For Bryan

CITY COUNCIL

DISTRICT 5

PROVEN LEADER.

RECORD OF SERVICE.

DEDICATED TO OUR COMMUNITY.

A PROVEN LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY

Howdy and thank you for visiting my website!

It is with great enthusiasm and after much careful consideration that I am announcing my candidacy for Bryan City Council Single Member District 5. I am excited about the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Bryan and I am honored to have the support and endorsement of Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson.

My husband, Hunter Shurtleff, and I are both small business owners, and attorneys in Bryan, and proud graduates of Texas A&M.

At a very young age I became interested in public service and local government. I got my first job for a state representative at 14 and was elected Mayor at 26, making me Texas’ youngest female elected official.

In addition to various other leadership positions, I currently serve as Vice-Chair of the Bryan Planning and Zoning Commission and on the Bryan Business Council Board of Directors.

In addition to my extensive policy and government background, I was raised farming and ranching and understand the value of hard work and common sense.

I have always felt a duty to serve my community and I am proud to serve the citizens of Bryan both in local government and as a member of various charitable organizations and boards.

In my various roles, I utilize my extensive background in policy, public service, and business to provide comprehensive solutions and innovative ideas.

If elected, I will apply my knowledge and experience to excel in my role as Councilwoman.

RECORD OF SERVICE

MAYOR, City of Stratford, Texas (‘10/‘12)
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
ATTORNEY, TREASURER, Brazos County Bar Association
VICE-CHAIR, City of Bryan PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
BRYAN BUSINESS COUNCIL, Board of Directors, Tourism Sub-Committee CHAIR
Midtown Planning & Neighborhood Preservation, PLANNING & ZONING SUBCOMMITTEE
ENDORSED BY BRYAN MAYOR ANDREW NELSON

About

Marca Ewers-Shurtleff

Marca Ewers-Shurtleff and her husband Hunter Shurtleff both own and manage law firms in downtown Bryan, Texas.Together they restored and remodeled a home in Bryan, Texas in 2016, where they currently reside.

Marca’s law practice focuses on business transactions, estate planning, entity formation and management, real estate, and agricultural law.

Marca serves as Vice-Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, on the Bryan Business Council Board of Directors, as Chair of the Bryan Business Council Tourism Sub-committee, on the Midtown Planning and Neighborhood Preservation Planning and Zoning Sub-committee, and formerly served on the Bryan Zoning Board of Adjustments.

Marca is very involved in the community. She has served on the Advisory Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2016 and as the annual “Night of Magic” Chairperson from 2016 to 2020. In this role, she transformed the event in to the biggest fundraiser of the year. Marca also actively supports the BCS Junior League, 100 Women of BCS, Knights of Columbus, Cedar Creek Lodge, BCS Together, Different Day Foundation, Scotty’s House, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Unbound, OPAS, Ducks Unlimited, Still Creek Ranch and is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and Stewards of the Wild. She serves as the Treasurer of the Brazos County Bar Association and is a past Secretary.

In her public roles, at her law firm, and in her charity endeavors, Marca utilizes her extensive background in policy, public service, and business to provide comprehensive solutions and innovate ideas.

Marca’s policy experience derives from her employment with the United States Congress and the Texas House of Representatives, Senate,and Department of Agriculture.

Marca also managed a commercial agricultural operation while serving as one of Texas’ youngest Mayors. As Mayor, Marca over saw the restoration of the town’s Main Street, over haul of the city’s sewer system, and worked closely with the Education Foundation and Sherman County Economic Development Committee to bring new business and opportunities to the community.

She graduated Cum Laude from South Texas College of Law—earning the prestigious Legislative Writing Award and clerkships at The United States Attorney’s Office, City of Houston, and Underwood Law Firm.

In her spare time, Marca enjoys competitive shooting sports, cooking, entertaining, Aggie football and tailgating, hiking, and the outdoors.

EDUCATION

South Texas College of Law: Houston, Texas
Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude – Cali Award for Legislative Writing Seminar, December 2014
Charles University: Prague, Czech Republic
Studied International Law and History of the Supreme Court with Chief Justice John Roberts, Summer 2013
Texas A&M University: College Station, Texas
B.S., Agricultural Leadership & Development / Minor in Philosophy, December 2006

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Marca Theresa Ewers, PC, Attorney at Law – Owner, Solo Practitioner

January 2015 – Present

Owner of firm specializing in property, estate planning, probate, guardianship, and transactional law
Provide comprehensive business solutions for clients
Named “Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Shahan Guevara Decker Arrott – Of Counsel

February – November 2017

Assistant General Counsel for Texas Municipalities across the state
Prosecutor for the cities of Elmendorf, Lometa, and Burkburnett
Associate counsel for real estate, property, and mineral estate focused firm. Drafted, reviewed, and litigated property and oil and gas disputes

Marca Theresa Ewers, PC, Attorney at Law – Benn Law Group, Of Counsel

May 2015 – January 2015

Specialized in litigation regarding: Deceptive Trade Practices Act, real estate, breach of contract, employment, debt collection, and Homeowners Association foreclosures
Drafted legal documents and comprehensively serve clients in: agricultural law, estate planning, contracts, entity formation, business succession planning, agricultural succession and misdemeanor criminal law

City of Houston Legal: Labor, Employment, & Civil Rights Division, Law Clerk

July – August 2014

Conducted legal research and drafted legal memos regarding: Title VII, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
Attended and analyzed depositions, created deposition indexes, and assisted with litigation

Underwood Law Firm, Law Clerk

May – July 2014

Researched municipal code and state laws to comprehensively represent municipal clients
Drafted in-depth legal memos regarding insurance, federal income tax, and probate and estate law
Created client marketing tools regarding municipal economic development options

City of Houston Legal: Contracts Division, Law Clerk

January – May 2014

Worked with senior counsel negotiating, drafting, editing, and analyzing municipal contracts
Researched, analyzed, and drafted legal memos regarding sovereign immunity, conflicting municipal service jurisdiction, Texas water law, Title VI, inter-local agreements, and impact fees

United States Attorney’s Office: Major Offenders Division, Law Clerk

September – November 2013

Worked closely with senior staff to prosecute human trafficking, smuggling, and money laundering cases
Researched applicable law, maintained confidentiality, and assisted in drafting sealed indictments
Assisted senior attorneys with trial and witness preparation

City of Stratford, Texas, Mayor

May 2010 – June 2012

Conducted City Council meetings and served as liaison between citizens and city staff
Oversaw city budget, city staff, municipal court, administration, parks, street, utilities, police and fire departments
Worked with City Attorney to codify city ordinances and improve clarity and compliance
Oversaw complete of “Main Street Project” comprised of large construction project and multi-million dollar grant

No Water Farms, Partner

October 2009 – June 2012

Partner in family owned and operated farm, trucking, and custom harvesting business
Managed payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and billing
Generated and managed contracts and leases for land and equipment
Obtained records for and oversaw at least thirty-eight (38) employees
Utilized experience with legislation, laws, and regulations to counsel emerging and existing businesses

Texas Department of Agriculture, Administrative Assistant

August 2008– October 2009

Worked closely with Commissioner and Executive staff on special projects
Generated correspondence and gathered information for members of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate
Served as an agency liaison to producers, legislative members, and the general public state and nationwide

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Bryan Business Council, Member

Promote economic growth and advance business enterprise in the City of Bryan, Texas
Tourism Subcommittee, Chairman: Work with destination Bryan to attract tourism, work with community and university leaders to promote tourism and conferences, Expand retail opportunities in downtown Bryan. Review and recommend annual events for Bryan Business Council sponsorship.

City of Bryan Planning and Zoning Commission , Commissioner

December 2020- Present

Meet twice monthly to review and discuss proposals to the Zoning in the City of Bryan
Act as a liaison between citizens and the City of Bryan
Research, review, and approve or disapprove proposals to manage growth in the City of Bryan

Big Brothers Big Sisters Brazos Valley, Advisory Board

2016- Present

Support and Govern Big Brothers Big Sisters Brazos Valley (BBBS)
Annual “Night of Magic” Chairperson (2016-Present)
- Responsible from transforming small staff/board dinner into largest fundraiser of the year
- Oversee Night of Magic Committee and event for nearly three-hundred (300) people

City of Bryan, Zoning Board of Adjustment

2019 – 2020

Hear and decide appeals of an alleged error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by a City official in the administration of adopted Codes
Hear and decide requests for variances from adopted codes

Brazos Valley Chamber of Commerce

2015-Present

Volunteer for the Chamber of Commerce, representing Law by ME and promotion other Chamber of Commerce events, programs, as well as existing Chamber members.
Assisted with planning and operating Chamber of Commerce events and recruiting new members

Brazos Valley Bar Association