Brian Zimmerman (politician)
Encyclopedia
Brian Zimmerman was an American politician who in 1983, at the age of 11, was elected mayor of the community of Crabb, Texas
. He won by a landslide, garnering 23 of the 30 votes cast. 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 had to be at least 18 years of age.
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 - that included articles in People
magazine and the New York Times. In 1988
, his story was chronicled in a made for TV movie called "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.
Crabb, Texas
Crabb is a small unincorporated community in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States. The town was made notable when an 11-year-old named Brian Zimmerman won an unofficial election for mayor in 1983. He worked to incorporate the small town, which had a population of under 200 when he was elected...
. He won by a landslide, garnering 23 of the 30 votes cast. His stated goal as mayor was to incorporate the unincorporated community of approximately 200 people to avoid annexation by neighboring cities such as Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
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
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
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 had to be at least 18 years of age.
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 - that included articles in People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine and the New York Times. In 1988
1988 in film
-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice...
, his story was chronicled in a made for TV movie called "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.