Candidate Profile: Brian Bray

     After years of service to the city as a member of the Grain Valley Park Board, long time resident Brian Bray is running unopposed for the open Board of Aldermen seat in Ward III.
     Bray, a Principal Solutions Architect in the financial services industry, has lived in Grain Valley since the early 2000s with his family, settling first on the south side of town before moving to a home on the north side of Grain Valley in Ward III. Bray has a freshman at Grain Valley High School (GVHS) and two grown sons who graduated from GVHS.
     Bray has served on the Park Board since 2018, currently serving his second term as president of the board. Parks and trails, and the continued development of recreation amenities for residents, are top of mind for Bray, who says he hopes to continue to be an advocate for the parks as alderman.
     “I’m really focused on the parks and trails system, but also in responsible growth. There is continued debate about the right mix of businesses and types of housing, and the challenge is determining how we do that in a way that makes sense for our community,” Bray said.
     “Coming from an IT world, I work with a lot of single people in their 20s and 30s. Many of them are choosing to live in an apartment and are looking for those types of communities. They don’t want to maintain a yard or upkeep on a home. That’s the lifestyle they want. So these types of housing opportunities are important to look at as well. We have to have a balanced approach.”
     While this is his first foray into elected office, Bray believes he will make an easy transition into working with the Board of Aldermen.
     “I’ve had some exposure through my service on the Park Board. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with the members of the board and I am sure I will be able to work well with everyone.”
     Bray said his experience on the Park Board has cemented his belief in the importance of all residents getting involved in their community and speaking up about their needs and wants.
     “I really encourage people to get involved. Come to the park board meetings and other board meetings. I can count on less than one hand the number of times we’ve had a citizen attend a meeting. When people do not attend or voice their opinions on what the city needs, we have to start making assumptions about what people want. Get involved. You don’t have to run for office, but show up. Share your ideas and make your voice heard.”
          Valley News will profile each candidate on the ballot in the weeks leading up to the election, provide a voter guide, and plans a candidate forum in late March. To search for all election related articles, click on “Elections” under the categories on our News page. For voter registration information, visit www.jcebmo.org. 

Brian Bray is running unopposed for the open Ward III seat on the Board of Aldermen.
Photo credit: Valley News staff