Election 2009: Flagg Runs for North Adams City Council
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Brian L. Flagg has officially announced his candidacy for City Council.
A city native, Flagg attended North Adams public schools and graduated from Drury High School in 1987.
After graduation, Flagg left the area and lived in various states including Iowa, Hawaii and Texas. He returned to North Adams in 1999 to help assist in taking care of his ailing parents, who also lived in North Adams.
Upon his return to the city, Flagg immediately made a commitment to becoming involved in the community that gave so much to him and his family for so many years. His father, Robert, was a member of the management team at the longtime former home improvement store K&K Home Mart and his mother, Beverly, worked for over 15 years at the former Capitol Restaurant on Main Street.
In 2001, Flagg made his first attempt at running for City Council. Though that bid proved unsuccessful, it served as a springboard for his becoming involved in city politics and community affairs.
Flagg is a 2003 graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program, a program through the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce that encourages community involvement and educates its attendees on community issues ranging from county and city government to health care to opportunities for advocacy. He also served on the program's steering committee for three years and was co-chairman of the program's alumni committee.
For 20 years, since the age of 19, Flagg has been an active participant in youth sports programs. He has coached girl's softball and basketball around the country and has been a head coach in the Whitney Basketball League in North Adams for 10 years.
In an effort to honor his parents, in 2007 Flagg formed the Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race. Since its inception, this event has proven to be one of the most exciting in the city. It involves businesses and residents from the community in order to raise money for local charities and organizations. The proceeds from the event's first three years have been earmarked for Northern Berkshire Healthcare as Flagg wanted to give back to the organization that provided his parents and family outstanding care and support during the elder Flaggs' final years.
In addition to his charity work with the bed race, he also donates his time each year to DJ for Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake. The Fall Foliage Parade Committee also tapped him in 2007 to become the announcer for the Fall Foliage Parade.
As a city councilor, he would bring a true love for the city that he serves as well as a desire to see it flourish. His knowledge of the city's history and residents and his relationships with key business and government leaders will prove useful in helping to bring attention, focus and accountability to issues that affect North Adams.
Flagg's leadership approach and philosophy is simple. One cannot truly lead alone. It is important to reach out to the people who live, work, shop and attend schools in the city and get their input on issues that concern them. Getting more people involved ensures better decision making.
Flagg said he is uniquely qualified to serve the people of the city. His leadership experience, passion for the city and a desire to see it succeed makes him the best choice for City Council.
