Commissioners

Your Travis County Emergency Services District #8 & #16 Commissioners are:

Debra Opdahl
Bruce Mills
Becky Wynn
Matt Coffel
Dr. Charles Valadez

NOTE: Board Commissioners are appointed and not elected.

Ms. Opdahl retired from state government several years ago.  She has extensive legislative, executive management, and technical expertise.  She has participated in numerous advisory groups, served on a variety of governor appointed and legislative committees, and testified before the legislature on a broad range of topics.

Ms. Opdahl is married and has one grown daughter.  Ms. Opdahl and her husband, Chris, moved to the Spicewood area in 1982.  Since then they have been an active part of the community, participating in various professional and non-profit boards and fund raising activities.  They enjoy lake life and love being part of this interesting, diverse and unique community.

Ms. Opdahl can be reached at debra.opdahl@pedernalesfd.org.

Bruce Mills

Bruce Mills, a native Texan enjoyed a career in public safety and police administration for over 40 years. Bruce retired from the city of Austin as the Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management. Bruce holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Edwards University and a graduate degree from Texas State University. Bruce is co-owner of a company that recruits and helps to hire police chiefs and city managers in cities across Texas.

Bruce and his wife Judy have lived in Spicewood since 2012 and were in the Burnet County side of their subdivision. Bruce and Judy are building a new home in the same subdivision and will be in Travis County. While in Burnet County, Bruce served as a commissioner and President of ESD 9 for the last three years.

Bruce and Judy have two grown sons and four granddaughters and love to travel in their motorhome to see them.

Mr. Mills can be reached at bruce.mills@pedernalesfd.org

Matt Coffel

Matt Coffel has over twenty years of experience working in the backup power, data center/digital infrastructure field. Matt has started multiple businesses and has experience in IT, operations, finance, and business development. Matt uses his strong work ethic and tireless energy to work hard and succeed. He is a deep believer in Conscious Capitalism in business and puts that into practice by regularly volunteering and donating to organizations that embody the values and principles of people with whom they serve. Matt is inspired daily by his wife and their four children and have lived in the Lake Travis/Spicewood area since 2011, with family in the area going back to 2002.

Mr. Coffel can be reached at matt.coffel@pedernalesfd.org.

Dr. Charles Valadez

Dr. Charles Valadez, a native Texan, is reluctantly transitioning to semi-retirement after 40 years of Family Practice and Emergency Medicine. This allows him the time to continue his love of patient care both in the ER and serving on the ESD Board of Directors. A University of Texas at Austin graduate earning a BS in Chemistry, continuing on to Medical School and residency training in Surgery, Trauma, and Critical Care in the North East. Then he returned to UT Galveston to complete Family Medicine Residency training. He served on various Boards including Highland Lakes Hospital Board and Austin Recovery Board. He served as Medical Director of various EMS Units in Burnet and Hidalgo Counties. He and his wife, Madeline, have lived in Briarcliff for over 22 years, have four wonderful children, and three granddaughters. They both are active in their communities, serving on various boards and committees.

Dr. Valadez can be reached at charles.valadez@pedernalesfd.org.

Becky Wynn

Ms. Wynn was elected to the Roswell, GA City Council from 2008-2016. Each council member served as liaison to a specific city department. Responsibilities included Public Safety (fire and police) she prioritized the needs of the departments to not only keep the first responders safe, but to also be ready to serve their residents. Ms. Wynn was instrumental in adding three canine officers to the police department, approving the construction of a new fire station, and establishing the implementation of a new public safety radio system through the creation of the North Fulton Regional Radio System Authority. Ms. Wynn developed a good working relationship with both departments including fire and police chiefs, staff, and the men and women who served the City.

Ms. Wynn served on numerous committees, boards, and commissions for the State of GA, Fulton County, City of Roswell and non-profit organizations from 1995-2017. Ms. Wynn was part of a team who resurrected the Johns Creek Community Association to represent North Fulton County citizens living in unincorporated areas.

Ms. Wynn and her husband, Mike, moved to Spicewood in 2018 and are enjoying golf, gathering with friends and family, and volunteering for the Highland Lakes Canine Rescue.

Ms. Wynn can be reached at becky.wynn@pedernalesfd.org.