Brian Zimmerman (politician)

Brian Zimmerman (1972 - September 20, 1996) was an American politician who in 1983, at the age of 11, was elected mayor of the community of Crabb, Texas. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050446-2,00.html "People", Time Magazine, Apr. 18, 2005] ] He won by a landslide, garnering 23 of the 30 votes cast. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02E2DE1E38F933A2575BC0A963948260 "Boy mayor may lose if he wins campaign", Associated Press, August 10, 1985] ] His stated goal as mayor was to incorporate the unincorporated community of approximately 200 people to avoid annexation by neighboring cities such as Houston.

His sole campaign promise led to a "hard fought" incorporation battle, because many residents feared that incorporation would result in higher taxes. However, Mayor Zimmerman held that an impending annexation would result in even higher taxes than incorporation, which instead would give the town some control over tax rates. The other major issue was that incorporation would force him out of his position as mayor, since Texas law stated that mayors of incorporated communities be at least 18 years of age. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050446-2,00.html People - TIME ] ]

He nonetheless supported a referendum to incorporate the community, stating "The mayor isn't there to sit and worry about keeping his job. He's there to do what's best for the people.". Zimmerman's incorporation bid was ultimately unsuccessful, but he was reelected as mayor following the referendum. During his first two years in office, he reportedly had one of Crabb's roads paved. His unique mayorship garnered considerable attention - "worldwide" according to the "Texas Almanac" [http://www.texasalmanac.com/obituaries/1995_1997.html#Z Obituary page for Brian Zimmerman] ] - that included articles in "People" magazine and the "New York Times". In 1988, his story was chronicled in a made for TV movie called [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095538/ "Lone Star Kid"] .

In 1996, Brian Zimmerman died of a heart attack in Houston at the age of 24. He still holds the record as the youngest mayor in United States history. As of 2008, Crabb remains an unincorporated community and has been neither incorporated nor annexed during or after Zimmerman's life.

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