Lee Brand
25th Mayor of Fresno
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 5, 2021
Preceded byAshley Swearengin
Succeeded byJerry Dyer
Personal details
Born (1949-04-05) April 5, 1949
The Dalles, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Trish Brand
​
(m. 1980)​
Children4
EducationFresno City College
California State University,
Fresno (BA)
University of Southern California (MPA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1967–1973
UnitCalifornia Air National Guard

Lee R. Brand (born April 5, 1949)[1] is an American politician and businessman who is the 25th mayor of Fresno, California. He took office as the successor for Ashley Swearengin on January 3, 2017.[2] Upon inauguration, Brand became the oldest to assume the mayoralty of Fresno beating the previous holder Dr. Chester A. Rowell by 3 years and 21 days.[3]

Early life

Brand was born in The Dalles, Oregon. His father was Archie L. Brand better known as ‘Brandy,’ of English descent, and his mother was Florence G. Trosi. His parents, his brother and he lived in a small motel room with no indoor bathroom. Archie and Florence worked for his grandfather Archie M. Brand better known as A.M. as dishwashers and general labor at the café, gas station, motel and small zoo A.M. operated.

Brand's mother was from Fresno, and his maternal grandfather and grandmother, Ralph Trosi and Pierina Trosi immigrated to the U.S. from Naples.[1]

The Brand family moved to Fresno when A.M. no longer ran the roadside business and started a career as a sea lion trainer, touring the county with his ‘Sparky the Seal’ act. Brand's family arrived in Fresno in 1954 where he and his brother began Elementary school.[1]

Growing up in a poor household, Brand began committing petty theft while in elementary school. While in junior high, Brand and some friends were arrested for breaking and entering several schools and served time in the juvenile hall work program. In 1964, when Brand was only 15, his father died in a plane crash.[1]

At Theodore Roosevelt High School in Fresno, Brand was an average student who competed on the cross country and track teams and ran a 1:59 half-miler in his junior year. He became a voracious reader is senior year and his grades started improving.

After graduating in 1967, Brand briefly attended Fresno City College before enlisting in the California Air National Guard.

After less than half a year in active duty as a technician, Brand returned to Fresno and engaged in a lifestyle he described as "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" before experiencing a "calling from God" in 1971. Brand began taking heavy course loads at Fresno City College and later California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) and graduated in 1973 from Fresno State summa cum laude.[1] Brand paid for his education by working at a local Sears and doing weekend patrol for the California Air National Guard.[1] He later received an honorable discharge from the Guard.[4]

Business career

Brand completed his M.P.A. at the University of Southern California in 1974 via a project instead of thesis.[1] From 1974 to 1978, Brand was an assistant mental health administrator for Madera County. On the side, Brand flipped houses and eventually opened a real estate business, Brand-Glenn & Associates, and car stereo store named The Sound Machine.[1] Brand's real estate business became Brand & Associates in 1981, and Brand co-founded Westco Equities in 1987.[1]

Political career

In 1996, Brand managed the successful campaign of Fresno City Council candidate Ken Steitz.[1]

After an unsuccessful campaign for the city council in 2000, Brand began serving on the Fresno Planning Commission as an appointee of mayor Alan Autry.[1]

Brand won election to the City Council in 2008 for the northeast Fresno seat previously held by Jerry Duncan.[1] He was re-elected to a second four term in 2012. During his eight years on the Fresno City Council, he wrote 19 legislative acts focused on fiscal management and better government. In 2011, he served as the Council President.

In 2016, Brand ran for the Mayor of the City of Fresno. He finished second in the primary and won the November runoff. He was sworn in as the 25th Mayor of Fresno on January 3, 2017.[5]

Post-Political career

Lee Brand concluded his term as Mayor of Fresno on January 5, 2021. After finishing his political career, he began researching his family ancestry finding surprising information about his father and grandfather.

This motivated him to write a book about family relationships through generations. His debut novel Discovering the Family I Never Knew, is a fictional book inspired by real people and events in his life.[6][7]

Electoral history

2000 Fresno County Supervisor seat 2 election[8][9]
Candidate First round Runoff
Votes % Votes %
Susan B. Anderson 22,844 46.12 44,471 68.50
Ken Steitz 14,901 30.08 20,383 31.40
Lee Brand 9,355 18.89
John Mendoza 2,365 4.77
Write-ins 68 0.14 70 0.11
Total 49,533 100 64,924 100
2008 Fresno City Council District 6 election[10]
Candidate Votes %
Lee Brand 8,601 70.92
Michelle Jorgensen 3,128 25.79
Matt White 378 3.12
2012 Fresno City Council District 6 election[11]
Candidate Votes %
Lee Brand (incumbent) 11,074 98.33
Write-ins 118 1.67
Total 11,273 100
Voter turnout 28.85%
2016 Fresno Mayoral Primary election[12][5]
Candidate First round Runoff
Votes % Votes %
Lee Brand 25,491 30.79 71,776 51.20
Henry Perea 37,006 44.70 68,053 48.54
H. Spees 15,089 18.23
Doug Vagim 2,910 3.52
Richard B. Renteria 2,090 2.52
Write-ins 199 0.24 363 0.26
Total 69,795 100 140,192 100

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ellis, John (October 1, 2016). "Lee Brand rises from humble roots to thrive in business, seek mayor's office". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  2. ↑ Ellis, John (May 14, 2016). "Brand, who rose from poverty to wealth, now looks to city's top job". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  3. ↑ Based on Date of birth to date of inauguration as Mayor. Dr. Chester Rowell was 64 years, 8 months, 10 days old at time of inauguration. Lee Brand was 67 years, 8 months and 30 days old at time of inauguration. Of note, Lee Brand assumed office after at 67 years, 8 months and 30 days old and Dr. Chester Rowell died aged 67 years, 6 months and 23 days old meaning Lee Brand assumed office as the oldest mayor of Fresno and after the second oldest mayor of Fresno entire lifespan. The Fresno Morning Republican. "New Hands in Grasp of City Government Reins." 27 Apr 1909.
  4. ↑ "Full Biography for Lee Brand". SmartVoter. March 3, 2000. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Election Summary Report Consolidated Presidential General Election Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races Fresno County Official Final Results". Fresno County. December 6, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  6. ↑ Brand, Lee. "Lee Brand, Author". Lee Brand, Author. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ Ahmed, Shahbaz (November 16, 2022). "Like Father-Unlike Son-The Relationship Between Father and Son". The Good Men Project. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  8. ↑ "County of Fresno - County Clerk Registrar of Voters - March 7, 2000 Presidential Primary Election". co.fresno.ca.us. Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters. April 4, 2000. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010.
  9. ↑ "County of Fresno - County Clerk Registrar of Voters - November 7, 2000 Consolidated General Election". www.co.fresno.ca.us. Fresno County Clerk/ Registrar of Voters. November 27, 2000. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010.
  10. ↑ "County of Fresno - County Clerk Registrar of Voters - June 3, 2008 Statewide Direct Primary Election". www.co.fresno.ca.us/. Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters. July 2, 2008. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010.
  11. ↑ "County of Fresno - County Clerk Registrar of Voters - June 5, 2012 Presidential Primary Election". www.co.fresno.ca.us. Fresno County Clerk/ Registrar of Voters. June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2012.
  12. ↑ "RESULTS OF JUNE 7, 2016 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION". Fresno County. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
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