Gene Brown
Under Brown’s leadership, the city has endured several scandals, including multiple whistleblower complaints within the Bradenton Police Department. Its overwhelmed treatment plant has led to sewage being spewed into local waterways at disturbingly regular intervals.
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Political platform statement
Brown was elected mayor in 2020 after being elected to the Bradenton City Council in 2018 (he had been appointed to fill a vacancy two years prior). Brown has received six-figure funding from various business interests, including developers in both mayoral campaigns.
Under Brown’s leadership, the city has endured several scandals, including multiple whistleblower complaints within the Bradenton Police Department. Its overwhelmed treatment plant has led to sewage being spewed into local waterways at disturbingly regular intervals.
An attempt to quietly push through a highly questionable sale of city hall in a troublingly opaque manner was thwarted. Still, the eventual process raised questions about whether residents are getting the best possible value in the sale and subsequent development of new facilities.
Under previous leadership, construction companies routinely complained that one politically connected developer always got the city’s contracts. Under Brown’s administration, NDC Construction has continued to thrive, and its principals have been generous to Brown’s campaigns.
From the Candidate's Website
Gene Brown is serving his first term as Mayor after three terms on the Bradenton City Council. He has a unique perspective as a businessman in our community as he is the Vice President and COO of Brown & Sons Funeral Homes and Crematory, which has served the community since 1975.
Public service has always been important to Gene as evident from his extensive history with the Boys and Girls Clubs. He is a local presence on the youth sports scene having been a coach and announcer as well as a Past President of the Manatee High School Football Booster Club.
Additionally, Mr. Brown was named Florida Area Council Board Member of the Year in 2004 and served as a Community Service Officer for the City of Bradenton. He served as a member and Chairman of the City of Bradenton Police Pension Board from 1992-2000 and as a member and Chairman of the City of Bradenton Merit Board from 1995-2000.
A graduate of the Citizens Police Academy, he also served on the Manatee County Sheriff’s Advisory Committee.
In 1989, Gene earned an A.S. Degree in Mortuary Science from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Science. He also attended Mars Hill (N.C.) College and Manatee Community College, where he earned an associate degree. Gene has been married for 34 years to Gina. He and his wife have two grown children Ryan and Rachel and three grandchildren.