Candidate Profile as shown on Brentwood Home Page

By SUSAN LEATHERS

Brentwood Home Page
In addition to its family-friendly environment, Brentwood City Commission candidate Brenda Lehman loves living “in a progressive city with a proud history” that offers plenty of opportunities for residents and non-residents alike.

“I desire to offer a new voice on the commission and dedicate my time and talent to the city and its residents,” said Lehman, a 27-year resident of her candidacy. “I want to use my knowledge as a small business owner and the training and skill sets I have acquired as a successful business owner / attorney in Brentwood to benefit our community.

“I believe it is essential to get ‘all the facts’ and weigh all of the options in order to make the best choice despite how difficult the process and decisions,” she continued. “I can do that for our community.”

Asked what one thing would like to change or influence if elected, she replied she wanted to be extremely accessible to and communicative with constituents. She said she would “strive to provide them with as many of the facts on the issues as possible” so that they, in turn, could provide informed opinions to their elected officials “thus making it possible for the best decisions, the right decisions to be made for our community.”

Asked to rank five issues facing the city in order of importance, Lehman replied that all of the issues are “important, intertwined and affect one another in some way.”

On senior housing, she said would encourage viable options for both “our senior citizens and our young adults (smaller home in a sustainable development) located within Brentwood. Too often older residents are forced to relocate because they are unable to afford or maintain the large single-family home/lot.

“When our elder residents (are) moving out of Brentwood we lose a viable aspect of our tax base and valuable access to their expertise as involved citizens in our community. … The same is true for our college graduates who desire to move back to their community.

“If we do not address these needs ... then what type of community are we designing for Brentwood’s future?” she stated. She noted she believes it is important to maintain existing zoning and find ways to work within those codes to address these needs.

Regarding traffic and transportation, Lehman said traffic is “always an issue in any active healthy city” but noted that viable alternatives to help alleviate the one-person, one-car commuter model are needed. “I am committed to bringing solutions to the table.”

While she wants to maintain the city’s low property tax rate, Lehman said the city “attract and encourage revenue through cutting-edge economic development ideas and utilization of our commercially zoned spaces to their fullest extent.”

Asked how she envisions the city looking in the 2020, she stated she sees “a steady, strong, and forward thinking city government that is fiscally responsible.” That includes a thriving Town Center area with shops, sidewalk cafés, culture venues, condominiums, commerce, office space, and other amenities.”

Traffic congestion will have been minimized as “technology allows more people to work from home and economic development in Brentwood offers work and play opportunities closer to home,” she stated. She added that she sees public transportation options such as commuter rail and bus service providing transportation across Brentwood from outlying counties, and that the city’s bikeways /greenways will connect all areas of the city to “allow safe travel by bicycle  ... encouraging a healthier means of transportation.”