“Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Your Thought Matters Newspaper is currently asking leaders from across the state of Texas to give us an inside look at how they go about selecting the best candidate in an election. We are also asking these leaders to share their thoughts on a few of the characteristics they look for in a leader. Below are thoughts shared by Vice Mayor Pro-Tem C.O. “Brad” Bradford of Houston, Texas. Bradford is also an Attorney, Public Safety Consultant, and former Chief of Police and has been a resident of the city of Houston since 1979. He is also currently serving his second term in office and will be on the 2013 Mayoral ballot on Tuesday, November 5th, seeking voter approval to serve his third and final term as the At-Large Position #4 Council Member for the City of Houston. Bradford has also openly endorsed former City of Houston Attorney Ben Hall in his bid to become the next mayor of Houston in the 2013 Mayoral Election.” – Aubrey R. Taylor Publisher
Vice Mayor Pro-Tem C.O. "Brad" Bradford
Vice Mayor Pro-Tem C.O. Bradford at a “Community Partnership Breakfast” at the South Union Church of Christ. Bradford is currently serving his second term in office. He will be on the Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Mayoral Election ballot seeking re-election to his third and final term as the At-Large Position #4 Council Member for the City of Houston.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “As a voter, how do you go about selecting the person who is the best candidate in any given election?”
VICE MAYOR PRO-TEM BRADFORD: “Who is the best candidate will surely, and properly so, vary from voter to voter. As a voter, I am concerned with someone who brings experience, training and education to the arena. Many of the issues facing our city, state and nation today are complex and multifaceted. The demand for services constantly increases and public resources seem to dwindle. Our population is more and more diverse with high, varied expectations. Therefore, it is my belief that managing the financial and human resources, along with capital assets entrusted to public officials today requires in-depth knowledge and skills.”
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “What are a few of the characteristics you look for in a leader?”
VICE MAYOR PRO-TEM BRADFORD: “Leaders need to be able to inspire! Transforming a vision into a plan and subsequent implementation is no easy task. Leaders understand that reward is attached to performance and that anything worth having isn’t easy to get. Leaders demonstrate that it is nice to be important, but more important to be nice. And, at the end of the day, when it is all said and done, it is not going to matter how many degrees we have, what titles or what positions we’ve held. The question is going to be, ‘what have you done to help others?’ Leaders have a love for humanity and a passion to make a difference for the greater good of all.”
C.O. “Brad” Bradford
Vice Mayor Pro-Tem
Houston City Council, At Large Position 4
Here’s A Little About Council Member C.O. "Brad" Bradford
C.O. "Brad" Bradford is an Attorney, Public Safety Consultant, and former Chief of Police. He has been a resident of the city of Houston since 1979. Having lived in Hiram Clarke, Alief, Fondren Southwest, and MacGregor areas, he understands the various characteristics of the Houston community and appreciates efforts to focus on neighborhood needs.
Bradford served 24 years as a Houston Police officer and seven years as Chief of Police. He was appointed Houston's Police Chief by Mayor Bob Lanier and re-appointed by Mayor Lee Brown. While serving as Chief, Bradford managed 7,000 personnel and $500 million annual budget. During his tenure, citizens' fear of crime and public safety concerns went from 59% in 1996 to only 10% by the time he left office in 2003, as documented by Dr. Stephen Klineberg, Rice University.
Council Member Bradford has combined his education, legal training and police experience to work with neighborhoods and businesses, nationally and internationally, to help develop safety strategies.
He holds degrees in law from the University of Houston Law Center, criminal justice from Grambling State University, and a public administration degree from Texas Southern University. Also, he is a graduate of the FBI Academy and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government Program for State and Local Executives.
Bradford’s civic activities include serving as a Precinct Chair, Election Judge, and Deputy Voter Registrar in Harris County. Also, he holds memberships and volunteers in numerous community activities including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Education Foundation of Harris County, American Education Technologies Youth Counselor, Grambling State University's Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Wiley College Criminal Justice Institute, 100 Club, Harris County Constable Precinct 7 Advisory Board and frequently serves as a university guest lecturer, crime prevention and safety awareness speaker.
Brad is married to Dr. Dee Jackson and they have one son, Cole and a daughter, Claire.
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