George Brown: Leading Wilkes-Barre Forward

When George C. Brown was sworn in as mayor of Wilkes-Barre in January 2020, few could have predicted the challenges ahead. Five years later, Brown is shaping a record defined by infrastructure improvements, public safety initiatives, and steady leadership.

A lifelong resident, Brown built his career in business and on city council before becoming mayor. He campaigned on safer neighborhoods, economic growth, and celebrating the city’s diversity, and those promises have steadily translated into results.

His second term, secured in 2025 with a landslide victory, has given him the chance to push further.

Brown has overseen the creation of a bicycle patrol unit and a new K-9 team to expand community policing. His administration invested in the fire department, securing a new fire engine and upgrading equipment. He also delivered key infrastructure wins, including $1.1 million in renovations to the Brookside Levee along Mill Creek and $250,000 for the Hazle Street retaining wall.

City parks have seen upgrades as well. Kirby Park now features ADA-accessible walkways, a new maintenance facility, improvements to the pond pier, and a renovated entrance and parking lot.

Even with these investments, Brown has emphasized fiscal discipline. Despite revenue pressures, he has delivered balanced budgets without raising taxes or fees, relying on grants, tighter controls, and careful management of overtime.

Brown stresses partnership with residents and transparency in decision-making. He has made public engagement a priority on issues such as the city’s sewer system, holding meetings and putting out requests for proposals to ensure accountability.

He also works to build civic pride in symbolic ways, such as proclaiming May 7 as “570 Day” to highlight local identity and encourage support for businesses and community life.

For Brown, governing Wilkes-Barre is about more than balancing books and paving streets. It is about showing that a city with a proud history can also have a strong, sustainable future.