ENID, OK - Ward 2 City Commissioner Aaron Brownlee has resigned his seat on the City Commission. Brownlee sent a letter to the Mayor and Commissioners thanking many of the people working for the City of Enid. In his letter published below, he told the Commission he would not be able to complete his term which expires in May 2019.
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In an interview with Brownlee, he said that he had purchased a business out of town and had located his office there. He said, "I've been trying to commute for a couple of months but it is hard to make that work."
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Brownlee will be serving the central and northwest parts of Oklahoma so he will be moving closer to his office in the Edmond area. Brownlee told me, "Enid has been home to me for 40 years. It's been a big decision."
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Commissioner Brownlee was sworn in as the new Ward 2 City Commissioner for the City of Enid in October of 2014. He was appointed to fill the partial term left empty by Mike Stuber. He served that appointment through May 2015 and then won election for the seat.
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Here is Commissioner Brownlee's resignation letter:
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Dear Mayor & Commissioners,
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The opportunity to serve the people of Enid has been a privilege that I will always hold in high regard. The past few years have been rewarding at times and challenging at others, but the knowledge and experience that has resulted has been invaluable. The City of Enid has always been a good place to be; I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to grow up here and to help shape the future for the next generation.
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There are many talented people that work for the City and I’m thankful for the chance to have met many of them. There are some excellent leaders that roam the halls and are shaping the next generation of our city management. There are too many examples to list, but a few that come to mind include:
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Chris Gdanski’s ability to juggle numerous capital improvement projects while simultaneously organizing the pipeline project. Clearly that does not happen without good leadership and a cohesive department.
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Watching the direct community impact of the Enid Regional Development Alliance. I was shocked at the number of inquiries the ERDA team manages, the amount of interaction it takes to orchestrate deals and the leadership that was provided by that team every step of the way.
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Observing Rickey Hayes’ passion for our city and ability to connect us with national retailers. Without Rickey’s involvement, we most likely would not have been on the shortlist for national names like Academy, Ulta, McAlisters Deli, Love’s and TJ Maxx. There are many more companies he is currently courting on Enid’s behalf and I’m excited to see some of those come to fruition in the coming months and years.
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Witnessing Erin Crawford’s rise to the challenge of Chief Financial Officer. Her poise under pressure and knowledge of our city finances, along with her attention to detail has been comforting from the perspective of a commissioner and a value to the organization.
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During my tenure, the leadership from Vance Air Force Base was present at every city council meeting. Their involvement and interest in the community is impressive and should be commended by our entire community.
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Regretfully, I will not be able to complete my term on the city commission. It has been a privilege to serve and to learn along the way. I am thankful for the friendships that have formed, for the opportunity to be involved and will always have a high level of appreciation for those that are called to serve the city in the future.
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Respectfully submitted,
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Aaron Brownlee
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Aaron Brownlee Resigns Commission Seat
