The new Mayor of Braxton Michael Arinder recently made himself available for an interview. Arinder was born and raised in Morton MS. He graduated from Morton High School in 2003. He married his wife and they lived in Polkville before moving to Braxton in 2010. Arinder has lived in the area for 11 years with his wife and two children.
Arinder is relatively new to politics and had no prior interest or experience before serving the town of Braxton. He began his public service stint after being asked to serve as an interim alderman following the death of a member of the Braxton board. It was in this role that Arinder gained perspective and a new found respect for the decisions that public officials are faced with on a daily basis.
Arinder said, “It’s not as easy as it looks, and a lot of people don’t realize what it takes to keep a town of any size operational, the tough decisions that have to be made daily.”
After serving as alderman, Arinder’s interest in local government began to grow. The town had another mayor step down which necessitated a special election. Arinder was the only candidate to qualify and was named the Mayor of Braxton.
Arinder said, “I just saw a need and tried to fill it. I realized Braxton is a small town and there is a lot to be done, so it would be nice to do my part and help.”
Since taking on the position, Arinder has worked hard to learn and understand policies. He admitted to knowing very little, but is learning at an exponential pace. His background gives him a good understanding of research and he is gathering information and learning regulations to better serve Braxton. Arinder is thankful to have a great supporting staff around him as he learns the job.
When asked what citizens can expect from him Arinder said, “The primary expectation that I will do my best to be their voice. They can expect me to do research before making decisions.” Arinder said he plans to make informed decision and know how they will affect the citizens of Braxton.
He said, “Every action I plan to take will be to make increase fellowship and add some sense of community to our town. I plan to lead with these principles in mind.”
Since taking office Arinder has focused on stabilizing and maintaining the city’s infrastructure. He want to ensure that an appropriate maintenance plan is in place and the city’s infrastructure is kept functional.
Arinder said, “We are actually working towards taking steps to build stability in the town. We want to maintain our assets and keep things up and running and be prepared for emergencies.”
Mayor Arinder is motivated to see Braxton continue to grow. He has a deep affection for the town and look forward to serving the citizens as best he can.
Arinder closed by saying, “We’re just a small town blessed with good people who care.”
