Aloyse Brown
› Office: Hamilton County Mayor
› Party: Democrat
› Previous public office experience: None
› Why voters should choose me: I’m not a career politician. We need new leadership to tackle our community’s biggest challenges. Entrenched politicians have made a tradition of forgoing government transparency and kicking the can down the road on some of our community’s biggest concerns. We need to make a clear-eyed assessment of our communities’ needs, and I am the leader who has the energy to bring those needs to fruition.
› Biggest challenge facing the office I seek: Hamilton County government must rebuild a dialogue with its citizens. We’ve gone so long without government transparency that we’re used to back-room deals. My first priority will be to invite every citizen to the processes of government. The citizens of Hamilton County should have easy access to their leaders and to the how-and-why of decision-making.
› How I will address this challenge: The first step is to reschedule commission meetings to a time that’s more accessible to working citizens and provide better agenda notice. It’s important that all ordinances pass the scrutiny of two readings before a final vote. This is standard practice in many municipalities, including the city of Chattanooga. We need leaders who will speak to the need for citizen involvement — and encourage it. The mayor must be an inviting leader who listens first and acts second. In 2017, a tax increase was announced and passed without any public input. This election is an opportunity to reject good-old-boy, back-door politics.
› Policy position of mine that may surprise people: I’m a fiscal conservative. We need better schools, improved safety and infrastructure, and federally compliant jails. I believe we can achieve this within the constraints of current revenue and reserves. Raising revenue should always be the last resort, especially in a community that — like I do — values low taxes.
› Public servant I most admire: Eleanor Roosevelt. I will quote Mrs. Roosevelt for my explanation: “I am appalled that more women are not daring to speak out and taking unpopular stands today. Have we now become a totally conforming, fearful society, marching in lock-step and following the line that our current leaders are advocating?”
› Campaign office: 435 Georgia Ave., Suite 400, Chattanooga, TN 37403
› Campaign phone: 901-481-5321
› Campaign email:
cm@aolyseformayor.com
› Campaign website:
AloyseForMayor.com
› Campaign Facebook: facebook.com/aloyseformayor
› Campaign Twitter: n/a
› Campaign Instagram: instagram.com/aloyseformayor
PERSONAL
› Age: 40
› Occupation: Business executive
› Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees
› Family: Married to the Rev. Mac Brown, with two boys, Wolcott and Fox
› Residence city: Lookout Mountain
› Church/civic involvement: Active member of Church of the Good Shepherd and head of the new mothers’ meal train. Active member of the Chattanooga Mayor’s Council for Women on leadership, and Chattanooga Women’s Fund Advocacy Action Team and Nightingale Network. I have also led the charge in disaster relief efforts for both Hurricane Sandy (in Manhattan and Far Rockaway the week and months following the storm) and Hurricane Katrina (in Slidell the week following the storm), coordinating volunteer efforts to provide medical attention, supplies and pastoral care to families.
› Quote or saying I live by: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it along to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
— Ronald Reagan