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Dec. 1, 2004
Local politician reflects on years as a Blazer and a public servant
"The memory that changed me," says District 16 Delegate Bill Bronrott, came in 1980, when he got personally involved in launching the war against drunk driving. He remembers Laura, a baby girl, who was struck by a car while in her mother's arms and became the nation's youngest quadriplegic. "It put a name and a face on all of these statistics," he says. "Laura couldn't move, but she moved people." He remembers getting involved in the national Mothers Against Drunk Driving movement. "It was like watching a lift-off from Kennedy Space Center," he says.
Sitting in a Starbucks in Bethesda on Oct. 27, Bronrott discusses drunk driving and car crashes, the number one killer of teens. "Alcohol kills six times more teens than all other illicit drugs combined," he says. He's wearing a gray suit with a "Re-Defeat Bush" pin and speaks carefully but with enthusiasm and passion.
Two days later, Bronrott stands in the Colesville parking lot in front of a totaled car. He speaks, along with other local politicians and community leaders, to promote Safe Neighborhood Day, an event that is intended to improve driver and pedestrian safety, especially among teens.
When I was a Blazer
But Safe Neighborhood Day wasn't Bronrott's first visit to Blair; he is actually a Blazer, a proud 1973 graduate. Bronrott grew up in Silver Spring and made many friends at Blair that he still has today.
Bronrott reflects on his high school days. "Many [students] were distracted by the many troubles that weighed on our world," he says, recalling the Vietnam War, Watergate and social unrest. He became politically active at Blair, attending anti-war rallies and campaigning for the 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.
Even in the 1970s, Blair was the most racially diverse high school in Montgomery County. Bronrott has fond memories of Mr. Washington's black literature class, one of the first of its kind to be offered in high schools. After graduating, Bronrott attended the University of Maryland and earned a Master's Degree in political communications. Immediately after graduate school, he landed a job as Press Secretary for Congressman Mike Barnes, the Democratic representative of District 8 (the seat currently held by Chris Van Hollen), from 1978-1987. During his stay on Capitol Hill, Bronrott worked for Congressional funding for Metro and other local issues, in addition to helping lead the fight against drunk driving.
A career of service
When Representative Barnes left office in 1987, Bronrott became a public relations and media consultant, which he still is. "The media sets the agenda for what the public perceives to be important, " he says. Politicians, he stresses, should find ways to engage the media.
In 1998, a seat opened up in the Maryland House of Delegates, and Bronrott "threw his hat into the ring. It's not something I ever planned," says Bronrott, "but it's been the thrill of a lifetime. It's a love affair. I continue to pinch myself."
As a child, Bronrott was extremely taken by President John F. Kennedy. "John F. Kennedy said, 'A torch is being passed on to a new generation,'" says Bronrott, "and I felt like putting my hand on that torch."
Bronnott's motivation in life is "to leave things a little better than I found them." "I think I've done it," he says. "I could probably stop today, knowing I've had a quarter-century of positive accomplishments that I never could have dreamed of."
Bronrott encourages people to become active in their community "in any big or small way. If everyone from Blair rolled up their sleeves and became involved, think of what we could do," he says.
Bronrott has been a vocal supporter of the "exciting and gratifying rebirth" of Silver Spring, "the center of many of our lives." Looking at Blair now, Bronrott says, it has "grown all for the better." Blair is "Montgomery County in miniature," he says.
When asked about future ambitions, Bronrott says his political career has never been part of a five- or ten-year plan. "I don't know where this will lead, if anywhere," he says, casually. "I'll just continue to serve."
Sitting in a Starbucks in Bethesda on Oct. 27, Bronrott discusses drunk driving and car crashes, the number one killer of teens. "Alcohol kills six times more teens than all other illicit drugs combined," he says. He's wearing a gray suit with a "Re-Defeat Bush" pin and speaks carefully but with enthusiasm and passion.
Delegate Bill Bronrott, with Congressman Pete Visclosky of District 1 Indiana (left), speaks to students in a National, State and Local Government class on Nov. 8.
Two days later, Bronrott stands in the Colesville parking lot in front of a totaled car. He speaks, along with other local politicians and community leaders, to promote Safe Neighborhood Day, an event that is intended to improve driver and pedestrian safety, especially among teens.
When I was a Blazer
But Safe Neighborhood Day wasn't Bronrott's first visit to Blair; he is actually a Blazer, a proud 1973 graduate. Bronrott grew up in Silver Spring and made many friends at Blair that he still has today.
Bronrott reflects on his high school days. "Many [students] were distracted by the many troubles that weighed on our world," he says, recalling the Vietnam War, Watergate and social unrest. He became politically active at Blair, attending anti-war rallies and campaigning for the 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.
Even in the 1970s, Blair was the most racially diverse high school in Montgomery County. Bronrott has fond memories of Mr. Washington's black literature class, one of the first of its kind to be offered in high schools. After graduating, Bronrott attended the University of Maryland and earned a Master's Degree in political communications. Immediately after graduate school, he landed a job as Press Secretary for Congressman Mike Barnes, the Democratic representative of District 8 (the seat currently held by Chris Van Hollen), from 1978-1987. During his stay on Capitol Hill, Bronrott worked for Congressional funding for Metro and other local issues, in addition to helping lead the fight against drunk driving.
A career of service
When Representative Barnes left office in 1987, Bronrott became a public relations and media consultant, which he still is. "The media sets the agenda for what the public perceives to be important, " he says. Politicians, he stresses, should find ways to engage the media.
In 1998, a seat opened up in the Maryland House of Delegates, and Bronrott "threw his hat into the ring. It's not something I ever planned," says Bronrott, "but it's been the thrill of a lifetime. It's a love affair. I continue to pinch myself."
As a child, Bronrott was extremely taken by President John F. Kennedy. "John F. Kennedy said, 'A torch is being passed on to a new generation,'" says Bronrott, "and I felt like putting my hand on that torch."
Bronnott's motivation in life is "to leave things a little better than I found them." "I think I've done it," he says. "I could probably stop today, knowing I've had a quarter-century of positive accomplishments that I never could have dreamed of."
Bronrott encourages people to become active in their community "in any big or small way. If everyone from Blair rolled up their sleeves and became involved, think of what we could do," he says.
Bronrott has been a vocal supporter of the "exciting and gratifying rebirth" of Silver Spring, "the center of many of our lives." Looking at Blair now, Bronrott says, it has "grown all for the better." Blair is "Montgomery County in miniature," he says.
When asked about future ambitions, Bronrott says his political career has never been part of a five- or ten-year plan. "I don't know where this will lead, if anywhere," he says, casually. "I'll just continue to serve."
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