ESD Board
The ESD is governed by a five member board appointed by the Commissioners Court for staggered two-year terms.
Current Board of Directors for the Denton County ESD #1
Sheldon Gilbert
President
Mr. Gilbert is a resident of Lantana and began his fire service career in 1984 as a Firefighter with the Fairview Fire Protection District while serving as a San Francisco Bay Area Paramedic. In 1986 he was hired with the Eden Consolidated Fire Protection District. On July 1, 1993, he joined the newly formed Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) where he was instrumental in the growth of the ACFD and established the Alameda County Fire Department First Responder Paramedic Program, ultimately promoting to the rank of Fire Chief.
SGilbert@DentonCountyESD1.gov
940.241.4208
Keith Mashburn
Vice President
Mr. Mashburn joined the Ventura County Fire Department in 1975 and served 30 years, retiring at the rank of Battalion Chief in 2005. He spent his last ten years with the department specializing in fire investigation, becoming the department's Chief Investigator. He subsequently served on the Simi Valley City Council and was elected as Mayor of Simi Valley in 2018. He now resides in the Town of Northlake.
KMashburn@DentonCountyESD1.gov
940.241.4324
Jared Harwell
Secretary
Mr. Harwell began his public service career in 2014 with the City of Sansom Park Fire Department as a Firefighter/EMT/Fire Inspector and Denton County as a Health Services Specialist in Juvenile Health. He went on to serve the Town of Flower Mound as the Fire Inspector/Investigator from 2016-2018, before joining Denton County Emergency Services as a Deputy Fire Marshal.
JHarwell@DentonCountyESD1.gov
940.241.4466
Richard Merrill
Treasurer
Mr. Merrill has been a resident of Denton County for 40 years and the Town of Argyle for the past 5 years. He is presently retired after a 48-year career, primarily in higher education as administrator and faculty member. His education includes graduate degrees in accounting and finance from the University of North Texas. He has been married to his wife Linda for 51 years and together they have three adult daughters Kristi (Flower Mound), Kathryn (Flower Mound) and Kimberli (Pagosa Springs, CO.). Together, they have 7 grandchildren ranging from 6 to 15 in age.
RMerrill@DentonCountyESD1.gov
940.241.4480
Mark Pape
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Pape is a resident of Copper Canyon. He is an experienced financial executive with an extensive background in public accounting, investment banking, and corporate financial leadership positions. He also currently serves as the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the Town of Copper Canyon, a role he has held for four years, subsequent to serving three years as commissioner. Additionally, he represents Copper Canyon as the non-voting member of the Board of Directors of the Upper Trinity Regional Water Development District, a position he has held since 2019.
MPape@DentonCountyESD1.gov
940.241.4668
Megan Reynolds, MS
ESD Administrative Support
Megan Reynolds grew up in Bartonville and graduated from Argyle High School. She received a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree from the University of North Texas in Kinesiology and began in the Doctoral Program of Public Health at UT Health in Dallas. In addition to providing administrative support for the ESD, she also serves as the Director of Community Outreach and Public Relations for the fire department. She currently lives in Lantana.
MReynolds@DentonCountyESD1.gov