Major projects and events have been part of David Brown’s two decades service as District 2 county commissioner.
The veteran county board member turned county operations over to Royce Bartee and Tom Adams, District 1 and 3 commissioners, recently when he submitted his resignation and “went to the house.” District 2 foreman Jamie Batman was appointed as his successor until a replacement is duly elected. Batman will only serve an interim appointment since he doesn’t reside within District 2, disqualifying him from seeking election.
Wayne Scribner, Kingston, has declared his intention to run for the office. A Madill graduate, Scribner resides in an area of District 2 extending into Kingston where he’s lived 40 years, working with his father as a building contractor, developer and in the insurance and real estate business.
Perhaps the first major event of Brown’s tenure was the arrest and removal of Sheriff Decco Baxter as an associate and conspirator with Carl Gene “Geno” Hines, a local drug lord with national ties. Hines and Baxter were subsequently tried and sentenced to federal prison.
Brown also joined with local seniors and took a lead in developing and improving senior facilities. More recently he’s been a strong supporter for the Marshall County Expo Center planned on U.S. Highway 70 between Madill and Kingston as the new site for the Marshall County fairgrounds.
He also took an active role to locate a 10 Commandments memorial marker on the courthouse lawn, knowing he’d “likely take some heat.” The marker was sponsored by Milford and Joyce Clement in memory of their son, Noel. The project was completed without incident.
Brown has also worked closely with the Department of Corrections work release center, appreciative for the cooperation of the DOC and work of the inmates to help improve roads in District 2 and around the county.
