Gun Barrel City council appoints Brian Henson to Place 4 West

Gun Barrel City Council at a special meeting on Oct. 20, 2025, appointed Brian Henson to fill City Council Place 4 (West) after interviewing three applicants.

Councilmembers interviewed Brian Henson, Lisa Matthews and Ava Towner during the session at City Hall before taking the appointment vote. Councilmember Burns nominated Henson; Councilmember Jacobs seconded the nomination. The council voted 4-0 — Burns, Evan G, Jacobs and Edward voting yes — and the motion to appoint Henson passed.

Henson introduced himself as the director of curriculum and instruction at the NRVTA and said he has lived in the area nearly five years and bought a home on Robin Hood Way in February 2024. “I wanna try to make an impact here, see what I could do,” Henson said during his interview. He described previous experience giving back through parks work and other community projects and said his background is in horticulture.

Lisa Matthews, who said she lives at 110 Camino Robles, told the council she serves on planning and zoning and the economic development corporation and works as a mortgage loan underwriter. “I just really like Gun Barrel City,” Matthews said. Ava Towner, a retired physical-education teacher who said she served on the planning and zoning commission, also introduced herself and said she looks forward to serving if chosen.

After the vote the council congratulated Henson and adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance: Appointment to City Council Place 4 (West) — nominee: Brian Henson; motion by Councilmember Burns; second by Councilmember Jacobs; vote: Burns — yes; Evan G — yes; Jacobs — yes; Edward — yes; outcome: approved.