Brian Bragdon Is A Candidate For Alderman
BY AMY ROSE, STAFF WRITER
Brian Bragdon of Rambling Court is a candidate for 2nd Ward alderman in Greeneville.
The election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1, but early voting is currently under way and will continue through Thursday, May 27.
Elections for the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen are conducted on a non-partisan basis. Candidates run for office as individuals rather than as party representatives.
Bragdon, 47, is the general transportation manager at Walmart Distribution Center at Midway. He has been with the company for 20 years, 15 of them as a general manager.
He is a native of Greeneville, and is divorced.
A 1981 graduate of Greeneville High School, he graduated with honors in 1985 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.
Bragdon served in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps as a captain from 1985 to 1990.
He served for three years as a member of the Greeneville Civil Service Board and is a former chairman of the Greeneville City Schools Foundation, of which he was a member for four years.
He is also a former and current member of the Greene County Partnership Board of Directors and worked with the Greene County Youth Community Action Team (Youth CAT) for six years.
Bragdon has served as a member of the Laughlin Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees for six years and is a former chairman of that board.
In addition, he was the United Way of Greene County Major Gifts chairman for two years, a member of the Keep Greene Beautiful board of directors for four years, and a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church Child Enrichment Center board for two years.
He served as a volunteer for the Greene County Chapter of the American Red Cross for six years, and is a former chairman of the chapter board.
He has served on the Laughlin Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees for six years and is a former chairman of the foundation board.
He noted that he is also a member of the Stoney Creek Cloggers, which performs at the Laughlin Heathcare and Signature nursing homes every month as a community service.
In 2004, Bragdon was named Volunteer of the Year for the Greene County Partnership Youth Programs.
He is a four-time winner of the Transportation Office of the Year award from Walmart Logistics, and is a graduate of the Leadership Greene County program.
He gave the following responses to questions asked of all five candidates for 2nd Ward alderman:
* Why are you a candidate for alderman?
Bragdon: "I want to help the citizens of the 2nd Ward and the Town of Greeneville by serving in a more active role for future of Greeneville. I enjoy helping people in any capacity. If elected to the position of alderman, I would be honored to serve the residents of Greeneville.
"My experience on the Town of Greeneville Civil Service Board was the catalyst for my desire to seek the office of alderman.
"Also, as a resident who was born and raised in the 2nd Ward and having spent three-fourths of my life in Greeneville, I have a strong interest in the future of Greeneville.
"In this election the voters certainly have choices for the 2nd Ward alderman position. I feel it is to the benefit of the town and the voters to have new candidates with new ideas and new leadership."
* What do you believe is the most important quality that an alderman needs in order to handle this complicated, many-faceted job? What in your background and experience do you believe best prepares you for this office?
Bragdon: "First and foremost I believe the most important quality of an alderman is to fulfill the resposibilities of the position with the utmost integrity.
"An elected official must be willing to leave their ego at the door while listening to their constituents in order to make informed, fair, and consistent decisions. I feel that I possess those traits.
"I consider myself a 'facilitator' when helping others. I cherish working through issues by listening to everyone involved in order to make a decision that takes all parties' input and recommendations into account.
"In all of my leadership positions and most especially in the past 15 years as a general transportation manager working with 300 associates, I have always practiced 'servant' leadership.
"My role has been and continues to be helping facilitate a positive environment for my associates so that I can help remove obstacles for them, thus allowing them to perform their roles to the best of their ability. That role would be the same as an alderman.
"Additionally, in my current position I have experiences in human resources and relations, maintenance, safety, and finance.
"My past and current experiences of serving in many organizations or boards as well as working in my position with my employer are indicative of my ability to handle many diverse roles and situations at the same time."
* Think 20 years into the future. How do you see Greeneville in 2030? Do you expect growth by "infilling" within the town limits? Do you anticipate a substantial amount of annexation around the current town limits?
Bragdon: "I beleive it should come from both.
"We should most certainly work to maximize the fact that Tennessee is the fourth most visited state in the nation and is among the top in locations for people to relocate.
"While working to help with 'infilling' with the town for businesses and residents, we must also consider responsible annexing that would benefit the annexed residents/businesses as well as be consistent with the town's long-term growth plans."
* In your opinion, should the Board of Mayor and Aldermen take any action concerning the controversial 2008 transfer of maintenance staff trom the Dept. of Parks & Recreation to the Dept. of Public Works? If so, what action should be taken? Please explain the reasons for your reply?
Bragdon: "Yes. In speaking with many citizens of the Town of Greeneville I feel this is an issue that many citizens would like to see put to rest.
"Since I am not currently an elected official, my knowledge of this situation is derived primarily from the media coverage. As a fellow citizen, I think it is time to be able to move forward from this controversy.
"If elected, I would immediately seek understanding from all parties involved, i.e., department heads, affected employees, the mayor, and fellow aldermen, to gain an understanding of the 'pro's' and 'con's' of the aforementioned transfer.
"With greater understanding and knowledge I am confident I would not be a part of this continual conflict and would seek to have resolution that would be in the best interest of the maintenance employees and the Town of Greeneville.
"We can't forget when we are discussing this issue that we are also talking about a group of dedicated employees for the Town of Greeneville."
* Within the last 10 years, have you been a business partner, property co-owner, etc., with any other candidate for mayor or alderman? If so, give the basic details. Would you see it as a problem for current or recent business partners to serve together on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen? Why or why not?
Bragdon: "No.
"I do not see it as a problem for current or recent business partners to serve together on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Anyone serving on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen must remember their obligations as an elected official by avoiding any potential conflicts in upholding their responsibilities of the elected position."
* Closing Highland School has been mentioned as a real possibility after the upcoming 2010-11 school year, to balance the school budget. What is your position on this question?
Bragdon: "Since I have not previously been a part of any meetings or discussions on the closing of Highland School, I would have to have more knowledge of the details prior to establishing a positon.
"I realize that a decision of this magnitude which involves the lives and children of many citizens would not be taken lightly and without all alternatives being explored first."
* What steps do you see as appropriate and needed in the Greeneville Historic District?
Bragdon: "There are many positive things that have occurred recently in the Greeneville Historic District.
"The historical signage that was placed in the downtown area as well as other locations in Greeneville are an outstanding way to atract people to the historical areas.
"In addition, the recently named 'Sunnyside Trail' that was established by the State of Tennnessee passes through the Historic District and highlights businesses and homes of signficant importance to our town.
"We must continue to maintain our historical perspective and promote tourism into this area as one of the means to help increase our tax revenues while being proud of our history."
* Are you comfortable with Greeneville's current level of long-term debt? Why or why not?
Bragdon: "It is important to note that through acquiring this long-term debt that our town was able to have improvements and facilities that we may not have been able to have otherwise at the time the debt was incurred. It is not uncommon for an organization or town the size of Greeneville to incur long-term debt in order to grow and prosper at a faster rate.
"The real difficulty comes with the cumulative amount or frequency of acquiring long'-term debt and the effect of interest payments and repayment of principal upon the current operation of the Town.
"It is my understanding that the long-term debt was acquired in 1999 and is in the amount of $25 million. That being the case, I would certainly not want our town to exceed this amount of long-term debt while we seek methods to pay down the principal and continue to provide for the current budgetary needs for the operation and future growth of the town."
* Unemployment has been very high during the past year, and while somewhat better now, is still around 15 percent. What, if anything, can the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen do to help employers keep jobs here, and help in attracting new jobs and employers?
Bragdon: "The economy as well as job retention and creation is at the top of any concerned citizen's list.
"This is an opportunity that affects every resident of Greeneville and Greene County. Everyone is aware that it is a very difficult time currently for small business, corporate America, and most citizens.
"We have suffered greater than many communities in Greeneville and Greene County.
"The creation and retention of jobs must be a top priority for the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen must work closely with local businesses, the Greene County Partnership's Economic Development team, County Mayor Alan Broyles, surrounding communities, state officials, and community members to seek solutions.
"The creation and retention of jobs must be a top priority for the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen must work closely with local businesses, the Greene County Partnership's Economic Development team, County Mayor Alan Broyles, surrounding communities, state officials, and community members to seek solutions.
"In seeking new business and industry to our county, there needs [to be] a concentrated and well-defined effort by all parties in recruiting. It has to be a total team effort!
"We must maximize the fact in our recruiting that Greeneville/Greene County is within a day's drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population.
"With diesel fuel prices being at such a high level, transportation costs are an important factor to many companies in their relocation plans. Therefore, our location is a positive factor relative to prospective corporations and should be part of the recruitment strategy.
"This is just one of the many factors that we need to assess in our strategy for the types of corporations and businesses we are recruiting.
"In terms of helping keep jobs here, the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldernen can work closely with local business and industry to seek positive approaches in areas where the local government can assist to help keep or increase jobs.
"Another area closely related to this subject is in leakage outside the city/county. It leads to job loss and tax revenue reduction for our city and county.
"I saw recently where a county close to Greene County conducted a survey of their residents to determine the reasons they went outside their county to purchase services and goods.
"I propose that a similar study would be beneficial to our city and county to give us a complete understanding of our primary areas of focus for job retention, job growth, and tax revenue increase.
"We need to collectively leave no stone unturned when approaching these issues."
* If you wish to comment on something not covered in a question, please feel free to do so.