Carrollton’s first female mayor has faced many tests in her life

by Minnie Payne

But they've forged Becky Miller into the leader she is today, and the National League of Cities recently recognized her as one of the best in America.

Carrollton Mayor Becky Miller

Carrollton Mayor Becky Miller, elected May 7, 2005 as first woman mayor of Carrollton, has proven herself over and over again.

“By being the first woman mayor, I have had to prove myself not only to the council members, but to the community,” said Miller. “I consider myself to be a very strong mayor. I think the council tested me at first.”

A great honor for which she is proud of was bestowed on Miller on Dec. 8, 2006. She was chosen as one of the six finalists for the Women in Municipal Government Award by the National League of Cities.

“Although I lost to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, I was honored to be chosen as one of the top six finalists,” said Miller.

“I’ll strive for a second time.”

Prior to being elected mayor, Miller served seven years as a council member, five of which were spent as Mayor Pro Tem. She served three years on the Zoning Board of Adjustment prior to her election to council.

Born into a military family in 1950 in Ft. Knox, Kentucky and moving all over the world throughout childhood, Miller developed a tenacity to stand on her own, as well as to make friends easily. She graduated from the American International School of The Hague in Holland in 1968, and attended Western Kentucky University.

As a young woman, Miller was a back-up vocalist on tour with a nationally known entertainer and was lured into using drugs. During her campaign for mayor one of her platforms was sharing her testimony to young and old alike whom had become engulfed in the addiction of drugs. She continues to do so by sharing her testimony at many middle and high school assemblies, participates in the annual “Shattered Dreams” campaigns, and personally counsels at-risk daughters of friends and colleagues.

In addition to being mayor, Miller has a full time job with IESI, a Texas-based solid-waste company, which merged with BFI Canada. She has 14 years experience in the solid waste industry, with her current position being governmental affairs manager.

“Because I work out of my home, it’s easy to be mayor and do my job,” said Miller.

Prior to working in the solid-waste industry, Miller was employed by the Carrollton-Farmer’s Branch ISD in Special Education for four years; therefore, she knows firsthand the importance of education to a community.

Mayor Miller was chosen recently as one of the six finalists for the Women in Municipal Government Award by the National League of Cities.

Two big factors in Miller’s reign as mayor are growth stoppage and the new DART rails system.

“We are dealing with the community on the verge of being built out, as well as revitalizing old neighborhoods,” said Miller.

“The City is now trying to find good developers who will build quality development around the three new DART rail stations. Plans are to have mixed-use developments: a mix of residential, retail, restaurants and offices so that people can live, shop, eat and work in the same area.”

According to Peter Braster, Carrollton’s Transit-Oriented Development Manager, the City has done a great job in positioning themselves to take every advantage of development opportunities generated by DART’s new Green Line Light Rail Transit Project.

“The city is very pro-active, and we are not waiting for the train to get into the station, which is still three years away,” said Braster.

“We streamlined the project approval process to take no longer than 90 days and we are very ready whatever it takes to make transit-oriented development happen. That being said, we are moving cautiously forward and will insure that each project will be a success and an asset to the city.”

According to Herb Weidinger, council member, Place 7, Miller is well liked and respected by her colleagues, as well as state representatives. He said she works diligently as mayor and spends a lot of time and energy with citizens’ groups.

Miller is a busy woman, but still finds time for her husband, Jerry, two adult daughters and one granddaughter.

“We’re fortunate that we’re empty nesters because that gives Becky more time for her mayor’s job,” said husband Jerry Miller.

“But as for me, nothing’s really changed around the house. She still does her job for IESI and manages to keep things going – grocery shopping, laundry, cooking meals – just as things were before she was mayor.”