Community Impact Newspaper sent Bradford a list of questions about his candidacy. This article is part of ongoing May 4 election coverage and does not constitute an endorsement of the candidate. His responses below have been edited for publication style.
Why are you running for a Plano City Council seat?
After serving 28 years in the U.S. Army for this great nation, I would love to continue my service in the city of Plano. This position requires someone who is strategic, a visionary and who listens in order to further economic development and growth in Plano.
What are your qualifications for seeking this office?
- I earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University while stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 2009.
2. I have extensive knowledge in budgeting, risk mitigation and quality assurance.
3. I possess a comprehensive background in operations management and program management derived from conducting domestic and global operations in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
If elected, what would your top priorities be?
Transportation—Transportation needs are growing as rapidly as our regional population. I support innovative technology and solutions to mobility, as well as adequate investment in the maintenance and enhancements of our current transportation system. I will continue to advocate for local control in transportation planning.
Improving access to mental health care—I think it is imperative we continue to improve our methods and support for programs that assist the mentally ill citizens in our city. By increasing awareness and visibility, the stigma of this particular issue will be negated. This will then allow for these people to receive the necessary help to improve their quality of life, keep families and communities safe.
Housing—If elected, I want to work with the support and advice of the Plano community in the development of a comprehensive long-range housing strategy. This strategy, which can be designed neighborhood by neighborhood, will enable us to project and determine population growth. Outlining our future growth and determining how much growth we want will enable city staff and consultants to design the most efficient and adequate systems to serve our city while maintaining our quality of life.
If elected, would you generally support or oppose rezoning requests that include multifamily residential options, such as apartments?
I would generally support rezoning requests that included multifamily homes. The reality is a large share of the homes in Plano are 25-30 years old. They will require more maintenance than usual; however, with an aging population that could be challenging. Again, this is information I have received from people that live in these communities.
