Commissioner Muras Retiring at End of Year

Pct. 4 Commissioner Tom Muras said he plans to retire at the end of the year.

Muras broke the news to his workers in the Pct. 4 Road and Bridge Department on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

“At the end of this year its going to be 30 years (in office) and I’m 68 years old,” Muras said in an interview with the Record Wednesday night.

That leaves the County with less than a month to fill the position. Muras has served half of his current four-year term. He would be up for election again in 2022. State law gives the County Judge authority to appoint a replacement to fill an unexpired commissioners term.

“There are some other things in life I want to do,” Muras said. “It’s been a great 30 years, fantastic 30 years. This job was enjoyable. I had some good people working for me.”

Muras said he recently underwent a couple of surgeries to his back, which he said weighed heavily in his decision to retire.

“When I was about five or six years old, I was waiting for the bus one day to pick me up,” Muras said. “I remember watching my dad walk to the cow pen to feed cows. Right then I said, ‘Gosh, I want to do that.’ So I want to be a farmer.

“I always wanted to be a farmer when I grow up,” he joked.

Muras said he will recommend Drew Brossmann, his second in command at Pct. 4, to replace him. Muras said Brossmann managed the department well during his extended absence from his most recent back surgery.

“Nothing slowed down,” Muras said. “He took over everything. His name was on the time cards, the bills. They didn’t skip a beat while I was gone.”

The decision will rest ultimately with County Judge Joe Weber.