If you’ve been to the Virginia Motor Vehicle Department’s Woodbridge office, you’ve probably seen it.
He would be there in rain, sunshine or snow, in his six-button suit with a bow tie – The Temptations look.
It was maybe just a polite request about registering for the vote or voting and just a tiny spot on your radar.
That man was Al Brooks. Brooks died earlier this year, aged 77, and community leaders met in late July to remember his influence on Prince William County politics.
It may be difficult for someone who has never met the man to put into words his impact on the community, but the best way is to speak to those who consider him family.
His friends described Brooks in terms such as “a legend”, “an icon”, “a man of integrity” and “the ultimate inspirer”.
“He was a guy who would help anyone,” said Margie Oden, who worked with Brooks on the local Democratic Party. “He always helped people, regardless of whether they were rich, poor or what. If it was necessary, he would help. “
Brooks was born in Tabor City, NC, but grew up primarily in Buffalo, NY. His life brought him in touch with the big names in history – Thurgood Marshall, Malcolm X and A. Phillip Randolph.
Brooks was a passionate advocate of people of color. As those who knew him would say, Brooks was determined to put at least one colored person on every local government body elected or appointed.
“His absence is palpable now,” said Sandra “Quennie” McLean, a former board member of the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District. “I don’t even know what the DMV will look like at election time without Al and his group there.”
Brooks has been heavily involved in local democratic politics, with elected officials and colleagues directly helping turn Prince William County blue.
In 2008, Barack Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon B. Johnson, who ran for Prince William County in 1968. Since then, Democratic candidates have voted the county in the three elections.
Ann Wheeler, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board, became the first female Democrat to take over the district seat since Kathleen Seefeldt in 1999.
Wheeler won the 2019 election along with overseers Kenny Boddye (Occoquan) and Andrea Bailey (Potomac), who ousted Republican incumbents and handed control of the board to the Democrats.
Supervisor Victor Angry, D-Neabsco won a special election in 2019 to become Prince William County’s first black supervisor.
After the 2019 elections, 12 of the 22 elected offices at district level were occupied by colored people.
Brooks’ work didn’t just extend to the board of directors. McLean is a great example as she was the first black member of the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District’s board of directors.
As an often overlooked elected office, the Conservation District develops programs that focus on conserving resources, preventing flooding and erosion, and water quality.
“He always pulled me aside and said, ‘Queenie, you’ve got something. People will follow you. They will listen to you, ‘”said McLean.
McLean’s nickname is Queenie and she wasn’t sure she would use it on the ballot, even though most people knew her as Queenie.
“Al pulled me aside and said, ‘People are following Queenie. So you have to have that name there, ”she said.
Brooks paced back and forth at the DMV, grabbing people and asking if they’d signed up to vote. He had a car full of teaching materials and was a mainstay for years.
Supervisor Margaret Franklin, D-Woodbridge, who won her seat in a 2019 primary, said Brooks outperformed “all of us” in public relations.
“He was like a mentor to many people in the party, especially those running for office,” Franklin said. “His only intention was to attract more colored people.”
Oden, Brooks, and Mike Bizek worked as a trio “down in the trenches,” with Bizek addressing residents, Oden doing business and Brooks working the DMV.
“He knew how to get in touch with the right people to get what he needed,” said Oden. “Everything he wanted to do, he did.”
Brooks was not in the mood for elected positions and was more passionate about getting others to sit at the table.
“He stressed that we all have to sit at the table or support those who are running for office so they can take our voices to the table,” said McLean.
Another colleague, former Dumfries Alderman Willie J. Toney, said Brooks is “committed to social change to bring justice to the county.
“He talked about taking a seat at the table a lot,” Toney said. “When we first came here, this county did not reflect the population.”
Brooks leaves behind his wife Barbara and several children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bizek said it was always important to “follow the path of Al Brooks”. Bizek never heard Brooks swear and saw how he loved his family.
“He was very passionate. He was very loving, very knowledgeable, ”said Bizek. “I fight for all people who are good, and that’s what Al taught us.
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