Election Day dawns; Mother's Day not far behind

It’s finally here! Brentwood Election Day 2009.
If you haven’t voted and are registered, please help mold the city’s future by taking advantage of your right to help select those who govern you. Remember that this is not a partisan race and whoever is elected represents the city, the entire city. We are blessed with a fine group of candidates, incumbents and newcomers to the political process alike.
The polls, located throughout the city, are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Check this spot throughout the day for updates and news from around the city. And if you see or hear something interesting or funny or otherwise newsworthy, please comment and share.

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Last week’s post about Brentwood’s role in the Wooded Rapist arrest and subsequent first Davidson County conviction included information about the city’s Rape Aggression Defense class for women.
Brentwood Police Department’s Community Resource Officer Mark Wood has let me know that the next RAD class will begin Monday, June 1, and run through Thursday, June 4, from 6-9 p.m. It will be held at the Brentwood Safety Center East, 1300 Sunset Road, which gives east Brentwood residents a chance to participate without having to come all the way into the city’s Maryland Farms Municipal Building.
Former Williamson A.M. columnist Jill Burgin commented on the previous post that she took the class about two years ago “and I would recommend it to every female I know.
“There was a mom taking the class with her teenage daughter because she said she wanted her daughter to be prepared for any situation she might encounter in college and beyond. I cannot say enough good things about the Brentwood officers who led our class.”
Sounds like a great Mother’s Day present to me – registering Mom and daughter(s) age 13 and over to take the class together.
For more information, call Officer Wood at 371-2267 or email him at woodm@brentwood-tn.org.

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The news about Brentwood’s Planning and Codes Director Joe Lassus’ post-surgery progress continues to be uplifting.
He got to go home Sunday – two days after his operation to remove a brain tumor. While he still has trouble with his speech, City Manager Mike Walker reported Monday, “the pressure in his brain has been relieved and he has improved control over use of his right hand for eating and writing. The stitches will be removed on Friday. They will not know if the tumor is malignant for 10 days (from this past Friday).”
“Ironically, Joe broke a tooth Sunday at the hospital. When he arrived home, (his wife) Naomi called his dentist, Dr. Gilliam who allowed Joe to come to the office on Sunday night where he did the needed repair. Wow – I am impressed,” Mike writes. “Needless to say, we live in a great, caring community!”

Let's vote ... for Jesse Lee

Gotcha on the headline I hope. You thought I was writing ... again ... on the Brentwood City Commission race. Well, have you voted? Thursday's the last day to vote early. The Big Day is next Tuesday, with 10 polling spots open from 7-7 so you have no excuses.
But forget politics for a while. Let's talk country music. Specifically Jesse Lee.
Brentwood has its share of country music divas that call it home, think Dolly and Carrie. Hopefully it's about to have a new one.
Jesse Lee is the first country artist Atlantic Records signed in over a decade. Her first single, "It's A Girl Thing" is out and her first album is due in the fall.
How did I learn about her? At the last California Girls gathering way too long ago. (The California Girls is the disparate group of mostly Brentwood women who have all lived in California at one time or other and gather occasionally for fun times.) Jesse's mom Pegi Levin brought her along and once we heard Jesse's story, we talked her into singing for us. A fan club was instantly formed.
Want to join the club too? It's easy. Check out her video at CMT.com or www.myspace/jesselee. Read her bio at www.gactv.com, on the Artists page. And while you're there, be sure to vote for her video to return to GAC's Top 20. Just scroll down until you see Fan Zone and hit 'Vote for Videos.' You can vote once a day.
Why do I like her so much? Guess "It's a Girl Thing"

"We love romance, and candlelight/ You like a cold beer, we like a fine wine/ You hardly talk, we can talk all night/ You wanna fix it, we just wanna cry/ It's a girl thing."

-- Jesse Lee

Coming up: Plans for the new children's library, a visit to The Perch and more.

1,007 votes and counting

How convenient! You can vote for up to four of your favorite Brentwood City Commission candidates and pick up a slew of summer reading material all at the same time this weekend.
According to the Williamson County Election Commission, 1007 Brentwood citizens had cast votes either by mail or at early voting stations through Thursday. With five days left to vote early and our official Election Day on May 5 ahead, I'm hopeful we can at least reach 5,000.
Tell you what: I'll call five of my friends and you call five of your friends who can call five of their friends to remind all who are registered to be sure to vote. Better yet, let's make it 10. These don't have to be campaign calls, in fact, we don't even have to mention the candidates. We just need to remind everyone that each voter can cast up to four votes and how important it is that all Brentwood residents -- old-timers, newcomers, seniors of both the mature and high school variety, young professionals and longtime business people -- are represented in the election. Remember, our population is inching close to 36,000; expecting 5,000 votes is not too much to hope for.
And as we clearly learned in 2007, each vote counts.
In the last city election, candidates Betsy Crossley and Paul Ross each received 1,740 votes, resulting in a costly runoff. I can't count the number of people I talked to afterward who said, "I really like Betsy and meant to vote," or "I told Paul I'd vote for him but never made it to the polls." All said they regretted not making the effort.
Early voting continues at the Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, and the city's Municipal Building today untl 6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon, and next Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. If you work in Franklin, ballots can also be cast at the Williamson County Election Commission Office, 1320 West Main Street, Suite 140.
And since the Friends of the Brentwood Library's book sale is ongoing today until 5 and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (when everything's half price!) it's a great opportunity to shop and vote at the same time.