James Brainard

Last updated

James Brainard
Climate Impacts in the Midwest Becoming More Resilient (cropped).jpg
Mayor of Carmel, Indiana
In office
January 1, 1996 January 1, 2024
Occupation
  • Lecturer
  • politician
Website Official website
NicknameJim

James Brainard (born 1954) is a retired American politician of the Republican Party who served as the fifth mayor of Carmel, Indiana, a principal city in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, from 1996 to 2024. At the time he left office on January 1, 2024, he was one of Indiana's longest serving mayors. During his tenure as mayor, Carmel's population grew from 25,000 in 1996 to 102,000 in 2021 and saw the creation of substantial downtown redevelopment into a new Arts & Design District. [1] Brainard's term expired on January 1, 2024. He was succeeded by fellow Republican Sue Finkam. [2] [3]

Contents

Political views and career

Transportation policy

Under Brainard's administration, the City of Carmel eliminated dozens of traffic signals and dangerous intersections, replacing them with roundabouts. Carmel has more roundabouts than any other city in the United States. [4] The policy has been credited with a reduction of carbon emissions, fatalities and intersection collisions. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Climate and energy

Brainard is described as a moderate Republican committed to fighting the effects of global warming. [9] Brainard is serving as a Trustee and co-chair of the Energy Independence and Climate Protection Task Force for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In November 2013 he was appointed to the Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience by the President of the United States. He traveled in 2015 to four cities in India to represent the United States as part of the US State Department's speaker's bureau. Also, in 2015 he was asked to speak on energy and climate policy at the German-American Centers in five German cities. [10] He has been a guest lecturer for Georgetown University, Butler University, Indiana University and Purdue University among others. Because of his views, Brainard was selected to be on President Obama's Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. [11] In 2013, it was announced he would be "one of 26 local government representatives who make up a new task force to help communities deal with the effects of climate change." [12]

Fiscal and health policy

Because of Brainard's activity to create a health-conscious community, Carmel has received various awards for its healthy living. [13]

Concerns have been raised in recent years about Brainard's handling of Carmel city finances. In 2015 the city overestimated tax revenues by over $5 million and was forced to reallocate funds between accounts to meet then current obligations. [14] In 2017 S&P downgraded Carmel's long-term bond rating from AA-plus to AA, noting a $300 million increase in debt over the prior 3 years. In its analysis, S&P noted "In our view, this demonstrates the risk of high leverage and a heavy dependence on sometimes more volatile tax-increment revenues. We feel the city's crowded budget and high fixed costs leave it vulnerable to unanticipated economic or operational swings." [15]

In response to a question about the Green New Deal, Brainard has said, "I think we have [to] find that middle ground where we can do things that encourage green jobs—do things that help the economy and reduce carbon at the same time." [16]

Civil rights and diversity

In 2015, he proposed and the City Council passed a new ordinance designed to protect human rights regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The issue was first raised in Carmel during the election campaign and came to its closure during a time of heightened awareness. [17] Brainard is a supporter of diversity in Carmel. He hosts an annual Iftar dinner for the local Muslim community and established a new Carmel Interfaith Alliance in the fall of 2015 designed to bring together pastors and religious leaders from a variety of faiths. [18] Brainard has said, "Carmel's diversity brings a richness to the fabric of our community, and our freedom of religion should be celebrated." [19]

On June 1, 2020, in the wake of a nationwide increase in protests against police brutality and racism in policing, Brainard released a statement stating intent to sue the city of Minneapolis for alleged costs incurred in "increased security" as a result of said protests. [20] [21] The threat made national news, and Brainard publicly retracted the city's plan that evening. [22]

Driving incidents

Brainard crashed city-leased vehicles several times during his tenure as mayor. In November 2002, he T-boned a school bus, which did not result in any injuries. In April 2017, he crossed the center line of a two-way road, striking a trailer being pulled behind a pick-up truck. In December 2018, Brainard was driving with movie producers filming at Carmel's Christkindlmarkt when he took a U-turn from the right lane. As his car moved into the left lane, Brainard struck the passenger side of a car traveling down the left lane. [23] [24] [25]

Awards

References

  1. Schneider, Keith (July 1, 2014). "Redevelopment of Carmel, Ind., Has a European Flair". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  2. "Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard will not seek re-election". Fox 59. September 13, 2022. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  3. Greenblatt, Alan (January 2, 2024). "Leadership Lessons from a 30-Year Mayor". Governing.com. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  4. "Carmel releases timeline for $229M of roadwork". indystar.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  5. Buckley, Cara; Mast, A. J. (November 20, 2021). "These Americans Are Just Going Around in Circles. It Helps the Climate". The New York Times.
  6. "Carmel Indiana Roundabouts: Case Studies: ERIT: Environmental Resilience Institute Part of the Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge: Indiana University". Indiana University. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  7. Gross, Frank; Lyon, Craig; Persaud, Bhagwant; Srinivasan, Raghavan (January 2013). "Safety effectiveness of converting signalized intersections to roundabouts". Accident Analysis & Prevention. 50: 234–241. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2012.04.012. PMID   23200454.
  8. "Safety effects of roundabout conversions in Carmel, Indiana, the Roundabout City". Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  9. Commons, the urbanophile / Creative. "Q&A: In Indiana, fighting climate change by rethinking the suburb". Midwest Energy News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  10. "Brainard discusses climate change in India, Germany". indystar.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  11. Yerman, Marcia G. (July 7, 2014). "Republican Mayor Jim Brainard Believes in the Science of Climate Change". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  12. "Carmel Mayor James Brainard to help White House on climate change issues". indystar.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  13. "City of Carmel, IN : City Wide Awards". www.carmel.in.gov. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  14. "Is Carmel about to go broke?" . Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  15. "Carmel's 'rapidly increasing debt' leads to drop in credit rating" . Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  16. Vyse, Graham (April 5, 2019). "The GOP Mayor Pushing Climate Change Policies in Congress". Governing, the Future of States and Localities. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  17. Fischer, Jordan (October 6, 2015). "Carmel City Council passes anti-discrimination ordinance in 4-3 vote". theindychannel.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  18. "Carmel Interfaith Alliance organizes cleanup of Monon Trail". currentincarmel.com. September 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  19. "Mayor hosts members of Muslim community". currentincarmel.com. July 23, 2013. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  20. "Carmel to sue Minneapolis for security costs". currentincarmel.com. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  21. "UPDATE: Carmel putting lawsuit against Minneapolis on hold". currentincarmel.com. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  22. Sikich, Chris, John Tuohy, and Kaitlin Lange (June 1, 2020). "Carmel Mayor Brainard backs off plan to sue Minneapolis over costs associated with riots". currentincarmel.com. Retrieved June 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. Hays, Holly V. "Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard crashes second city-provided vehicle in 2 years". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  24. Shambaugh, Ann Marie (December 30, 2018). "Mayor involved in wreck in city-leased vehicle for second time in 2 years". Current Publishing. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  25. Sikich, Chris. "Carmel Mayor Brainard crashes city-leased hybrid car". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  26. "Carmel mayor receives state's top honor, unveils Songbook museum agreement at final State of the City event". Current Publishing. December 4, 2023.
  27. "Mayor James Brainard, Carmel, IN awarded 2013 IMCL Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award - International Making Cities Livable". www.livablecities.org. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  28. "Mayor James Brainard received 2012 Public Service Award". acecindiana.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  29. "Mayor James Brainard (R - Carmel, IN)". americansforthearts.org. December 31, 1969. Retrieved May 3, 2017.