In September, Whitehouse Mayor and ETCOG Board Chairman, James Wansley, took the Oath of Office to serve as vice president of the Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) Board, the statewide association of regional councils, whose members are focused on enhancing the quality of life through regional strategies, partnerships, and solutions. Wansley serves on the board as a representative of ETCOG. The TARC Board elected Mayor Wansley to serve as its vice president for 2025-2026 during its annual Board of Directors meeting held in Austin last month. "It is my honor to represent ETCOG on the Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) board," said Wansley. "Each of TARC's 24-member Councils of Governments operates independently. During our TARC sessions, we come together to explore what's new, what works, and what needs to be improved. As vice-president of the TARC board, I look forward to learning more about successful processes and programs from other Councils of Governments and how they might help ETCOG fill service and funding gaps in our region." Mayor Wansley took office as Whitehouse Mayor in 2020 and has served as a member of the ETCOG Board of Directors and Executive Committee since 2022. He became Chairman of the ETCOG Board and Executive Committee Chairman on October 1, 2025. “Mayor Wansley is always willing to serve wherever he can, and wherever he serves, he makes a difference!” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “In his new role as TARC Vice President, I am absolutely certain he will be an effective ambassador for identifying and implementing regional solutions to the challenges we face, both in East Texas and throughout the State!” Wansley will be joined on the TARC Executive Committee by City of Waco Mayor Jim Holmes, as president, San Augustine County Judge Jeff Boyd as president-elect, City of Caldwell Mayor Pro-Tem Kavon Novak as immediate past president, and Executive Director of Texoma Council of Governments, Eric Bridges, as the Executive Directors’ Council Chair. In addition to its annual Board meeting, the association held training throughout the week for elected officials, executive directors, and program staff representing the councils of governments across the state. About TARC The Texas Association of Regional Councils is the statewide association of regional councils whose members focus on enhancing the quality of life through regional strategies, partnerships, and solutions. The 24 regional councils, also known as councils of governments (COGs), are comprised of city, county, and special district members working together to implement cost-effective, results-oriented strategies that address statewide and local needs on a regional scale. www.txregionalcouncil.org