Eccleston Honored by Chamber

Donna Eccleston, Comal County Commissioner Pct. 1, received the 2018 Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Chair of the Board Award on Monday, April 24 for her work in the field of mental health.

The award honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community in a specific field of endeavor.

On its website, innewbraunfels.com, the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce posted: “Her efforts have increased communication and understanding between all stakeholders and have made life better for the citizens of our county who require mental health services.”

Eccleston serves as chair of Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disability, a 19-county local mental health authority. She is also a board member of the Texas Council of Community Mental Health Centers. She started the Mental Health Stakeholders Partner Group in Comal County nine years ago.

Eccleston worked with Judge Charles Stephens to form the local Veterans Treatment Court, a specialty court designed to assist veterans in the criminal justice system.

She also is a member of the McKenna Community Mental and Behavioral Health Task Force and the county’s Mobile Crisis Outreach Team.

Eccleston was instrumental in obtaining the funds and development of this team, now responsible for managing up to 95 percent of all civil commitments.

She also advocates with Comal County’s elected state delegation on mental health issues and has suggested modifications to statutes that would increase efficiencies and optimize services in mental health across Texas.

Eccleston was first elected to Commissioners Court in 2008 and has twice been reelected by the voters of Precinct 1. As a member of Comal County’s Wellness Committee, she participated in activities that promote healthy living and fun competition among county employees.

She also serves as the County’s Indigent Health Care Appeals officer, is a board member of the United Way of Comal County, and actively support and volunteers for area food banks. She twice served as President of the Canyon Lake Rotary Club, and is a member of multiple chambers of commerce in the county.

“For these reasons and many more, Eccleston is the second recipient of the Chair of the Board Award of 2018. April Weilbacher received the award in the field of downtown development in February. Eccleston and her husband Bob will be invited as a special guests to the Centennial Chamber of Commerce Banquet on January 25, 2019 where he will be further honored,” the board said on its website.