There are different kinds of leaders.
Some are out front and direct. Others take in information and think outside the box to make things work.
Newly sworn in Elmore County Commissioner District 2 member Brad Davis wants to bring a partner type of leadership approach — one he learned in the Marine Corps — to his new position as he replaces the retiring Mack Daugherty. Davis wants to focus on the mission of making Elmore County better and setting aside personal differences.
“You don’t have to always get along with someone on a personal level,” Davis said. “You can have very different views about things, but ultimately the only thing that matters is what is the mission before you.”
For Davis, the current mission is to create a better environment for Elmore County and the citizens of District 2. It’s not because he believes Elmore County is on the wrong track, but because he believes leaders should always be looking forward.
It’s a mission that has been developing for years as more than four years ago Davis campaigned for the same position against then incumbent Daugherty. Davis offered himself up as an option to the public and not a better alternative to Daugherty.
After the campaign a friendship between Davis and Daugherty formed and Tallassee reaped the benefits from it.
“We communicated well over the last four years,” Davis said. “We were able to get some projects where the city and the county worked together.”
The Elmore County Commission helped refurbish the downtown Tallassee water tank, add more drinking water along Little Road and bring the quality of life projects to Tallassee through artificial turf at J.E. Hot O'Brien Stadium and a planned recreational center.
Davis believes being a good leader requires cultivating partnerships with others rather than being an authoritarian. For Davis, being a leader means creating a team where success comes from everyone working together.
“There is an easy elementary school saying, ‘Teamwork makes the dreamwork,’” Davis said. “If we want to be a better county, we have to be able to work together. We have to understand our differences don’t define us.”
Davis believes leaders let those around them have ownership in accomplishing the mission. It may mean letting someone work towards a goal along a different path than what he suggests, but it gives that person or entity ownership. Davis wants to be by their side in the process so that if things go astray he can suggest another way to success.
“Most people get hung up on differences,” Davis said. “If we have the same objective, the plans or ways to go about getting there will be similar. There will usually only be minor differences. Leaders don’t always have to be out front getting the credit. Leaders are those who allow people to be a better version of themselves by coming alongside and helping.”
As the commission and the county work to get better, Davis said questions about what is next for Elmore County have come up as he travels his district and Elmore County.
“They want to know what is next,” Davis said. “We will constantly work to identify issues and ideas for addressing them. We are not waiting around for Christmas but planning for it for when the next round of money or partnership comes.”
