Jane Birdwell: A Focus on Local Government Transparency

Jane Birdwell, Vice Mayor of Goodlettsville, Ten., has made it her mission to help people become more aware about what’s going on in their local governments.

Birdwell is one of many who are trying to make a difference in their home town by working through the local government. She recently attended an American Majority New Leaders Campaign Training in Goodlettsville Ten., and was affirmed in her grassroots goals by the training provided. She believes that people must be involved in order to keep up on issues that affect them and can affect change if and when they see fit.

“It’s so important for people to pay attention to what’s going and not wait to be surprised,” encourages Birdwell. “Speak up, and don’t think you can’t fight city hall because you can.”

Having held various government positions for nearly 15 years, Birdwell was prepared to step up to the plate and run for commissioner, and later vice mayor, in Goodlettsville four years ago. “I had a strong feel for how the government operated, what should happen and what shouldn’t, and the lack of communication at the local level.”

Birdwell had seen, firsthand, how various leaders in her local government were failing to provide the various pieces of information that the public wanted in order to be informed on votes. Finally, Birdwell had had enough. “Three years ago, the candidates that were running were totally wrong for the city, and I felt like I had to step up and get elected.”

And step up she did. Birdwell believes that it was her lack of experience that allowed her to succeed. “My husband, daughter, and I went out door-knocking.” Without an extensive campaign strategy, Birdwell operated off of the basics – talking to people face-to-face – and she ran an effective grassroots campaign, telling people what she was trying to do, and asking them directly to vote for her.

Once Birdwell was elected, she wasted no time in trying to solve the communication problems that she saw between local citizens and their local government. In fact, as soon as she identified the problem – lack of proper record keeping, no effort being made to get information out, etc. she and other commissioners were able to make change happen. “I try to keep the people informed. I try to always be open to them, provide them with the information they need to make decisions and immediately respond to their problems.”

After attending a American Majority New Leaders Campaign Training last weekend, she was pleased with the stress that American Majority places on grassroots organization. She now knows that she’s on the right track.

“The biggest thing was you gotta get out and meet the people.”