Race for presiding commissioner: Brawley wants to put management skills to work

EDITOR'S NOTE: For the first time since 1995 when Gerald Jones took office, Cape Girardeau County will vote in a new presiding commissioner. On Aug. 3, a primary election will pit five Republicans and two Democrats against one another to replace Jones, who is retiring. Profiles of each of the candidates will appear based on alphabetical order in weekday editions of the Southeast Missourian.

Charles Brawley is counting on his emergency service experience to help Cape Girardeau County avoid a future catastrophe.

"The presiding commissioner's No. 1 responsibility is emergency management," Brawley said. "I've got 30 years in emergency services that will help protect folks in our county."

In addition to retiring from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department as a captain in 2008, Brawley, a Republican, also completed basic law enforcement training and worked for 12 years as a reserve deputy with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

He also briefly worked for the city of Cape Girardeau in public works.

Brawley has been a resident of Cape Girardeau County for most of his life. He attended schools in both Cape and Jackson, working three jobs as a teenager. He served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 1978, having been stationed at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Knox, Ky. He earned his GED and attended college classes while in the military. He was a platoon leader and later worked in the Army's supply division.

Brawley's interest in emergency services came naturally as a child helping other children who were hurt on the playground. As a young man, he helped fight a gasoline fire at a service station where he worked. He and two others put the fire out before firefighters arrived on the scene.

Brawley helped form the East County Fire Protection District after helping a neighbor put out a house fire with a garden hose. Over the years he served as a training officer, assistant chief and on the fire district's board. He's no longer an active member, but said he occasionally assists with projects.

"He's a hard worker," said Dwayne Kirchoff, East County fire chief and a founding member of fire district. "When he takes on a task he'll give it 110 percent. He's never backed away from anything he believed in."

Kirchhoff said he is not endorsing any candidate for presiding commissioner.

Brawley's former co-worker Steve Niswonger, a battalion chief with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, described Brawley as a "go-to guy."

"He is the most resourceful person," Niswonger said. "Anytime we had a situation, it was astonishing how many times we could turn to Charlie and he'd pick up and find a solution."

Niswonger recalls when a local company donated to the fire department a used delivery truck in need of substantial repairs before it could be used for fire fighting purposes.

"Charlie pretty well took over the project, working on it eight to 12 hours a day," he said. "At that time the public safety tax hadn't passed and our money was limited."

Brawley solicited donations for supplies, paint and engine repairs to refurbish it. The truck is still used today to haul rescue equipment, Niswonger said.

Brawley hopes to apply this same resourceful spirit to solving the county's problems.

"All three commissioners, office holders and other key budget personnel need to sit down and discuss ways to hold or cut spending if our economy doesn't show some improvement," Brawley said.

He is concerned about dipping into county reserves and said he does not support new taxes or hiring more county employees.

Through the years he has been part of the budgeting process in private business and while working with the East County Fire Protection District and Cape Girardeau Fire Department.

When it comes to improving the local economy, Brawley said county officials should meet regularly with city leaders in both Cape Girardeau and Jackson to coordinate efforts to attract new businesses.

"I feel everyone working together will promote jobs better," he said. "We can roll out one red carpet instead of three."

Brawley supports paving more gravel roads, maintaining and possibly upgrading county parks, and upgrading security at the county courthouse.

County commissioners should treat one another and concerned residents with more respect, he said.

"We need to focus on county business and not how we can make others look bad," he said.

Since filing for presiding commissioner in February, Brawley has attended every commission meeting but one.

"Any time I take on a job, I want to get in there and get as much knowledge and experience as I can," he said, noting that the one meeting he missed was for medical reasons. "It's allowed me to know what kind of business is going on now and about the contracts they are signing now that will determine decisions down the road."

Political observers who asked not to be quoted said Brawley has run a surprisingly dogged campaign. His main support is likely to come from his connections built up during his 30-year career as a firefighter among city workers and emergency responders.

Brawley said he's only accepted $400 in donations and is self-funding his campaign. He knocks on doors campaigning three to four days each week.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646