Joshua O. Brown, a lifelong Baldwin County resident and community advocate, officially announced his candidacy for mayor of Bay Minette on July 5. Brown is challenging incumbent Mayor Bob Wills, who has held the office for 13 years.
Raised in the Baptist churches of Baldwin County, Brown said he brings with him a deep love for his hometown and a heartfelt desire to restore its promise. “I’ve watched Bay Minette begin to thrive in my lifetime—and I’ve also watched it decline,” Brown said. “Over the past 13 years, we’ve lost key manufacturing like Standard Furniture, watched local businesses come and go, and seen our population shrink from 9,200 in 2020 to 8,500 in 2024. Yet we’re still being told that we’re growing.”
Brown said he believes Bay Minette’s potential is being stifled under the current administration, which he says has failed to invest in its people, workforce, infrastructure and future.
“Growth without local inclusion isn’t true growth,” Brown said. “We’re watching jobs at Novelis and other major employers go to folks from outside our city—not because our people don’t want to work, but because they haven’t been given the tools, training, and access they need. Our current leadership is more focused on excuses than on action.”
Brown is calling for an administration that prioritizes workforce development, tackles long-standing infrastructure issues such as drainage and road repair, and ensures Bay Minette residents—regardless of district location, income or background—have access to opportunity. He’s also critical of what he calls a culture of misinformation and false promises from the current administration.
“There’s no timeline for the shopping center. No timeline for the proposed Circle Ks. No timeline for real change,” Brown said. “We need less talk and more truth.”
But economic stagnation isn’t the only issue; public safety has also become a growing concern, Brown said. “Bay Minette’s crime rate—including violent crime—is higher than both the state and national averages.”
“We cannot build a thriving city on a foundation of fear,” said Brown. “Gun violence, theft, and drug-related activity are growing threats. Families deserve to feel safe in their homes, our seniors deserve peace in their neighborhoods, and our young people deserve alternatives to the streets.”
Brown believes the city’s current administration has failed to take these concerns seriously and has not invested adequately in community policing, youth engagement or crime prevention initiatives.
“I’m not running for office to gain status or keep the powerful in power. I’m running for the single mother who’s tired of broken promises, for the young man who wants a career, not just a job, for the business owner who’s afraid to speak up,” Brown said. “If we want to talk about draining the swamp, we have one right here in Bay Minette—and it’s time we clean it out.”
Brown said that his campaign is not about political party labels, but about restoring integrity and delivering results for everyday people.
“This election is bigger than Democrat or Republican. It’s about building a Bay Minette that works for all of us,” he said. “Whether you vote for me or not, if I’m elected mayor, I’ll be fighting for you. This is a Bay Minette First campaign.”
Brown said he is calling on voters to reclaim their voice, take ownership of the city’s future, and unite for a common cause: the revitalization of Bay Minette.
“We are the county seat. We are the heart of Baldwin County. It’s time we led by example. No more lies. No more status quo. The people of Bay Minette deserve better—and I intend to deliver.”
