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Steve Myers
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Mayoral candidate says he picks up pulse of community through barber's chair
Posted by Marjory Raymer July 15, 2007 15:00PM
Categories: Breaking News, Flint, Politics
FLINT -- Years at the barbershop and its constant, sometimes-cutting banter helped shape Norm Bryant's campaign for mayor.
"The pulse of this community comes through our doors," said Bryant proudly as he as he reached for the clippers behind him.
He and his brother, Earl, have owned Bryant's Barbershop on Clio Road for 19 years. Here he's learned about and over the years formed his own opinion on just about every issue facing Flint.
He's learned to have a thick skin and he's learned to be sometimes politically astute.
"I don't see nothing," said Bryant as one customer bemoaned the start of what was sure to become a bald spot.
Bryant greets most customers by name, offers an easy smile and a wave of the hand when they are buzzed in at the front door, which is locked even during business hours.
"Hey, Max. How's it going, Max?" Bryant waves to a man he once worked with at General Motors.
Bryant, 70, has lived almost his entire life in Flint and hopes to tap into a lifetime of friends and associates to survive the super-competitive August primary.
There are seven candidates, including an incumbent mayor benefits from sky-high name recognition and deep pockets to fund his re-election.
The top two finishers on Aug. 7 go on to the November general election, but most expect Mayor Don Williamson to capture one of the spots -- leaving the other six competing for the other one.
Bryant taps into a network of support -- including a long list of residents who have endorsed him -- and others who started secretly meeting three years ago to get the campaign started, he said.
He brings that same casual, comfortable barbershop demeanor to the campaign trail and he's spreading his message every night going door-to-door.
So far though, he has been able to fund just one major piece of literature and although another is planned before the election, it could indicate he has less funding than other candidates.
Bryant, a former Flint Board of Education member, is the only challenger to have won a citywide election in Flint, but he was elected to the school board only once and his most recent political experience was a decade ago.
Bryant officially threw his hat into the ring in October, becoming the first to challenge Williamson.
"People have been after me for years to run," Bryant said.
He decided to return to politics because he was frustrated with rampant crime and Williamson.
"You have a mayor (who) is not into running the city. He's interested in controlling the city," Bryant said.
Now, Bryant has what he calls his 100-day plan, which outlines what his immediate priorities as mayor would be:
• Open city's financial records to show exactly where Williamson spent money and to give residents a thorough understanding of the financial situation.
• Name a permanent police chief.
• Hire a liaison to work with the schools.
• Form a task force to bring senior citizens and youth together.
• Create jobs and develop an economic plan.
"We don't have to reinvent it. We just have to go back to what we used to do," Bryant said.
Bryant said he's already working to bring environmentally friendly jobs to Flint, efforts he declines to detail.
And he attends meetings held by mayors of the state's core cities to learn more about how other places are handling problems like those Flint faces.
One thing Bryant said he has learned: The city needs to hire a lobbyist to take better advantage of state dollars.
His campaign is the cumulation of decades of community activism -- that years ago caused his wife, Kay, to start calling him, "Mr. Perpetual Motion," he said.
A track and football star at Northern High School, Bryant founded the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame. He is vice chairman of the Atwood Stadium Authority, helped found the Salem Housing Task Force and 40-year member of Salem Lutheran Church.
That work was on top of his two careers.
Bryant worked his way up to become a general foreman during his 31 years at General Motors before he retired in 1987. Then, he went on to barber school and a year later opened Bryant's Barbershop.
At the barbershop, the walls are lined with photos of legendary athletes and a few nods to Bryant's political interests. He's pictured with both Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Here, an adult cut costs $10 but students and opinions are free (so are styles for students with all A's).
With most of his time dedicated to campaigning, Bryant now spends about two days a week here. The campaigning doesn't really stop, though. He's still talking about the shootings on Clio Road and the need for change.
"I love Flint. When you love something you treat it well," Bryant said.
http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2007/07/mayoral_candidate_says_he_pick.html |
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Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:44 pm |
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