Brian Colbert, a notable figure in Marin County, is recognized for being the first Black supervisor elected since the county's inception over 175 years ago. Despite being one of the few Black residents in the predominantly white region, Colbert focused his campaign on essential local issues like wildfire prevention and housing. He reflects on the historical significance of his election amid ongoing conversations about civil rights and inclusivity, often considering the challenges faced by his ancestors under Jim Crow laws.
It's hard to miss Brian Colbert. It's not just his burly 6-foot-4 frame, his clean-shaven head or the boldly patterned, brightly colored Hawaiian shirts he's adopted as an unofficial uniform.
Rather, Colbert won after knocking, by his count, on 20,000 doors, wearing out several pairs of size 15 shoes and putting parochial concerns, such as wildfire prevention, disaster preparedness and flood control, at the center of his campaign.
I think of the challenges, the indignities that my grandparents suffered on a daily basis under Jim Crow, Colbert said over lunch recently in his hometown.
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