By Joseph M. Morgan
Editor and Publisher
FORT PAYNE, Ala.— Fort Payne businesswoman Lynn Locklear Brewer recently announced her intention to run for Fort Payne City Council.
Brewer is the owner and manager of Vintage 1889 Restaurant and the Big Mill Artisans & Antique Mall in Fort Payne and played an instrumental role in the efforts to gain the city's acceptance to the Alabama Main Street program.
Following Fort Payne's acceptance to Main Street a little over one year ago, Brewer was elected to the design board of the newly-formed Fort Payne Main Street program.
Brewer said that her involvement with Main Street for more than the past year has inspired her to take a more active role in city government and she believes that she would be an asset to local government if elected to the Fort Payne City Council when the city holds municipal elections on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016.
As a child, Brewer grew up in the restaurant business, spending many years in and around her father's restaurant, Jack's (not associated with present day Jack's hamburger chain), a local fast food restaurant with a 50's era drive-in vibe famous for "the Bonanza Burger" and the unique a-frame style building that housed Jack’s on Gault Avenue in downtown Fort Payne.
"I’m a hometown girl, who graduated from FPHS, left for a few years to attend and graduate from Auburn University (BS in Art Education), returned home and has been in the workforce and a part of this community for the majority of my life," Brewer said. "I raised my children here and now I want to leave a legacy for my grandchildren. I hear people complain or want to make changes to things here, but they aren’t willing to get involved. Someone has to care and try to make a difference.
Brewer also worked for almost 10 years in the local manufacturing industry at Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. and for parent company, Wolseley, PLC, where she specialized in human resources. Brewer’s undergraduate degree is in art education, and prior to her work in personnel at Ferguson’s she spent a year working in the Fort Payne City School system as a classroom aide, receiving “Aide of the Year.”
“The diversity of my work experience gives me the unique ability to see things from both an industry standpoint and and small business point of view,” Brewer said. “My background in education also means that I will place a very high priority on making sure our schools and Fort Payne schoolchildren receive the best educations possible.”
Brewer sees the city’s involvement in the Alabama Main Street program as key to Fort Payne’s long-term future success.
“It’s not just about downtown, it’s about a lifestyle improvement for our entire city,” Brewer said. “Alabama Main Street’s motto of “Creating Jobs, and Maintaining Character”, has already begun to change downtown. New businesses are opening and there is a sense of excitement and pride for our city.” Let’s keep that momentum going all over our city, in every aspect.
“To ensure that this energy continues, we need to have a plan. I want the votes of people who are passionate about what they want for our city. Visionaries that can see the future and dream a little bit with me. It doesn’t always have to be business as usual….let’s push the envelope and see what we can accomplish together as a community. We need to band together and make a difference for our city.”
Lynn Locklear Brewer is married to Dr. Stephen Brewer with whom she has four children: Dr. Michele Hill, Stephen J. Brewer, Jr, Brittany Watts King, and John W. Watts, Jr.; and three grandchildren: Bella King, Robert and Jacob Hill. Brewer attends Philips Episcopal Church and is active in two weekly bible studies in downtown Fort Payne.
“If the citizens of Fort Payne choose to elect me to the Fort Payne City Council, I can promise that I will work every single day to do my best to make this city a better place to live, work and go to school,” Brewer said. “Whether you want to operate a small business—a mom-and-pop restaurant in historic downtown, or big industry or heavy manufacturing—Fort Payne will be open for business, our historic downtown will continue to improve and I will do all I can to make sure the Fort Payne City Schools remain some of the best in Alabama.”
