New officers

MIDLAND The Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission has announced the 2009 board of directors.

The board consists of: chairman, Joe Shuster, Pecos County judge; vice-chairman, Leo Smith, Terrell County judge; and secretary/treasurer, Ovidio Martinez, the mayor of Seagraves.

The Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1971 under the authority of the Texas Legislature. The PBRPC was founded for the purposes of solving areawide problems through promoting intergovernmental cooperation and coordination, conducting comprehensive regional planning and providing a forum for the study and resolution of area-wide problems.

"We are very fortunate to have The Honorable Joe Shuster, Pecos County judge, to serve as chairman of the board for 2009. Judge Shuster served as vice-chairman last year and secretary/treasurer the year before. Judge Shuster is an active participator in regionalism and continues to support the efforts of the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission by serving on various program committees such as the Financial Oversight Committee, the Regional Review Committee and the Permian Basin Regional Economic Development District Board. Judge Shuster is also Chairman of the Permian Basin Rural Transportation Sub-Committee as well as a member of the Permian Basin Rural Transportation Committee. I am very proud to have such an accomplished local elected official advocating for regionalism through the PBRPC," said Terri Moore, executive director of the PBRPC.

Moore added that Smith and Martinez "bring experience in local government as well and share the advocacy of regionalism."

The PBRPC provides services to the 17-county Permian Basin region."