By Dan Parker
dan@portasouthjetty.com
Port Aransas Mayor Claude Brown will not seek a third term as mayor, Brown said in an interview today, Thursday, Dec. 10.
Brown’s term expires in May 2010.
Brown, 51, a lifelong Port Aransan, won’t be able to run for mayor because he said he plans to move away to take a new job in Pearland, near Houston, in June next year.
But he said he wouldn’t run again even if he stayed in Port Aransas. Asked why, he said, “my last few months with (former city manager Michael) Kovacs have been unworkable.”
Kovacs’ last day on the job was Friday, Dec. 4. He gave notice several weeks ago when he accepted the offer of a job as assistant city manager at Park City, Utah.
“I understand that,” Brown said, referring to the fact that Kovacs no longer works in Port Aransas. “I could start listing a bunch of stuff and creating a bunch of turmoil, but it’s just not worth it. I was elected by the people to represent them, and I think I’ve done that. And when it reaches a point where you reach enough opposition, and you’re not being productive, you bow out.”
Brown said he plans to take a job as a shop foreman and product sales representative for Progressive Diesel in Pearland. He said he doesn’t want to leave Port Aransas, but he no longer can afford to live here.
“I’m sick to death of being a slave to taxes,” Brown said, singling out the Nueces County Appraisal District for criticism. “The people that are in charge of these absurd property appraisals are driving me out.”
(See the Dec. 17 edition of the South Jetty for more about Brown’s decision and who else might run for mayor.)