Local business owner and long-time resident Matt Brown has officially announced his candidacy for the Grand Terrace City Council. With a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors, Brown is positioning himself as a candidate dedicated to fostering community engagement, stimulating economic growth, and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
In terms of leadership, Brown brings a wealth of experience from his time serving as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. In this role, he advised the Supervisor on a wide range of policy issues impacting the County’s two million residents, including management of the County’s $4 billion budget and 22,000 employees. “That was an excellent experience, from developing countywide policies to serving the public daily by helping people resolve issues with various government agencies. The services we provided were crucial in supporting individuals and their families by helping them meet their basic needs,” Brown said.
“When I was promoted from my position with the Board of Supervisors to the Auditor Controller's office I served as the assistant to the elected official of the department. I was directly responsible for the administration of department operations and the 330 employees and $40 million budget. The office is responsible for processing and safeguarding the County’s financial information. We collected property taxes; we distributed property taxes to cities throughout the County along with other taxing agencies. We managed the County’s $5 billion treasury pool, payment of County’s bills, employee payroll, and we also were responsible for financial oversight of the County’s financial operations. We managed the Internal Audits Division, so I'm familiar with operational and compliance audits of programs from a management standpoint and internal controls and business risks.” Brown continued to share, “I bring those skills and experience to the City of Grand Terrace to ensure that there's transparency and oversight of how taxpayer dollars are used and that there's accountability from the Council standpoint. I would be the only Council member that has a background in public finance.”
Brown, who grew up in Grand Terrace and has lived here his entire life, has seen the city evolve from a small, rural town into the vibrant community it is today. "When I was a kid, the city didn’t have traffic signals, just stop signs and orange groves. The city has changed quite a bit since then, and I want to make sure we continue that progress in a positive direction," he shared. His motivation for running for City Council is deeply personal. He and his wife chose to raise their family in Grand Terrace, and he wants to ensure that the city remains a desirable place to live for future generations. "My success on the Council in moving the city forward would be that my children choose to make this their home as well," he said. “that Grand Terrace is such a nice community that they decide to stay here to raise their families.”
Brown’s top priority is public safety. “Public Safety is my highest priority. It has to come before anything else. That being said, I will ensure that we have transparency and balanced budgets to ensure that taxpayer money isn't wasted frivolously.”
"I’m invested in this community and I want the best for it. We have a tremendous opportunity here, with the recent Council approval of the Gateway Project. I see that specific plan as a transformative project for the city, it's the last large developable area of the city, and that's going to transform our community. We need effective leadership from our Council that knows what they're doing and can make sure that the projects are done right," shared Brown.
As the Vice President of the Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce, Brown has been an active participant in nearly every community event, from youth sports to the Country Fair. "I’m always out talking to people in the community and looking for new ways to engage," Brown said. "I actively participate in just about every community event that happens in Grand Terrace. It’s a great opportunity to get feedback from my friends and neighbors and hear their thoughts and concerns."
“Since I’ve been elected to the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce, I’ve led initiatives to promote local businesses, which has resulted in a 50% increase in the growth of Chamber members in the last few months," Brown noted. He emphasized that his leadership style is collaborative, focusing on bringing people together to achieve common goals. "It’s all about teamwork. You have to be able to take a diverse group of people, sometimes with personality conflicts, and bring them together to achieve a common goal," he said.
Brown’s campaign is centered on making the city more accessible and transparent. "Unlike other Council Members, I want to really take it a step further. I’m already open and accessible, and if I’m elected, I encourage the public to email me anytime they have concerns. I want to make sure their concerns are documented and acted upon," he stated. Additionally, Brown plans to write a regular column for the local newspaper, highlighting both the successes and challenges the city faces. Keeping the community informed and engaged.
Economic development is another key pillar of Brown’s platform. He believes that attracting new businesses to Grand Terrace is crucial for generating revenue and improving city services. "The best way to stimulate economic growth is to attract new businesses, which will generate new revenue that will help pay for delayed and deferred infrastructure projects and enhance city services," Brown explained.
“My role will be to help lead the City, I’m not going to sit idly by and just hope and pray that we get a Marshalls or a Trader Joe's. I'll go after them. We need leadership from our elected officials, they must be motivated to go out there and engage people and businesses to come and invest in our community. If prospective businesses know they have a governing body that supports their business locating here, and a city that's got policies in place that will facilitate their development within a reasonable time frame, they will choose to invest in Grand Terrace.” shared Brown.
Looking to the future, Brown envisions a thriving Grand Terrace, with the implementation of the Gateway specific plan and the development of new homes, commercial, retail, and office spaces. "In five years, I see our city thriving with more room to grow. If I’m elected, I’ll be part of ensuring that we’re bringing in the businesses our residents want so they can live, work, and shop all in the same community without leaving Grand Terrace," he asserted.
As Matt Brown embarks on his campaign for Grand Terrace City Council, he brings a clear vision, extensive experience, and a deep commitment to the community he has always called home. With a focus on community engagement, economic growth, and strong leadership, Brown hopes to guide Grand Terrace into an even more prosperous future.