NEW MAYOR OF ROBBINS READY TO ORGANIZE

Darren Bryant is the Mayor of the Village of Robbins. Elected in late April and sworn-in in early May, Bryant is building his cabinet and looking to amend the Village’s 14-year-old comprehensive plan. Photo provided by Sean Howard
Darren Bryant is the Mayor of the Village of Robbins. Elected in late April and sworn-in in early May, Bryant is building his cabinet and looking to amend the Village’s 14-year-old comprehensive plan. Photo provided by Sean Howard

New Mayor of Robbins ready to organize
BY TIA CAROL JONES
      Darren Bryant was sworn in as Mayor of Robbins in May and already has big plans for the Village. At 29, Bryant is the youngest African American Mayor to hold office in the entire state of Illinois. But Bryant has been a public servant since he was 23, when he served as Park District Commissioner.
     Bryant describes himself as a servant of the people. He said he grew up around civil service. His mother is the superintendent of School District 143 ½. His father was a Village of Robbins Trustee and currently serves on the Library Board.
     Bryant’s first political seat was junior class president at Kentucky State University.
     “I knew since then I would come back to my community to serve, and that’s what I did,” he said.
     Bryant said he wanted to run for Mayor of Robbins because holding other positions within the Village taught him how to serve. As a Park District Commissioner, Bryant, along with Park District’s now President, helped get the Park District financially stable, helped secure bonds and paid off previous bonds. He said now the Park District has the pathway to a more robust future.
     “It was the continued passion to want to see a difference, see a change, is why I ran for Mayor. This is something that I didn’t necessarily intentionally do, I was picked out of my elders in the community. They gave me the nod to take on this task. And, this is an honorable task that I’m doing,” he said.
     A month in, Bryant said he has started to create a foundation of organization. He said he is still picking a cabinet, other personnel and looking for a new police chief. He said the police chief is usually appointed by the Mayor. So, when the new Mayor comes in, they appoint someone to carry out their agenda. One thing Bryant is proud of is amending the budget. He said they found more money for this year.
Bryant ran on a platform of strengthening the fire and police departments. He said currently, Fire and Police Departments are part-time. He wants to make them full-time.
    “Just providing our citizens with a full-time service for which we can respond effectively and serve our people to the utmost, that’s the ultimate goal,” he said.
     Bryant, who is a physical education teacher at Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, in Blue Island, Ill., said education is his passion. He said there is a Youth Advisory Committee and Youth Commission Board that will assist young people who want to get involved in politics. On the adult education front, there is a building in the community, that is being looked at for a trades school, which would have skilled trades, as well as a barber and cosmetology program.
     Bryant said he looks at economic development in five parts: Commercial, industrial, residential, financial and infrastructure. He said a solid infrastructure is necessary to welcome an economy. He added, in order for citizen to participate in the economy, there should be a focus on building their money, with credit repair and financial literacy course.
Bryant said he will develop a comprehensive plan. The administration is working with Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and other governmental planning agencies to amend the comprehensive plan that is 14 years old.
     “Once the people see where they’re going, it gives the people the vision to want to participate and be involved in the process, and be comfortable, as well,” he said, adding the comprehensive plan is the grand plan for the Village.
     Within that comprehensive plan are plans for infrastructure, the floodplain, economic development, commercial development, as well as development of the transit-oriented district.
     Bryant said being the Mayor of Robbins so far has been great. He said he is looking forward to every part of his time as Mayor.
     “Representing the people of Robbins, I don’t take it lightly. I enjoy the responsibility. The headaches, the late nights, the early mornings, I wouldn’t trade it for nothing,” he said.

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