Keeping our community safe, revitalizing housing and neighborhoods, and expanding retail, business and federal stimulus opportunities here are issues important to Oak Ridge. Mayor Tom Beehan wants to continue working on these issues as a City Council member to strengthen our community and secure the future of Oak Ridge.

Housing

Tom Beehan believes that housing impacts so many issues in our city - the quality of life in our neighborhoods, the crime rate, the stability and excellence of our schools. That's why he has worked so hard the last eight years on City Council to bring new and improved housing to the city. He has been a longtime advocate of housing as an economic development tool, and has spent several years before and after his election to City Council working on housing issues.

His efforts in Highland View have resulted in new townhomes replacing dilapidated apartments. Through the Highland View Redevelopment Advisory Board, his goal is to create a model for neighborhood revitalization that can be successful in neighborhoods throughout the city. With concentrated code enforcement to eliminate blight, with grants and loans to help homeowners find affordable ways to rehabilitate their homes, with Neighborhood Watch groups involving citizens, Tom believes the city and neighborhoods can work together to improve housing and improve our quality of life.

Crime

As the son of a police officer, Tom believes we must work on multi-faceted fronts to confront crime. First, we must communicate that criminals aren't welcome. Collaboration between law enforcement and citizens will make a difference. Tom believes that besides working to improve housing, we must combine effective community policing with involvement of residents through such programs as Neighborhood Watch to have an impact on crime.

He led the charge on paying overtime to increase police patrols in troubled areas of the city. He also supports:

  1. Seeking grants for five additional officers.
  2. The Neighborhood Watch Program.
  3. Sheriff's assistance to sweep troubled neighborhoods.
  4. Legislation holding landlords accountable for renters' criminal activities.
  5. The District Attorney's efforts to prosecute criminals.

Communities across our nation are affected the same crime and drug issues we face. Tom believes we need to seek out strategies that work - such as Nashville's effort to require landlords to evict renters convicted of drug crimes - as we work to reduce crime here.

Retail, Business and Stimulus Expansion

Tom is supporting efforts to strengthen retail in Grove Center and Jackson Square, two original shopping areas in Oak Ridge. He brought representatives of both retail associations together with state economic development officials so they could learn more about the successful Main Street Program, which has revitalized many older retail centers. Jackson Square and Grove Center merchants have begun joint efforts to revitalize their centers, encourage local shopping and attract shoppers.

Tom also supports expanded business and industrial opportunities. He met with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu earlier this year to support expanding Oak Ridge's energy mission. He has worked to make sure Oak Ridge is in a good position for federal stimulus money to continue clean-up activities and work on the country's energy priorities.