Early Chamber of Commerce Hosts Candidate Forum for Mayor, City Council Positions

Pictured: Dr. Robert G. Mangrum, Sean Fulton, Joel Johnson, and Amy Beam.

Written by Melody Jackson Nowowiejski – In an evening marked by civil, but firm, disagreement and generational gap, the Early Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum on Tuesday for the city’s upcoming Mayoral and City Council elections. The twelve-year veteran of the Mayor’s office, Dr. Robert G. Mangrum, will face two challengers in the May 6^th election, Sean Fulton and Frankie Lee Wilder. Meanwhile, Joel Johnson, a five-year incumbent for one of the City’s at-large Council seats, is racing against Amy Beam. Travis Eoff and Noah Williams will compete for a second at-large Council position being vacated by Janice Bush.

Early voting will be held April 24th-28th, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and May 1st-2nd, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the new Brown County Elections office at 613 N. Fisk Avenue in Brownwood.

The City of Early government is composed of a Mayor and five Council members who work with the City Manager’s office to formulate and communicate “public policy to meet community needs, assure orderly development in the city and provide for the general administration of the city,” according to the City’s website.  Aside from the City Manager’s office, the other members of the City’s governmental body are unpaid positions, and fully half of those are at stake in this election. Beginning with early voting on Monday, April 24^th, Early citizens are poised to choose between experience and new direction in what is shaping up to be a referendum on the economic future of the city.

Three of the candidates, Wilder, Eoff and Williams, were unable to attend the forum, though Eoff sent a letter explaining his absence and introducing himself. Eoff, 63, has been an Early resident since 1963. He retired from 3M after 36 years with the company, and has been a volunteer with the Early Fire Department for the last 40 years; he also served on the EISD School Board for 6 years. Married to his wife for 44 years, with two children and two grandchildren, it was a prior commitment with his grandson that kept him away from the forum.  His goal in seeking a seat on the City Council is to ensure that “citizen’s tax dollars are spent in the most efficient and useful way.”

The forum was moderated by KOXE’s Rick Phelps and included a period of introduction by the candidates, questions from the moderator and the audience. Topics ranged from their reasons for running to their opinions regarding the City’s recent move from an Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to a Municipal Development District (MDD) and how to address the rash of recent business closings in the area.

Mangrum, who has been serving the City of Early in some capacity since 1998 and feels he has more to accomplish as Mayor, argued the EDC was established by the state for the development of manufacturing and industry and limited the City’s ability to provide assistance to other businesses, such as retailers. Mangrum added, concerning the recent closings, “one way to keep business is for them have business…they need customers.” He assured the audience that the more flexible structure of the MDD would be good for the City’s future and that it is working even now with several new businesses looking at coming to the area, though he was not at liberty to disclose details.

Fulton, 44 and a self-employed business owner, is ready to see changes in the running of the City’s affairs, which he views as unprofessional, akin to a “good ole boy” system. As Mayor, he promises to “restore political efficacy” and transparency. He considers the EDC to MDD shift unnecessary and feels that neither entity has done enough to help the mall, the saving of which is a top priority for him. Fulton is passionate about the development of local businesses, manufacturing, industrial and retail, so that local kids can find decent jobs upon graduation.

A member of the MDD Board, as well as a City Council veteran, Johnson also argued for the benefits of the change from the EDC, especially the added flexibility that the new Board affords. Johnson, who previously served on the EISD School Board for 14 years in the 80’s and 90’s, wants to see the City continue to grow. But he cautioned the crowd that bringing in a new business can be a 15 month to 2 years process and he mentioned that e-commerce has had a considerable affect on the ability of local businesses to stay afloat.

Beam, an office manager and Early Chamber of Commerce Board member, sees herself as a “link between our younger and older generations,” hoping to promote transparency and encourage the growth of existing businesses. She didn’t express disagreement with the City’s switch to the MDD, but feels the work required to get the new system up and running was a drag on the momentum that the EDC had going. Beam placed blame for the loss of businesses on national corporations, suggesting that there may not have been much the local governmental bodies could have done in the face of financial concerns many chain retailers are experiencing. The solution, she said, is to establish a foundation through the MDD for future businesses and encourage the citizens to patronize physical shops rather than spending their money online.

While there was general agreement on the assets Early possesses (excellent academics and high traffic count on account of the confluence of three highways) and her liabilities (proximity to the overshadowing city of Brownwood and the difficulty finding decent employment can be), there was sharp disagreement on the new Community Center. Beam and Fulton, who both have school-age children involved in local sports, took the position that the monies used for the construction of the Community Center might have been better spent, perhaps in updating existing facilities or providing more youth-geared space with a recreation center.  Beam argued that improving facilities instead of creating something new would have negated the need for a tax increase. Johnson supports the renovation of the old Lions Club building into a Community Center and believes it will be something citizens can take pride in and which will generate revenue. Mangrum refused to comment on the project.

In addressing the idea of being a bridge between generations, Beam emphasized her role as a mother of three and her experience as business manager engaging with people of all ages as an asset she would bring to the table on the Council. Fulton acknowledged the contributions of the senior citizens to building this country but pointed out that the younger generations need to begin to shoulder that responsibility so they can continue on the foundation already laid.

Both Johnson and Mangrum expressed the sentiment that they certainly didn’t feel old or disconnected, Mangrum especially highlighting his 37 year tenure as a Howard Payne professor and the continuous interaction with 18-year-olds as his connection with the younger generation.  Still, it’s difficult to ignore the generational gap this election represents when one set is touting large numbers like 28 years in the military (Mangrum), 42 years with GTE/Verizon (Johnson), and 36 years with 3M (Eoff). If Beam and Fulton want a chance to shape the future for their own generation and the one they’re raising, they’ll have to mobilize the notoriously reticent voting bloc here in Texas that is the “under 45” crowd.

Requests for comment from Wilder, Williams and Eoff were not answered by publication time.