In 2016, Brooksville impressed Tallahassee by bringing the largest group of constituents in recalled history to the Florida Department of State’s R.A. Gray Building. Residents, business owners, and city staff carpooled to show support for our application to become a Florida Main Street. As Mayor, I had the privilege to join the enthusiastic group. I particularly remember the day as my first exposure to the spellbinding stories of retired Water Management Director and wildlife photographer Sonny Vergara. In the subsequent years, Sonny would knowingly (and unknowingly) mentor me in navigating government politics and staying true to Vision.

The day also remained significant for me because not everyone in that group agreed on how to move Brooksville forward. But as we sat in a long table restaurant after successfully gaining our Main Street designation, we were united in our passion to make Brooksville its best version of itself. I look back on that day as one of my best days in government.

Fast forward two years and Brooksville Main Street (BMS) was floundering – so badly that Florida Main Street sent a consultant, Wayne Carter, to analyze the issues and suggest solutions. Wayne was the Executive Director of Main Street DeLand – one of Florida’s first (and indisputably its most successful) Main Street. Since starting in 1985 it subsequently won the coveted Great American Main Street (GAMSA) award given by Main Street America. Under Wayne’s leadership, they also won IndependentWeStand.org‘s America’s Main Street award. But you don’t need to know they’ve won awards to know how successful they are. Just walk in their Main Street district and the vibrant, beautiful business district will tell you all you needed to know.

The point is, Wayne was a big deal. With decades of experience in community revitalization, he knew how to solve problems. So the State sent him to Brooksville and he talked to people and walked the district and then met with the BMS Board. Now Wayne had a rare gift (like Brooksville’s Barbara Manuel). While knowing the solutions to your problems, he’d deliver them in an unassuming way; you never felt condescended to or shamed. The deep, slow Southern drawl no doubt helped, but he was also genuinely humble. He gave the BMS Board his recommendations, and then told us what I’ve heard him say to countless other Main Street communities since:

“The Board needs to take the lead. Main Street staff will come and go, but this is your city. You need to set the vision and carry it out if you want to succeed.”

– Wayne carter

Wayne didn’t know how right he was. BMS’s Executive Director resigned shortly after Wayne’s visit and a reboot started. The BMS Board took Wayne’s advice to heart and changes became visible. Matt and Bev Lowman envisioned and implemented the State award-winning Florida Mermaid Trail.

Promotion Committee Chair Barbara Manuel spread a vision of a Hallmark-feel to Brooksville Christmas and raised money to buy all the decorations needed (winning us a Secretary of State Main Street of the Month Award). Its Tree Lighting event subsequently won an illustrious Southeast Tourism award.

Board members personally paid staff salaries while they figured out a permanent funding strategy. The Design Committee brought artistically-minded people on board, resulting in the development of the Mobile Mural program now being duplicated in other Main Street communities. With the help of the Hernando County Fine Arts Council, BMS brought two rounds of public art each year, beautifying spaces and helping local artists grow their businesses.

The Economic Vitality Committee collaborated with County Tourism (and won a State Award for it) to create painted picnic benches during the pandemic to help restaurants provide outdoor seating.

We began drilling down on what made Brooksville unique, which led to development of TourBVL.com (another Secretary of State award winner), custom historic photo banners, the Elizabeth Robins Diary Podcast. We also greatly expanded into historic preservation under the expert leadership of our board member Jo-Anne Peck, bringing tens of thousands of dollars of grant funding to our city.

But the biggest effect of Wayne’s visit was the change in the community’s perspective on BMS. The community went from deeply suspicious to enthusiastically supportive. When the Brooksville City Council considered defunding the program, they received almost 200 letters asking them to change their minds. As a formerly elected official, I can ensure you that is unprecedented. Seven letters from constituents is a big deal. 200 is an indisputable mandate. We got our funding.

Three years after Wayne’s visit to Brooksville, Florida Main Street recommended BMS apply for National Main Street’s Great American Main Street Award. It was such a head-spinning transition from where BMS had been and I truly believe it happened because Wayne was willing to speak the truth and BMS was willing to act on it.

My family traveled last night to Crystal River for their lovely Main Street’s Art on the Avenue event. It was a gorgeous night and I probably wore my family out telling them stories about the buildings and history of that city. When we got home I learned of the passing of Wayne. I imagine many of my Main Street colleagues had a similar experience as they arrived home from their various Friday Night events.

DeLand, Brooksville, and countless other Main Streets owe a great debt to Wayne Carter. Countless Main Street Directors including myself owe him more than we can say. May we honor his legacy in the way we move each of our communities forward. Cheers, Wayne!