By Ray Birch
TEXARKANA, Ark.—When the November elections are held, Allen Brown will be elected mayor of this city, and in the process become the first credit union CEO to hold the position.
Brown, who is running for the seat unopposed, will take office Jan. 1, 2019, and he says his role as CEO of the $122-million Mil-Way FCU here—which he will be keeping—makes him a good fit for the political position.
Brown told CUToday.info that he believes credit union CEOs who are involved in grassroots campaign efforts have a strong background to help them serve their cities.
“I think a lot of credit union CEOs have learned a great deal about politics and what’s needed to help their communities as they lobby and fight nationally and locally for credit unions and our members,” he said. “Yes, we have strong lobbying from CUNA, but we have been the ones in the trenches, getting involved ourselves.”
Brown said he has become accustomed to speaking with legislators in Washington, in his home state, and in Texarkana.
“Elected officials hear about the good work credit unions are doing and what’s needed from the political system to help our members from credit union leaders. Those types of interactions, I believe, have taught me a lot,” he said. “We see the political system, up front, at its worst and at its best, and I encourage more credit union people to get involved in politics.”
New Mayor’s Priorities
Brown said his first objective when he takes office is to bolster economic development in Texarkana, a city of approximately 38,000 people in the far southwestern corner of the state bordering with Texas (hence, the name of the city, as well as its twin, also named Texarkana, in Texas).
“We have lots of room for economic growth here,” he said. “I think this city needs to be more proactive economically and bring more businesses to town. The city is located on a great hub, as a major interstate is being completed. So the future is bright. I would like to begin working with the current city manager and the city board to start putting an economic development plan together that’s proactive and ready for business—a plan that is not passive and waiting for businesses to come to us. I want us to get out and start recruiting businesses.”
Brown said what led him to enter the race late last year for the non-partisan city election was encouragement from his friends and family.
“At that time our incumbent mayor, Ruth Penney Bell, decided to run again and I made my announcement that I was running as well,” he said.
But as the formal Aug. 17 filing deadline for the race approached this year, Brown said Bell decided not to run for reelection.
“Fortunately for me, now, I will run unopposed in the Nov. 6 general elections,” he said.
Few Campaign Signs
Brown has long been active in the Texarkana community and has served as president of Texarkana Noon Kiwanis Club and as member of the Texarkana, Ark., Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments, as well as on the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce board..
While cities and towns across the country are dotted with campaign signs this election season, Brown said that he has not done a great deal to promote his own candidacy, but noted that much of the town is aware he is up for election in November.
“I started meeting with city officials in February to get up to date on city issues, mainly things that pertain to the budget and city finances,” Brown explained. “We are a unique city in that the state line runs through the middle of town. So we operate with two city managers and two forms of city government—one for the Texas side and one for the Arkansas side. We jointly operate a water company and an airport.”
Allen Brown
Brown has been an employee of the credit union for 34 years, 24 of them as CEO. He said running the credit union has placed him in touch with many people within his community as it helped others meet their financial needs. Indeed, Mil-Way FCU’s practice of going out of its way to assist members, has raised his popularity in Texarkana, something Brown believes would have been a big help to him if he faced an opponent in the upcoming election.
Lessons from CU Career
Leading the credit union, Brown said, has taught him a great deal about the city and the needs of the community, and about running a business, which he believes will make him a good mayor.
“I remember coming to work for Mil-Way in 1985 and we had 800 members and five employees, including me,” Brown recalled. “I have closely watched the community and the credit union grow—now to $122 million in assets, 14,000 members and over 40 employees. I have learned so much about running a financial institution that is so important to its town.”
Brown noted that he has been active on the state league’s board of directors for years, has been involved in political action committees, served as chair of the Arkansas Legislative Action Committee and was very involved in the fight for HR 1151.
“I have made numerous trips to Washington and been very active in lobbying at all levels,” he said. “I always enjoyed that . . . My family, too, has a history of political involvement. My granddad was a county official who was never defeated in any of his 14 races. My dad was on the school board, and my brother has run for county coroner.”
Love for Hometown
But what really made Brown decide to run was growing up in a town he cares for a great deal.
“My wife and I have been married for 35 years. This is a great city to live in, I would not live anywhere else. This is close to where my wife and I were born and raised. We raised three boys here and we are now watching our granddaughter being raised here,” Brown said. “Running for mayor is my way to make our community the best it can be.”
The mayorship of Texarkana is a volunteer position, and Brown said he won’t have any trouble making time for the additional duties on top of running Mil-Way.
“The credit union comes first, but I have always found the time to do what I need to do,” said Brown. “Plus, I have a great staff and a board that supports me in this decision. Just like the philosophy of credit unions, running the mayor’s office is the same thing—giving back to the community.”