For Brandon “Cody” Newman, the path back to Hubbard was never really a question of if — only when. Long before he filed to run for city council, Newman was a regular presence in town, a child spending summers with his grandmother, building memories that would quietly shape the course of his life.
“I was up here a lot during the summer,” Newman said, recalling days at the local swimming pool and meals at the now-closed Country Kitchen. “It was so good — the burgers, the fried steak, everything.” Those memories, rooted in family and small-town rhythms, would take on deeper meaning years later.
Newman’s ties to Hubbard stretch back generations. His ancestors settled in the area in the late 1800s, and much of his family history is woven into the town itself — from relatives buried in the local cemetery, to a home built by his family in 1936 that he now owns. “Hubbard has always truly felt like ‘home’ to me,” he said.
But the story that ultimately shaped Newman’s direction — and now his candidacy — came during his teenage years. When he was 15, Newman’s mother died, a loss that forced him into adulthood quickly. Within days, he had started his first job, balancing work, school, and responsibilities while still processing grief.
“The whole bottom line was I wanted to do something that would make a difference,” he said. “I wanted to be able to help people so someone wouldn’t have to go through something like I did.”
That decision led him into a career in fire and emergency medical services, where he began training as a teenager and eventually built a decades-long career. Newman said he earned multiple certifications through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and worked in both EMS and fire service before retiring at 43. Today, he still works part-time in EMS, commuting to Fort Worth for inter-facility transfers.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped daily life, Newman and his family made what he describes as an “easy decision” — to leave China Spring and move permanently to Hubbard. The move, he said, was about more than geography. It was about returning to a place that felt familiar, steady, and connected — a contrast to the rapid growth he had seen elsewhere. Since then, the family has invested heavily in restoring their nearly century-old home, a commitment Newman says reflects their intention to stay. “We’ve invested into this community … and have no plans on moving,” he said.
Now, as Hubbard faces potential growth and outside investment — including a proposed data center project that could bring millions of dollars into the community — Newman said he wants to help ensure the town grows carefully and responsibly. “They’re going to infuse $50 million. That is life-changing for our community,” he said. “I just want to make sure it’s spent appropriately.” While he acknowledged uncertainty about the long-term effects of such development, Newman said he believes the focus should remain on practical improvements and fiscal responsibility. That includes infrastructure decisions already underway, such as road work tied to water system upgrades. “It would not be very prudent of us to spend money fixing roads when we are about to tear them up,” he said, referring to the water line replacement project.
For Newman, the campaign is less about politics and more about representation. Describing himself as “an everyday guy,” he said his goal is simple: to reflect the concerns of residents who, like him, have chosen to invest their lives in Hubbard. “With everything happening in and around Hubbard,” he said, “I want to be the voice that represents you.”
Newman is one of five candidates on the ballot for Hubbard City Council. Incumbents Kenneth Baldwin, Simone Johnson, and Wayne Taylor are seeking re-election, while Newman and fellow newcomer Carol Brim are challenging for a seat. Election Day is Saturday, May 2, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hubbard Civic Center.