Albert Lea 6th Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks is hoping to draw on his experience in elected office as he runs for another four-year term.

Brooks, 59, will come up against United Employees Credit Union President Matt Maras in the Nov. 4 general election.

Brooks resides at 1402 Academy Ave., with his wife, Brenda. The couple has three children and six grandchildren.

He said he has lived in Albert Lea since he was 5 when he moved to town with his family for his father’s job.

He purchased Brooks Safety Equipment, a family-owned business that services and sells portable fire equipment, in 1994, and was first elected to the Albert Lea City Council in 1998.

This November, he will seek his fifth term in office.

Though some people question whether he has spent too long in office, he said he thinks his experience makes him a good candidate.

“I realize that sometimes people think that somebody new is a good idea at times, but I feel that experience matters as long as you have the willingness to move forward and accept change in the community,” Brooks said.

He said during his time in office he has worked with 15 different councilors, eight mayors and five city managers and knows how to make tough decisions. He noted that people who know him well know that he makes decisions with both his mind and heart and that he gives genuine answers when people ask questions.

“That’s the biggest quality about me,” Brooks said. “When I say it, I mean it.”

Looking back over his last term, he said he is pleased to see the Fountain Lake dredging project move ahead and thinks the downtown Broadway reconstruction turned out well. However, he noted he still thinks the entire cost of the downtown project was a little more than what he had hoped for.

He said while he agreed the city infrastructure needed to be upgraded, he voted against the project because of the cost.

“If I did it today, I’d still vote the same,” he said.

In addition, he is pleased with the renovations at the Albert Lea Municipal Airport in the last few years.

Looking ahead, Brooks said infrastructure and housing concerns lead his priorities for the 6th Ward.

Because a portion of his ward lives on Albert Lea Lake, he is also concerned that this lake becomes dredged. He said he will do whatever he can to encourage local and state officials to make it happen.

He said he wanted people to know that he will continue listening to their concerns and looks forward to meeting with more people while he knocks on doors for his campaign.

As a councilor, Brooks serves on the Albert Lea Port Authority and the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau board.