Brock Elected First Female Mayor of Tracy City

On December 8, 2008 the City Council of Tracy City inaugurated the new mayor, Barbara Brock. This appointment came following some scandal and the death of the former mayor from a heart attack. Barbara Brock may be the first of a new kind of mayor for Tracy City. Firstly, Mayor Brock is the only female ever to be elected mayor in the city's history. Secondly, Mayor Brock is a non-local. This may not seem unusual, but, for Tracy City, it is.

Barbara Brock was born in Chicago, but moved to Indiana when she was eight years old. In 1980 she moved to Florida before finally settling on the Mountain in 2002. Mayor Brock quickly became involved in local society and politics: becoming the president of the Garden Club, pursuing leadership in her sorority Beta Sigma Phi (she was the president of her chapter), and eventually joining the City Council Board as Altar Woman in Tracy City.

When the previous mayor died in October of 2008, there was no formal election to decide on an interim mayor, rather the Council voted from within its members. Of the candidates, there were five men and Mrs. Brock. Mayor Brock won easily with the majority of votes. Despite this boost to her ego, Mayor Brock does not want to rest on her laurels. She says that previous mayors tended not to take the job seriously. Mayor Brock wants to pull Tracy City out of its economic downturn and brighten its image from a city blackened with scandal, abundant drug use, and crime.

University senior Erin Smyth, who acts as student liaison to the Appalachian Women's Guild (AWG) in Tracy City, commented on what needs to be accomplished to fix the city's problems.  Erin noted how much the city has been affected by the economic crisis and how Tracy City "needs Sewanee involvement." Whether it means volunteering at the AWG or going to visit the Dutch Made Bakery, Erin says that Sewanee students have the ability to significantly stimulate the city's business and economy.

Mayor Brock has several short and long term goals while she is in office. Stimulating the economy is vitally important, but first, she needs to encourage merchants to move into the city to fill vacant stores. Another priority is reworking the Tracy City Police Department to crack down on security issues, traffic speeding, and drugs. She is working with the AWG to expand the project and community involvement. Also, Mayor Brock is initiating programs to beautify the city. City renovations are already underway, fixing street lights and sidewalks. She has even been given an old caboose which she plans to convert into a welcome center. Mayor Brock visited cities such as Pikeville, South Pittsburg, and Cowan to get ideas about how best to renovate the city. She has already received two grants to aid in renovations and the third is now in consideration. She states that more can only be accomplished with financial support.

Mayor Brock plans to run for reelection in the April 2010 elections. As of now, public opinion of her is high. Smyth, who has met Mayor Brock several times, calls her "approachable, well balanced and friendly, a woman who means business."  Mayor Brock does have to deal with some complaints, but says "I feel most complaints I get are from men, I am the first lady mayor. I feel a little discriminated against." Despite some gender discrimination, Mayor Brock reaffirms her positions, saying, "I don't care. I'm here now, and I'm here to stay."

Mayor Brock says she is excited and hopeful about future Sewanee involvement and plans to speak at Sewanee sometime soon. If she is elected mayor in April, a new ordinance passed means that she will remain in office for four years, instead of two. Mayor Brock also plans to run in the state convention in 2011.