We were once called Small Town USA — chosen from every community in America as the true heart of this nation. That wasn't an accident. It was who we are. And it still is. It's time we started acting like it.
"I've spent my whole life serving this community — my family, my business, my church, my neighbors. Being Mayor is simply the next chapter of the same story."— Brian Donahue
Brian Donahue didn't come from somewhere else with a plan to change things. He was born and raised right here. He walked the same halls at Alexandria-Monroe High School (Class of 1983) that your kids and grandkids walk today. He's worshipped at Saint Mary Church his entire life. He married his college sweetheart — Melissa "Missy" — and they've built a beautiful life here together for over 35 years. They raised four daughters in Alexandria, and now have a grandson who represents the next generation of a family that has never left.
The name Donahue has meant something in Madison County since 1938. Brian's grandfather started Donahue Gas as a small propane company serving rural Central Indiana families. His father grew it. And Brian took the torch from the second generation and built it into a regional business serving more than 2,000 families across more than a dozen Indiana counties — always with the same philosophy: be reliable, be honest, show up.
Running a third-generation, family-owned business for decades teaches you things no classroom can. You learn how to make payroll when times are lean. You learn what it means when a family calls at 2 a.m. in January because their heat is out. You learn that your reputation is the only thing you really own — and that you build it one kept promise at a time.
Brian didn't start caring about Alexandria when he decided to run for Mayor. His community service record speaks for itself:
Brian is at a point in life where most people are thinking about slowing down. Instead, he's choosing to give back. As he transitions from running Donahue Gas, he sees an opportunity — and frankly, a responsibility — to bring that same level of accountability, vision, and genuine care to the City of Alexandria. Not because it's convenient. Because it needs to be done, and he believes he can do it.
"Alexandria gave everything to my family. It raised us, supported our business, and gave us a community worth raising our children in. I'm not running for Mayor for me — I'm running because I want every family in this city to have what we had. And I believe we can get there. Together."— Brian Donahue
Our neighbors deserve straight talk. Brian doesn't believe in pretending problems don't exist — that's exactly how we got here. He also doesn't believe in tearing people down. Many who served our city did so out of genuine love for this community. But love for a place and the skills needed to lead it aren't always the same thing. Here is where we are, honestly — and where Brian commits to taking us.
In 2025, Alexandria families experienced E. coli contamination in the water supply. A child was hospitalized. Questions remain about chlorine levels, transparency of city records, and a $2.3 million spend on engineering for a $1 million road project. Our families deserve safe water and honest answers.
Immediate third-party infrastructure audit. Public monthly water quality reporting. Competitive bidding standards enforced. Full transparency on how every utility dollar is spent. Safe water is not a political issue — it is a basic promise to every resident.
Citizens have raised legitimate questions about spending practices — including engineering contracts spread across multiple fund accounts in ways that make costs hard to trace. An internal audit has not been completed. Residents have a right to know where their tax dollars go.
Annual independent audits published online. A citizen budget advisory board. Simple, readable spending summaries delivered to every household. Brian has managed a business budget for 30+ years — he knows what accountability looks like.
The exodus of GM jobs in the mid-1980s hit Alexandria hard and never fully recovered. Historic downtown buildings have been lost. Slum-lord owned housing fell into disrepair for decades, suppressing home values and community pride. Progress on economic development has been minimal.
Recruit small business, not just chase big employers. Leverage the "Small Town USA" brand to attract heritage tourism. Use available state and federal grants aggressively. Create a real downtown revitalization plan with business owners, not just consultants.
Over 100 dilapidated homes have been torn down in the past 15 years — a start, but not a finish. Remaining problem properties continue to drag down neighboring home values and neighborhood confidence. Attracting new residents requires more than just removal — it requires rebuilding pride.
Code enforcement that is consistent, fair, and proactive. Programs to support homeowners in making improvements. Partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and Indiana housing programs. A city that looks like it cares — because it does.
There are residents on social media who are angry. Some have been labeled as troublemakers. Brian sees something different: neighbors who care deeply enough about Alexandria to fight for it. That's not a problem — that's exactly the kind of energy a healthy community needs. Brian doesn't want to silence those voices. He wants to give them something real to work toward.
You were right to ask questions. Safe water is a non-negotiable. Brian commits to the transparency and independent testing that should have happened from day one.
Questioning how public money is spent is not attacking the city — it's protecting it. Brian will make financial transparency a cornerstone of his administration.
Every resident deserves a Mayor who answers questions, holds open meetings, and doesn't confuse silence with leadership. Brian will show up — even to the hard conversations.
"In 1943, the entire United States government looked at thousands of American towns and said: Alexandria, Indiana — that's what we're fighting for. That character still lives here. Our job is to live up to it."
Transparent finances. Open meetings. A Mayor who answers the phone and tells you the truth — even when it's hard. Government that earns trust by showing its work.
We don't need to wait for a big company to save us. Alexandria has entrepreneurs, a rich heritage, and a location that connects to everywhere. Let's use what we have.
Families choose where to live based on how a place feels. Safe streets, well-kept homes, good parks, and community pride are not luxuries — they are what we owe every resident.
Alexandria doesn't need to be saved by someone from somewhere else. We don't need to reinvent who we are. We need leadership that believes in this place as much as the people who never left it — and is willing to do the actual work of making it everything it can be. That's what Brian Donahue is offering. Not a slogan. A commitment.
A town chosen by the United States government as the image of America itself. Home to the Gaither Music Company — Bill and Gloria Gaither's gospel legacy. The World's Largest Ball of Paint. A history built on glass, gas, and the grit of families who stayed. This is not an ordinary place. Let's stop treating it like one.
Chosen by the US Office of War Information in 1943 as the true image of American life
Home of the Gaither Music Company and Bill & Gloria Gaither's extraordinary legacy
The World's Largest Ball of Paint — a quirky, beloved symbol of creative community spirit
Deep roots in faith communities that have served as the backbone of Alexandria for generations
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Brian believes the most important conversations happen neighbor to neighbor — not in soundbites. Submit your question privately. Brian reads every one personally and publishes thoughtful responses below for the whole community to see.
This isn't a comment section and it isn't a debate stage. It's a genuine conversation. Brian will answer honestly — even the tough questions — because that's what Alexandria deserves from its next Mayor.
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