By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
CLEVELAND ó A retired Army lieutenant colonel is running for a seat on the town’s Board of Commissioners.
John O. Brown, 46, of 100 Neal Moore St. retired from the Army in 2008 and is a senior Army JROTC instructor at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons. “Due to a strong desire to continue to serve my country in some capacity,” he said, “I decided to use my military experience and background to motivate young people to be better citizens.”
The son of present Mayor Jim Brown, who is not seeking re-election after 14 years in office, John Brown said he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve the community and its people.
He said he hopes “to bring in a fresh set of eyes and perspective to the board” and will work to maintain Cleveland’s “agricultural small town setting.”
“First and most importantly is my love for the town that I grew up in as a boy,” Brown said, “and the desire for my wife, Carey, and three children (Megan, 9, Mary, 8 and Mark, 2) to have the same opportunity to grow up in a town and community where its people truly care for each other.”
That’s why he decided to return to his hometown after retirement.
A graduate of West Rowan High School, Brown earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from N.C. State University in 1986 and a master’s in engineering from N.C. State in 2000.
In his first bid for public office, he said his priorities if elected will be to maintain low taxes, continue to ensure community safety through the Cleveland Police Department and Cleveland Fire Department, upgrade town streets and sidewalks and to be available to townspeople.
Brown is a member of Cleveland First Baptist Church, where he serves as deacon and youth leader. In addition to church activities in the community, he participated in a mission trip to Daytona Beach, Fla. July 25-Aug. 1 to assist World Changers in renovation of community homes in need of repair.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.