READ THE NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE'S 2007 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES
Click Here to read both candidates' responses to the NNA's 2007 Election Year Task Force Candidate Questionnaire for District 31.
THE TENNESSEAN ENDORSES FABIAN
Click Here to see the TENNESSEAN's endorsement of Fabian Bedne.
READ THE TENNESSEAN ARTICLE ABOUT TRAFFIC IN DISTRICT 31
Click here to read the July 8th Tennessean article about how growth impacts traffic in District 31. "The biggest problem on both Nolensville Road and Old Hickory Boulevard is traffic volume," Metro Transportation Manager Bob Weithofer said. "What we wanted to do is find things that can be done relatively quickly and inexpensively to address some of these accident patterns," Weithofer said. "But the problems at these intersections are related to having too much traffic for the size of the intersection."
READ THE TENNESSEAN ARTICLE ABOUT FABIAN
Click here to read the June 20th Tennessean article about Fabian and his campaign for District 31's Metro Council seat.
SEE FABIAN ON QUE PASA NASHVILLE
Click here to watch Fabian on Que Pasa Nashville discussing his involvement with the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Democrats.
FROM FABIAN...
Dear friends and neighbors:
When I am elected to Metro Council, I pledge to listen and serve the community. I will not allow outsiders to dictate what is to be done in terms of development, the environment, education or safety.
I will never lose sight that my decisions as a council member affect the quality of life of my neighbors and my family.
I pledge to be representative and accountable, and will enable inclusive and effective participation by neighbors and organizations. I will listen to your needs, and become an effective partner between government and our community. I will be proactive and engage developers, city, state and federal agencies as well as neighbors early in the process seeking fast resolution and agreement on issues that concern us all. I will work to develop more immediate and efficient ways of making each neighbor aware of the issues impacting them early on, so they can be a part of the solution.
I will put my years of experience in the architectural and city planning fields to create the kind of development that our district needs. The short-term gains of unrestrained development always come at the price of a diminished quality of life. I will first and foremost consider the implications and changes to the lifestyle we have come to enjoy. I believe in smart growth, which should be balanced and sustainable.
I will not lose sight of what makes our district unique - knowing the people next door, watching our kids play together in the cul de sacs, going for a walk in the woods, pushing strollers around the neighborhood, riding a bicycle -all this without having to get in our cars. Our small business owners are also our neighbors. We have unique shops and services that provide cultural awareness and support. We appreciate being able to drive to work without a long commute. Our community schools provide us with opportunities to share our resources. Our schools work with businesses and community supports to showcase our neighborhood and our children.
Our sense of community. Our beautiful neighborhoods. Children and parents enjoying a summer afternoon at the playground. The friendly faces at our neighborhood store. This is why we live here. And yet, we can be so much more. For example, providing more sidewalks will mean not having to get in a car and drive to get to a place where we can walk. Providing sidewalks and green spaces to be able to walk to school or a store will help keep our children safe and keep our neighborhood accessible. We all want a sense of community that links us together. Preserving some of the district's land for small parks and greenways will ensure we can continue to enjoy the community that we love. Putting an end to unrestrained development will bring back a sense of community as well.
I will work hard to preserve our unique community, and reflect the values and cultures of the people who reside here. Community has a purpose and a value that is supported by the people who live here.
This is my promise to you. And you can count on it.
Fabian
BIOGRAPHY...
Fabian Bedne was the first candidate to pick up nominating petitions for the 2007 Metro Elections, which include all metro council seats, vice mayor, and mayor. He is running for Council District 31, now held by Councilman Parker Toler.
Mr. Bedne was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and in 1983 he received his degree in Architecture from the University of Buenos Aires. He came to the United States 17 years ago as part of Columbus Area International Program, a USA training program that exchanges human services professionals from one country to another to develop and exchange ideas.
Mr. Bedne’s strong volunteer culture was nurtured by his parents who founded a Lions Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina over 40 years ago. Since a young age his parents engaged in helping the needy as a family affair.
For over 25 years, he has been involved in community development projects. One of his first opportunities in the U.S. was to plan and execute the revitalization of an inner city neighborhood.
He began working in Nashville at an architectural firm in 1997 designing schools, offices and other buildings in Nashville and around the country. He soon became involved in various volunteer community service projects, several of which included educational issues. He mentored school students in the YMCA Hispanic Achievers program and also worked with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce Report Card on Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Mr. Bedne was a founding member of the Nolensville Road Community Partnership and is on the board of the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity. He is also a member of and active in Leadership Nashville, Sister Cities of Nashville, COPLA Committee of Latino Parents (MNPS), Community Relations Committee of the Nashville Jewish Federation, Tennessee Hispanic Voters Coalition (PAC), Middle Tennessee Hispanic Democrats, Davidson Group, Minority Architects and YMCA Hispanic Achievers Program Mentor.
He continues to serve on the Citizens Panel for a Community Report Card on Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and does volunteer work with the Nolensville Road Community Partnership and Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity.
Mr. Bedne strongly supports education and development that is in tune with the district's long-term plan and improves its quality of life. He pledges to be fully accountable to his community and the issues that affect his neighbors. He has experience with Nashville city planning and has worked on the Plan of Nashville and the South Nashville area.
He is married to Mary-Linden Salter who is the Director of Evaluation and Policy Analysis for the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations. She helps analyze State and Federal Policies as well as help plan and implement statewide initiatives for the community mental health system.
They have two children, son Gabriel (12), who attends Martin Luther King Academic Magnet Middle School, and Olivia (9), who attends Shayne Elementary School. Mr. Bedne is a member of the Congregation Micah
GIVE TO THE CAMPAIGN! Send Campaign Contributions directly to:
Friends of Fabian Bedne 6649 Sugar Valley Drive Nashville, TN 37211
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Be a part of the "Bedne for 31" campaign by participating in door-to-door walks, letter writing, phone banks and more! If you would like to volunteer, please contact Jackie Crumley.
General Information, contact the Campaign Manager, Jackie Crumley at jacquelinecrumley@yahoo.com or Fabian Bedne at (615) 482-2322
Fundraising Opportunities and Contributions, contact Mary-Linden Salter at dosmulas@hotmail.com
