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Why am I running?
I am running because I care deeply about Smyrna, am proud of what we have accomplished and believe there is still important work to be done. As our community continues to grow, we must continue to address traffic and infrastructure, maintain strong public safety and Town services, and protect the quality of life our residents value. I believe my experience, proven record of fiscal responsibility, and relationships at the local, regional and state levels will help us meet these challenges.
About Me
I have proudly called Smyrna home my entire life. I began my career as a kindergarten teacher after earning three degrees from MTSU and later became a small business owner. My service to Smyrna has included serving as Councilmember, Vice Mayor and Mayor. I have served on numerous community and regional boards, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center and MTSU boards and committees. I currently chair the Greater Nashville Regional Council. My husband, Britt, and I have built our lives here, and I am the proud mother of my son, Parker Bell. Smyrna is home.
Under Smyrna’s form of government, the Mayor presides over the Town Council, votes on matters before the Council and fulfills the duties outlined in our Town Charter. Beyond these duties, I believe the Mayor must provide leadership, help establish a long-term vision and work collaboratively with the Council, Town Manager and staff. The Mayor should advocate for Smyrna with county, state, regional and federal partners, be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, and remain accessible and accountable to residents. Most importantly, the Mayor should listen, bring people together and make decisions that serve Smyrna today while preparing for our future.
Smyrna’s biggest challenge is managing our continued growth while making sure our infrastructure and Town services keep pace. Our growth is a sign that Smyrna remains a desirable place for people to live, work and invest, but our residents also experience its impact through traffic and increased demands on roads, utilities, public safety and other services. We must continue to consider not only individual developments, but their cumulative impact on our Town. The challenge is not simply whether Smyrna will grow, but how we will continue to manage this growth responsibly, maintain our financial strength, protect existing neighborhoods and preserve the quality of life our residents expect.
I would address this challenge by continuing to plan for growth and infrastructure together. Transportation must remain a top priority through continued investment in roads, intersections, traffic signals and new connections, while working with TDOT and regional partners on larger projects. We must continue to evaluate how new development affects traffic, utilities, public safety and surrounding neighborhoods, and ensure growth contributes appropriately to the infrastructure needs it creates. I will continue working with council on planning ahead for roads, utilities and Town services, pursuing outside funding, protecting Smyrna’s financial strength and listening to residents as we make decisions about our community’s future.
