Councilman makes history in Summerville

SUMMERVILLE — Aaron Brown, the only black Town Council member, has seen a lot of racial milestones.

He was teaching in Summerville when the schools were integrated in the late 1960s.

Brown was elected mayor pro tem Wednesday. He's the first black person to hold that position in Summerville.

Brown agreed the election was noteworthy but played down the racial implications.

"I think for us in America, we're not yet a color-blind society, but we've made enough progress that those who excel can achieve certain heights," said Brown, who retired from the financial services industry after teaching. "It may be a milestone in the minds of some. All it represents to me is an additional opportunity to serve the people of Summerville."

Delphine Snipes, a black teacher's assistant who lives in Brown's district in the Germantown neighborhood and unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the town's Commissioners of Public Works, hailed Brown's election.

"We would all be excited," Snipes said before the council meeting. "A lot of people don't realize how important it would be both historically and politically."

The Rev. Joe Darby, pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston and vice president of the Charleston branch of the NAACP, agrees.

"Any time a person of color makes that kind of achievement, it does need to be noted," Darby said. "It's an inspiration to the young people. This is still one of the most racially prejudiced states in the nation."

Brown's election was unanimous. Howard Bridgman nominated him, and Mike Dawson seconded. Bridgman said he hopes Brown will help pass an adequate-facilities ordinance.

The ordinance would make developers demonstrate that roads, water and sewer lines and schools could handle new neighborhoods before council approves them.

Recently elected Councilman Bob Jackson also supports the ordinance. Brown's vote would give it a majority backing on the seven-member council. Brown said he favors the idea.

"I think it's a good thing that could help us manage growth in Summerville," he said.

Brown succeeds Ricky Waring as mayor pro tem. The mayor pro tem fills in whenever the mayor is not able to serve.

Mayor Berlin Myers was re-elected to another four-year term in May, two months after his 90th birthday.

Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postand courier.com.