Bruce Brown
Steve Frey
It’s not easy being mayor. It’s not easy being on the city council for 16 years, eight in the big seat. But that’s just what Mayor Bruce Brown did, and Radford City is better for it.
Now, most of us will never be mayor, but we can all understand the awesome responsibility one must have in leading a city. As mayor of Radford, you have a city manager who is responsible for day-to-day departmental oversight, and you share responsibility with the city council; but when people think of the leader, they think of the mayor.
Radford is lucky to have had someone as mayor who cares about people. Simon Sinek said, “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.” This quote seems to epitomize Brown’s leadership philosophy.
In a recent interview, he talked about working to develop a feeling of inclusiveness with the council and the city employees. He spoke of the employees in the city and how they did not feel appreciated and valued the way they should have when he first became mayor, and that one of his most significant accomplishments was changing that belief.
When Superintendent Graham spoke about the school division’s budget needs at a council meeting this spring, Brown talked about Graham’s “family,” and he said by family he meant the employees of the school district.
At a reception for Brown, Councilman Michael Turk and Councilman Keith Marshall, he repeatedly spoke about other people and family as being most important. You get the feeling that everyone in the city is family to him.
He tries continually to let people know how much he cares.
Brown is approachable. He has that upbeat type of friendly personality that puts people at ease. It doesn’t take long to realize that he cares what you think, and he will actually listen to what you have to say.
That is a quality that is becoming rarer in these days of labeling people and refusing even to consider another person’s point of view.
No, you may not always agree with Brown, but you know he respects your opinion.
For example, in congratulating Marshall, who was leaving the council, he said, “There’s never been any question, even though we don’t agree on everything, the heart and the commitment and the passion that exists (with Marshall for the city).”
Brown has strong beliefs and is kind of a “political junkie.” A couple of years ago, he was at a West End Wednesdays, and in talking, you could see he was a little antsy.
It turns out he didn’t want to miss a second of a presidential debate that was taking place later that evening.
Those strong beliefs, however, always come back to caring about people. The greatest compliment he could receive was made a few years ago when a resident said, “I don’t belong to his party, but I will always vote for him.”
Jim Rohn said, “The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor but without folly.”
Unfortunately, too many of our elected officials today have forgotten these ideals, but Brown exhibits those essential positive traits in his everyday interactions with others.
The last part of Rohn’s statement about having a sense of humor describes Brown well. He has a quick wit, and whether it is about voting on “this bad boy” in relation to a motion, joking with the Sheriff of Martinsville about coming up route 81 (which is notorious for backups), or being self-deprecating about the springs in the chairs in the auditorium at Radford High School, he injects humor into the discussion, which can cut tension or just make the meeting more enjoyable for everyone.
When you watch Brown lead a meeting, it is incredible to see the ease with which he facilitates it. He can talk with sixth graders as easily as he does adults.
He is prepared and knowledgeable in discussing agenda items. He has a wealth of background knowledge that facilitates discussion.
He is proud of the relationship the city has created with Radford University, but he is most proud of the Radford City school system. He will often talk about Radford as “title town,” and the “Bobcat Nation.” He will travel to school games and events, forever supporting the “Black and Gold.”
One cannot fathom the amount of time Mayor Brown has dedicated to the city. When something goes wrong like a water main breaking, the mayor feels the stress.
When it rains on the Fourth of July, the mayor is praying that it ends in time for fireworks. When a new program is started, the mayor is invested and working as hard as anyone to make it a success.
Although the pay doesn’t reflect it, the mayor is on the clock 24/7/365. He hears about everything from problems with barking dogs to wind chimes that are too loud to worries about snow removal (Before the storm! If the truth be known, he loves a beautiful snowfall, but not too much or too long.), but he always conveys to the citizens involved that he cares about their needs, big or small.
John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Brown is a leader.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for all you have done for the people of Radford!
Steve Frey is a writer and CEO of Ascendant Educational Services based in Radford.