STEFAN LEGGIN for MAYOR, Brentwood Maryland

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE

"I pledge to find common ground and common sense solutions to make your life better. My priority is you. "
- Stefan Leggin for Mayor

A NEW WAY FORWARD

Successful communities have a plan for the future. Leadership means setting clear priorities, identifying how to achieve those goals, and creating a framework of accountability. Leadership has a plan.

VALUES

Delivering outstanding public service to all our residents.
Transparency and accountability at all times.
Engaging residents in meaningful and productive ways.
Rebuilding and reimagining how government can meet the needs of residents.
Working collaboratively to define and shape Brentwood’s future.
Open and honest communication.
Prioritizing data, evidence and continuous improvement.
Ensuring openness, transparency, and accessibility.
Welcoming different perspectives in addressing challenges.
Becoming a regional model for environmental sustainability.

VISION

A safe and welcoming town that is a great place to live, work, play and do business.

MISSION

Creating a safer community.
Creating a more affordable community.
Investing in our children.
Supporting our seniors.
Reducing childhood poverty.
Setting students up for success.
Connecting residents to good-paying jobs.
Improving infrastructure.
Improving the health of our residents.
Making Brentwood a leader in clean energy and green purchasing.
Creating service opportunities.
Economic partnerships and development.

RESIDENT SUBMITTED FAQ's

🔹 1. What’s the biggest challenge our town is facing right now, and what would you do to tackle it in your first/next year as mayor? A. Overall, I think our biggest challenge is finding a way to financially support the services and programs that our residents deserve without raising the tax rate. We solve this through targeted grant applications, partnering with local municipalities and organizations, and attracting new businesses.

🔹 2. How do you plan to support smart growth in our town—bringing in new opportunities without losing the character that makes our community special? A. First we clean up and green up Rhode Island Avenue to attract the type of businesses that will support a high quality of life for our residents. In addition, we need to do more to support a car-less community, with a phased approach for 100% sidewalk coverage in residential areas, and covered shelters at high-use bus stops.

🔹 3. What would you have done differently if you had been mayor these past 10 years? A. I believe in data-driven, long-term planning that provides guidance and goals for how to grow a town. We have been fortunate to have talented Councilmembers who moved our town forward, absent any cohesive strategy, but I believe we would be in a better place today if we had a plan in place a decade ago.

🔹 4. How will you make sure residents have more of a say in important decisions that affect our town? A. Information sharing and community outreach. Residents don't have an opportunity to contribute if they don't know what's going on, and they shouldn't have to chase after information they need. A new communication strategy is needed that recognizes not everyone gets their information online, not everyone speaks English, and not everyone can read.

🔹 5. What’s your plan to help local businesses thrive—and to bring in new businesses that make sense for our town? A. One of the biggest roadblocks to new business in Brentwood is the mandatory parking minimums required by the County for new development. Until we get rid of those, we are handcuffed to the past. I will work with other municipal leaders to lobby our County Councilmembers to allow variances for the Gateway Arts District. In addition, I will clean up Rhode Island Avenue so we can start attracting businesses that enhance our community.

🔹 6. Roads, infrastructure, and utilities are always big topics. What’s your approach to maintaining and improving them? A. We begin by fixing the little things that are broken like sidewalks, potholes and storm drains, then we begin budgeting for big projects like road and gutter replacement. In addition, leadership needs to be an advocate for infrastructure by working with the utilities and the State to uphold their responsibilities to the Town.

🔹 7. How would you work to improve public safety and support for police, fire, and emergency services in our community? A. We begin by financially supporting our volunteer fire department and working with them to ensure they get the facility and apparatus support they need from the County. Our Brentwood police already receive a disproportionate amount of support in relation to our total budget, but I believe their work could be improved with the creation of a citizen-driven neighborhood watch and the addition of a Social Services Coordinator who would connect residents with resources available from the State, County and non-profits.

🔹 8. Our town budget is limited. What areas would you prioritize, and are there any areas you’d consider cutting or changing? A. Providing reliable public services would be a budget priority, which means spending money on the tools, equipment and technology that allow our staff to serve our residents better. In addition, I would pull from the existing police budget to create the position of Social Services Coordinator.

9. How will you make sure all parts of our town—and all groups of people—are treated fairly and feel heard? A. In many ways this goes back to question #4. Poor communication creates inequity and breeds distrust. Many communities inside Brentwood feel ignored and forgotten. Its important for leadership to regularly visit with residents and engage in meaningful conversations that create action and accountability. In addition, in the same way resources and opportunities need to be made equally available to everyone, the laws and policies of the Town need to be applied evenly.

🔹 10. Where do you see our town 5 or 10 years from now, and what would you do as mayor to help get us there? A. Great question! Successful communities have a plan for the future, and it is leadership's responsibility to create a cohesive, inclusive plan that relies on resident input, data and best practices. My website is full of short-term goals, but I encourage residents to participate in my "Community Conversations" which serve as a springboard to a larger, strategic plan for our town.