Drew Brickson, who serves as Ward 5 Alderman for the City of Petal, has attained the highest level of municipal education from the Mississippi Municipal League’s Certified Municipal Officials Program.
Brickson, who was elected as alderman in 2021, earned two degrees – the Advanced and Professional – at the MML’s 93rd annual conference, which was held this week at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi.
“After being elected in 2021 as the City of Petal’s Ward 5 Alderman, I wanted to make sure I could perform my official duties to the best of my abilities for the citizens of Ward 5 and Petal,” Brickson said. “I knew I had big shoes to fill, and serving within the framework of city and state laws and regulations takes a lot of knowledge that I knew I needed to gain because I had never served in an elected public official role.
“I quickly realized that the Mississippi Municipal League had the ideal program to learn a broad range of topics, peer learning events, and fellowship opportunities to share lessons learned that I could utilize and apply as an alderman. I set a goal to accomplish all three levels of CMO – Basic, Advanced, and Professional – during my first term of four years to maximize my contributions and ability to serve Ward 5 and the City of Petal. I also know there is a lot still to learn going forward.”
There are three levels of certification officials can obtain through the CMO Program: Basic, Advanced and Professional Development.
Certifications include classes such as Municipal Organization; Community Development; Development Case Study and Municipal Land Use; and Economic Development Incentives for Municipalities, as well as elective hours that cover a wide range of topics relevant to timely issues and local concerns. The Basic certification requires 60 total hours, including 20 course hours and 40 elective hours, while the Advanced Certification requires an additional 40 total hours, including 15 course hours and 25 elective hours.
The Professional Development certification requires an additional 40 total hours, with 15 core course hours and 25 elective hours. Elected officials can work towards completion of the different certifications at different training events held across the state throughout the year, as well as at each year’s annual MML conference.
Brickson received the Advanced certification and the Professional Development certification for both levels over the past year by attending many different events and classes across the state to meet the certification requirements. He received his Basic certification at last year’s conference.
Brickson’s completion of all three certification levels during an elected official’s first term is a rare accomplishment.
“I learned early during my career as a military officer that you must take professional development seriously to perform your duties and lead the sons and daughters of our great nation,” Brickson said. “I take that same serious approach while serving as an alderman, especially when the training requires the expenditure of local taxpayer funds.
“We are expected to be good stewards of their money in all endeavors and our board decisions. Because I am fully retired now … whenever possible, I attend additional training on my on time and expense.”
Going into this year’s MML conference – and since attending his first one three years ago, in 2021 – Brickson had completed 50 hours of core classes and 110 hours of electives.
“I think it’s important to realize that a lot of the value of the training is interacting with other aldermen and mayors from other cities and parts of the state during these opportunities,” Brickson said. “Their problems and lessons learned are invaluable to others that might be facing the same situation.
“It’s not competitive, but rather a shared desire to have better communities and therefore a better Mississippi.”
The Mississippi Municipal League is made up of representatives from various cities and towns throughout Mississippi. The organization offers such measures as legislative advocacy, optional benefits programs, training and educational opportunities and multiple publications.
More than 1,500 elected officials attended this year’s MML conference, which Brickson said was impressive, as some of the other training events and classes he attended throughout the year may have only seen approximately 15 participating officials.
“I tried to take away as much knowledge as possible, but I believe some of the best takeaways were new friendships and discussions from leaders with vastly more experience and knowledge,” Brickson said. “I intend to continue to take advantage of the classes and training offered by MML, Mississippi agencies, and other organizations to learn, as well as share my experiences and lessons learned to others.
“Our next issue as a city might have already been experienced by another city, so we should try to be prepared as much as possible. I hope to apply all of this while serving the remainder of this term and then another term as Ward 5 Alderman.”
Brickson moved to Petal in 2010 after the United States Army assigned him to command the 3-315 Engineer Battalion at Camp Shelby. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy in 1993 and added master’s degrees in Engineering/Industrial Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and Theater Operations from the United States Army School of Advance Military Studies.
He is now retired and enjoys making a positive difference in the City of Petal in many different arenas.
