Gallatin's Brown discusses growth, collaboration as new TML president

By KATE COIL
TT&C Assistant Editor

Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown was recently elected as the President of the Tennessee Municipal League for 2024-5.

Presently serving in her third term as mayor of her hometown, Mayor Brown was first elected to the post in 2014. During her tenure, Gallatin was named the “Nicest Place in America” by Readers’ Digest and has become one of the fastest growing cities in the state. 

Mayor Brown herself was named Mayor of the Year Award by TML in 2021, was selected for the Mayors’ Institute on City Design in 2019, and is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management (IOM).

A graduate of Florida State University, Mayor Brown worked as a news reporter and anchor in Florida before returning Tennessee to work as a writer, producer, and talent for both corporate, non-profit, and independent media clients, including on shows with The Nashville Network (TNN) and as executive producer for Nashville’s NewsChannel 5. She also served as executive director for the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce between 2006 and 2014. 

She has served on numerous non-profit and public sector boards and committees, including her Regional Transit Authority (RTA) board, the Middle Tennessee Mayors Caucus, Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC), Tennessee Local Government Planning Advisory Committee, Nashville Area Transportation Policy Board (MPO), the Tennessee Local Development Authority, and the Sumner County Prevention Coalition. 

Additionally, she has served as an advocate for oncology research in local, state, and national settings.

TT&C: You worked for several years as a writer, producer, and talent in news and media. What prompted you to switch gears to local government? 

Mayor Paige Brown: My goal was never government, but my path led me there. I loved my TV career years, but I was at a point where I did not love the changes in the industry, I wanted to be closer to home and I needed a change – so I looked for opportunities and took the first one that opened the door, which ultimately brought me to this role.

TT&C: What lessons from your time in the media and your time as executive director of the Gallatin Chamber of Commerce have you taken into your role as mayor? 

PB: My media/journalism career has helped me be a better communicator. I also think there is value in being able to hear and relay “both sides of the story.” I’m still old school in believing that is a journalist’s job. As for the chamber leadership role, I really gained an understanding of small businesses and their value to the community. I understand the challenges they have, and I have high regard for the essence and texture that they create in a community when they are successful. Combined with my government experience I think I have a good grasp of what elements create healthy community dynamics and those which destroy them.

TT&C: What do you think are the toughest issues facing municipal leaders in Tennessee today and why? 

PB: Our greatest opportunity is also our biggest challenge: Growth! As so many are choosing to relocate to Tennessee, our cities and towns either are, or will soon, experience the positives and negatives associated with that influx of people. We are dealing with infrastructure needs, changing cultures, and varying expectations of those citizens. 

Many bring opportunity, but many are also here simply for the quality of life. I’m particularly perplexed by the large number of people relocating here who aren’t participating in our workforce — either retired or working remotely —  and the impacts that has. We all seem to be dealing with some combination of different challenges, whether it’s workforce, utility infrastructure, solid waste or roads. Of course, those problems are solved with funding, so the overarching goal will continue to be keeping Tennessee attractive while meeting the demands of our rapidly growing population.

TT&C: Gallatin is in an area of the state seeing rapid growth in population and development. Why is it important that municipalities work together to address this growth while each maintaining their own unique character and priorities? 

PB: I think it important for municipalities, counties, and the state to work together so that we all understand various perspectives and create solutions together. Our cities and towns thrive most when those around them do too. In Gallatin, we are currently working on a project that will deliver water from our system to neighbors who have needed a more robust source for decades. 

This will help those communities sustain and grow, strengthen their economies, and in theory, will relieve some of the burden on Gallatin. This is very beneficial, too, for the county’s revenue. Mutual respect and working together is vital for healthy municipalities and for the preservation of the character by which they are identified.

TT&C: Why do you think membership in TML is beneficial for city officials? 

PB: I’ve told the story often that I resisted engagement with TML for several years, as I just perceived it as one more meeting to attend. However, I’ve been so impressed with the organization and the difference it makes for municipalities. TML provides a valuable stream of information for us and works to make sure that our state leaders understands our needs and challenges. 

In my years, we’ve navigated through a lot of legislation that would have seriously hindered municipalities and worked hard to find paths to benefit them. The educational opportunities are tremendously beneficial and relevant, too. 

And finally, I’d say getting to know so many people in government across our state is one of the best benefits. What we learn from each other and the experiences we’ve each had —  is perhaps the most meaningful to a lot of us.  

TT&C: What are you most looking forward to about serving as TML’s president in the next year? 

PB: I think we all serve in whatever role we are in with the goal of making a difference. I hope that my strengths can help TML’s staff and membership have even better services and results for the cities and towns we all serve. I have great respect and admiration for the staff and leadership of TML. 

I look forward to working with them and members across the state so that our cities and towns, and the state of Tennessee, can prosper and thrive, and that the citizens therein would choose no other place in which they’d want to live.