Plano City Councilmember Angela Miner ran unopposed for her husband, Pat Miner's, seat in the May 9 election. She is the first councilmember in Plano's history to succeed a spouse after their expired term.[/caption]
When asked what they love most about Plano, former councilmember Pat Miner and his wife, Angela, answered with just one word: "Everything."
Having been entrenched in the community for roughly 19 years, Angela recently ran unopposed in the May 9 election, making her the first in Plano’s history to assume a spouse's seat.
Pat could not run for office this year, as city councilmembers are limited to two terms.
Although Angela has served on numerous boards, the full-time volunteer and mother of two never expected to be leading the "city of excellence" in this capacity.
“I’ve always been supportive of her," Pat said. "I just told her to buckle in and enjoy the ride. As we on the council say, [she’s] learning to artfully drink from the fire hose. But if she needs a knowledge check I’ll be her encyclopedia, you bet. She is just vastly qualified for this. She’s been active basically from the day we got here and she’s never stopped.”
The Miners moved to Plano shortly after Pat retired from the Air Force. Pat took a job working for Dallas ISD and Angela started volunteering at their daughters’ elementary school. Her decision to join the PTA opened doors to other leadership opportunities, as she was asked to serve as the association’s treasurer and later president for several elementary schools and at Plano East High School when her daughters were older. Angela also served as treasurer and later president of Plano ISD’s Council of PTAs, representing the council on PISD’s Education Foundation.
“It was a lot of work. It was constant. From the time I got up until the time I went to bed, [I was] constantly checking emails, going to meetings, helping struggling PTAs, phone calls, and it was all volunteer [work],” said Angela. “But I love our city, I love our PTAs and I love our people.”
Currently Angela belongs to Women Making a Difference, a group that selects one Plano nonprofit to support each quarter. With members contributing $100 apiece, the group can raise as much as $10,000 for one local charity.
As a Rotarian, Angela is responsible for selecting deserving students to receive Plano Rotary Club scholarships. The HOA president also serves on the The Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center and is a member of Plano Symphony Education Committee. On the committee, Angela helped forge partnerships with PTAs to raise money for music education in the aftermath of budget cuts. The partnership is still going strong today, something she is very proud of.
And the list goes on.
“I do a lot of things, these are just the big ones. I do a lot of things behind the scenes. You should see my calendar,” said Angela, laughing.
Now that their daughters are in college, the Miners’ hard work has inspired their children to follow in their footsteps. For others wondering how to start their volunteering career, Angela recommends joining a PTA.
“From there you get to know people and you can get involved in different organizations,” she said. “PTA taught me a lot of my leadership skills and dealing with people and [all of their] personalities. Now in this position on City Council, I am really excited. I never thought that I would be doing this.”
Among the many things she looks forward to being a part of, revitalization efforts taking place in neighborhoods throughout the city is one project in particular that piques her interest. While Plano has been successful in attracting new businesses, she said the city should not take its focus away from existing businesses and residents whom she has worked with for so many years.
“I love giving. And I’m not the only one. We have a silent group of great volunteers and I know who they are but the community doesn’t. I just want to serve a community,” she said. “There are different areas in which I think I can help and many neighborhoods in our city that need a little bit of help. I want to help keep us continue to be No. 1.”
Plano City Councilmember Angela Miner ran unopposed for her husband, Pat Miner's, seat in the May 9 election. She is the first councilmember in Plano's history to succeed a spouse after their expired term.[/caption]
When asked what they love most about Plano, former councilmember Pat Miner and his wife, Angela, answered with just one word: "Everything."
Having been entrenched in the community for roughly 19 years, Angela recently ran unopposed in the May 9 election, making her the first in Plano’s history to assume a spouse's seat.
Pat could not run for office this year, as city councilmembers are limited to two terms.
Although Angela has served on numerous boards, the full-time volunteer and mother of two never expected to be leading the "city of excellence" in this capacity.
“I’ve always been supportive of her," Pat said. "I just told her to buckle in and enjoy the ride. As we on the council say, [she’s] learning to artfully drink from the fire hose. But if she needs a knowledge check I’ll be her encyclopedia, you bet. She is just vastly qualified for this. She’s been active basically from the day we got here and she’s never stopped.”
The Miners moved to Plano shortly after Pat retired from the Air Force. Pat took a job working for Dallas ISD and Angela started volunteering at their daughters’ elementary school. Her decision to join the PTA opened doors to other leadership opportunities, as she was asked to serve as the association’s treasurer and later president for several elementary schools and at Plano East High School when her daughters were older. Angela also served as treasurer and later president of Plano ISD’s Council of PTAs, representing the council on PISD’s Education Foundation.
“It was a lot of work. It was constant. From the time I got up until the time I went to bed, [I was] constantly checking emails, going to meetings, helping struggling PTAs, phone calls, and it was all volunteer [work],” said Angela. “But I love our city, I love our PTAs and I love our people.”
Currently Angela belongs to Women Making a Difference, a group that selects one Plano nonprofit to support each quarter. With members contributing $100 apiece, the group can raise as much as $10,000 for one local charity.
As a Rotarian, Angela is responsible for selecting deserving students to receive Plano Rotary Club scholarships. The HOA president also serves on the The Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center and is a member of Plano Symphony Education Committee. On the committee, Angela helped forge partnerships with PTAs to raise money for music education in the aftermath of budget cuts. The partnership is still going strong today, something she is very proud of.
And the list goes on.
“I do a lot of things, these are just the big ones. I do a lot of things behind the scenes. You should see my calendar,” said Angela, laughing.
Now that their daughters are in college, the Miners’ hard work has inspired their children to follow in their footsteps. For others wondering how to start their volunteering career, Angela recommends joining a PTA.
“From there you get to know people and you can get involved in different organizations,” she said. “PTA taught me a lot of my leadership skills and dealing with people and [all of their] personalities. Now in this position on City Council, I am really excited. I never thought that I would be doing this.”
Among the many things she looks forward to being a part of, revitalization efforts taking place in neighborhoods throughout the city is one project in particular that piques her interest. While Plano has been successful in attracting new businesses, she said the city should not take its focus away from existing businesses and residents whom she has worked with for so many years.
“I love giving. And I’m not the only one. We have a silent group of great volunteers and I know who they are but the community doesn’t. I just want to serve a community,” she said. “There are different areas in which I think I can help and many neighborhoods in our city that need a little bit of help. I want to help keep us continue to be No. 1.”
