down in the strip center for nine-plus years, we get left out all the time. I realize it’s not easy access for tourists, but there has to be something to help us get involved. If we could get the whole town involved and everybody finding out about things ahead of time and make events bigger and better, then that would be great.”
“I look forward to working with the EDC financially to create a great environment for our city and its citizens,” McMullan said.
Cothran was not available for comment.
In addition to the new appointments, EDC members are Vice President Laura Devenport, Treasurer Debbie Breen, Secretary Lynn Palmer and Board Member Manny Longoria.
Breen and Palmer currently serve on the City Council.
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