Mayor Position Could Be Up for Grabs

After serving nearly 10 years as mayor of Trenton, Gerald Brown announced he would not be running for the position again in November.

Brown, 62, said he is making the announcement over two months before the May 10 filing deadline to allow ample time for those that wish to attain the position to consider the opportunity before deciding to become a candidate.

Presently, there are no other potential mayoral candidates.

“There are those people who may be reluctant to run against an incumbent, and by me not filing, may clear concern,” Brown said.

However, Brown said he would consider running for mayor, if “there were not a candidate that, in my opinion, did not have the commitment or the community’s best interest in mind in their attempt to getting elected to the position.”

“I am hopeful that reconsideration is not an option that I will have to ponder,” Brown said.

The mayor’s position won’t be the only city title up for grabs in November. There will also be elections for clerk, assessor, treasurer and three seats on the city council. The three council seats are for four-year terms. The remaining council seats won’t be up for grabs until 2013.

Brown is making this decision just two weeks after giving the State of the City address, where Brown made every attempt to remain positive about the increasingly dismal economic future of the city.

At the address Brown said the projected 2011-12 budget has a $1 million gap that needs to be filled, and taxable state equalized value of Trenton properties is estimated to drop 3 to 5 percent, after dropping nearly 15 percent in the last two years.

Brown began serving the city as a police officer nearly 40 years ago. He spent 29 years in the Trenton Police Department and retired as police chief in 1999.

He was elected mayor in 2001.

“I committed to myself, back in 2001, that I would serve in the mayor’s capacity more on a full-time basis, as opposed to the part-time position it is compensated for,” Brown said. “I have done so and have not regretted my decision. I just think it is time for me to hand off the mayor’s gavel to someone in the community that will commit to the position and continue to lead our city forward.”

The mayor receives $75 for each city meeting not to exceed 150 meetings and $11,200 annually.

Though Brown said he would be leaving office with some unfinished business, he has no regrets about the office itself.

The former McLouth Steel site redevelopment was one piece of business the mayor mentioned he wished he could have seen happen during his tenure, but he said it doesn’t appear he will at this time.

The site has been looked at for redevelopment for the past 10 years, but nothing had come to fruition.

Brown said he credits any accolades he may receive to his, “excellent administrative staff.”

The retired life, Brown said, would include doing things around the house that he has been putting off, possibly more golf and spending time with his family.

Brown added he might consider a school board seat or possibly a city council seat. Brown spent 11 years on the Trenton Public School Board and he said he really enjoyed it.