Long did not seek re-election to Place 1 in the May 6 election. Jim Walker was elected to the seat and sworn in May 23. Walker served on the Coppell Planning and Zoning Commission prior to joining council.
Long ran unopposed for the then-vacant Place 1 position and was elected in 2014. He served as mayor pro tem from 2018-19. Long said in a news release that his desire to focus on turning Coppell Historical Society’s Heritage Park into an official museum influenced his decision to not seek re-election. Long and his wife Chris Long, who is president of the Coppell Historical Society, have led efforts to build the museum.
Council honored Long during their May 23 meeting.
“I always tell everybody I went out and bought a really thick pair of socks because he’s left me such a big pair of shoes to fill,” Walker said. “I will do my best to do that.”
Long has lived in Coppell for more than 30 years and has served in various roles. He served on Coppell’s Transportation Committee and Coppell ISD’s 2013 Bond Steering Committee. He is also an active member of the Coppell Rotary Club, according to the news release. Other roles held include board member and former board chair of the Coppell Chamber of Commerce and former president of the Old Town Coppell Association.
Long received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University and a master’s degree in liberal arts from Southern Methodist University. He is a licensed certified public accountant and former certified financial planner. Long has served as chief financial officer for several companies throughout his career and purchased Sovereign Mortgage Services Inc. with his wife in 2002, according to the city.
“I’ll miss the people I worked with and worked for, but I’m not going anywhere,” Long said in a news release. “I will continue to serve the Coppell community in other areas.”
