GOP Williamson County Commission candidates talk growth, endorsements and duties

The Williamson County Republican party held its second County Commission candidate forum on April 21 ahead of the local primary election.

Candidates from Districts 1, 8, 10 and 11 — areas with three or more candidates slotted to appear on the primary ballot — were invited to answer questions posed by WAKM radio host Tom Lawrence and Williamson Herald publisher Derby Jones.

Who were the candidates?

The second forum of the month drew a new batch of County Commission incumbents and new candidates including the following:

District 1: Lisa Lenox (candidates Ricky Jones and Scott Lucas did not attend)

District 8: (candidates Jerry Rainey, Barb Sturgeon and Drew Torres did not attend)

District 10: Meghan Guffee, David Landrum, Bradley Diaz

District 11: Sean Aiello, Brian Beathard, Wayne Garrett

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The influence of local PACs

To start off the night, candidates were asked about Moms for Liberty and its affiliated PAC Williamson Families.

"I'm proud to say I'm endorsed by Williamson Families," District 1 candidate Lisa Lenox said. "I'm a Christian, I'm a conservative and they did put us through a very detailed vetting process and they wanted to know who I am and what I stand for.

"I have not to date taken any money from them, but I am endorsed."

Candidates Wayne Garrett and Bradley Diaz confirmed they were endorsees.

The group's endorsees said they respected the PAC's drive to vet them and other new candidates.

The incumbents said they had not been reached out to by Williamson Families. Incumbents Meghan Guffee, David Landrum, Sean Aiello and Brian Beathard were recently endorsed by the Sargent Legacy Fund, a PAC formed by the supporters of the late state Rep. Charles Sargent.

"I also am a Christian conservative with family values, so I wish I had had the chance to have coffee with some of the leadership," Beathard said. "They seem to have gone straight to tribalism, straight to the other side is bad and we're the only good side."

Tom Lawrence asked candidates whether supporters will influence how candidate vote once they are elected.

"I would accept (a call) regardless of who it was because that transparency is vital to me," Diaz said. "It doesn't matter who is calling or what they're asking, it doesn't mean I'm going to make my decision based off of who they are.

"There's only one decision in all that, and it's to trust your heart and do what is right."

County Commission versus school board

Candidates were asked to prove their knowledge of the difference between the County Commission and the county's Board of Education.

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While the County Commission approves funding for local schools, they do not make policy decisions or have the power to approve or deny items on a budget.

"The budget is the main concern of the County Commission," Guffee said. "We've had many incredible leaders who put a focus on how much of the county budget they want to be allocated to the county schools... I think it's important for us to be fiscally conservative to continue that work of those that came before us."

Despite the lack of jurisdiction over school policy matters, Wayne Garrett said his platform includes ensuring curriculum "is void of racializing or sexualizing students."

"As a commissioner, I have certain responsibilities, but as taxpayer and resident there are things on my heart and you'll hear me talk about those," he said.

The status of smart growth

"Smart growth" has been a topic of interest across the county for years.

Beathard believes the phrase has different definitions for different people, but that it should be one thing for the coming years.

"What I think Smart Growth is going to mean in the future is the commission working with municipalities in the county. They have their own planning commissions, their own building standards," he said. "What I'm dedicated to is working with the municipalities to make sure we're on the same page."

Incumbent Sean Aiello said he looks forward to facilitating a change in regulations surrounding how the county works with municipalities.

"The handshake deals that we have with the city are good and we have a good working relationship, but we don't have a lot of clout," he said. "Maybe that takes some talking with the state legislature to change the dynamics and to give us more tools in our tool chest to better direct growth."

Past discussions around how to appropriately address rapid growth ultimately led to the Williamson 2040 plan approved in 2020. This plan approved the downzoning of some unincorporated rural areas from one unit per acre to one unit per five acres.

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"One of the hardest votes I've had since I've been (on the commission) was the one house per five acres because I'm a real property rights guy," Landrum said. "But at the same time if you drive through and see the rural aspect... to get to see that is important."

For the full forum recording, visit Williamson County's channel on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQHmFv9rPRY&t=4707s.

Anika Exum is a reporter covering Williamson County at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network — Tennessee. Reach her at aexum@tennessean.com, 615-347-7313 or on Twitter @aniexum.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: GOP Williamson County Commission candidates talk growth, endorsements