Glenn Heights mayor named 2027 Best Southwest Partnership chair
GLENN HEIGHTS – Mayor Sonja A. Brown has been named 2027 Chair of the Best Southwest Partnership, positioning her to lead one of the region’s most established collaborative organizations as it continues its work to strengthen communities throughout southern Dallas County and northern Ellis County.
Brown currently serves as chair-elect of the Best Southwest Partnership and will assume the chairmanship in 2027.
Founded in 1986, the Best Southwest Partnership brings together municipalities, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, utilities, financial institutions, businesses, and other community partners to advance regional priorities, promote economic development, and improve quality of life throughout the Best Southwest region.
“I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with the opportunity to serve as chair of the Best Southwest Partnership in 2027,” Brown said. “The cities that make up the Best Southwest are individually unique, but our greatest strength is found in recognizing that our futures are connected. Transportation, economic development, education, workforce development, healthcare, infrastructure, and quality of life do not stop at municipal boundaries. When we approach these issues regionally, we amplify our collective voice and expand what is possible for the people we serve.”
As mayor of Glenn Heights, a community spanning both Dallas and Ellis counties, Brown said she has consistently advocated for regional cooperation and partnerships that connect municipal government with education, business, transportation, healthcare, and other sectors.
“Regionalism is not about diminishing the identity of any individual city. It is about recognizing the power we gain when we bring those identities, resources, and voices together around a common purpose,” Brown said. “My goal as chair will be to build on the tremendous work already underway, strengthen the relationships that make this partnership successful and ensure that the Best Southwest continues to be recognized as a region of opportunity, investment and innovation.”
Brown said education will remain an important component of her regional advocacy.
“Education is where possibility becomes opportunity, and when we invest in a child’s future, we strengthen the future of an entire community,” Brown said. “Our school districts, colleges, universities, workforce partners and municipalities are all part of the same ecosystem. Preparing the next generation and developing a strong workforce are both essential to the long-term economic vitality of this region.”
Her 2027 leadership will also continue the partnership’s tradition of bringing together public- and private-sector leaders to address shared priorities and advocate for the Best Southwest at the local, regional and state levels.
Brown said she will emphasize collaboration, visibility, and measurable regional impact.
“The Best Southwest has a powerful story to tell,” Brown said. “We have thriving communities, tremendous economic potential, strong educational institutions, strategic transportation access and, most importantly, people who are invested in the future of this region. In 2027, I want us to continue telling that story boldly while doing the work necessary to write its next chapter.”
Brown has held municipal elected office in Glenn Heights since 2018 and became mayor in 2022. She was re-elected in November 2025. In addition to her regional leadership through the Best Southwest Partnership, Brown serves in national and statewide leadership roles centered on strengthening communities, education, and families.
