Photo courtesy of Lisa Bright
Lisa Bright
Two Trussville City Council members have announced they are running to succeed Mayor Buddy Choat, who has announced he will not seek re-election.
Lisa Bright, president and CEO of The Will Bright Foundation, and Ben Short, a former police officer and local business owner, said they want to continue the successes of past government leaders.
Bright said she wants to prioritize economic growth, infrastructure development, and open communication.
She founded The Will Bright Foundation in memory of her late son to combat opioid addiction. This nonprofit work inspired her to run for city council in 2020.
“I want to serve,” Bright said. “I want to do it for all the right reasons, no other reasons, not a stepping stone for greater things, just to serve.”
If elected mayor, Bright plans to establish a dedicated economic development department to strategically recruit businesses and industries to Trussville.
“We’ve got to be strategic on what we bring in and what we should and what we shouldn’t,” she said. “And I think it’s deserving of a person, at first, to just be hyper focused on that, bringing in good, clean industry for our industrial park.”
Bright also wants to focus on traffic relief. She noted her efforts in securing funding for major projects, including an $8 million grant to address train-related traffic delays.
Short said he wants to build on the foundation laid by Choat while addressing Trussville’s infrastructure.
Photo courtesy of Ben Short
Ben Short is running for mayor of Trussville.
Short’s professional background includes 10 years with the Trussville Police Department and four years as a district attorney investigator specializing in domestic violence and sexual assault. He also owns two businesses in the area. Short said his diverse experience uniquely qualifies him to lead the city.
“My heart is in public service,” Short said. “I did 10 years with the P.D., and I just felt compelled and kind of called to lead and to serve in a different way. I have a heart for this community. I’m very involved within the community, and I want it to be successful.”
Short highlighted the city’s outdated subdivision regulations and master plan as critical areas needing reform to manage growth. “The city has not updated our subdivision regulations since 1978,” he said.
“We’re operating on a playbook that is so outdated that we’re relying on our planning and zoning members to get concessions from developers when we shouldn’t have to be doing that. We need updated subdivision regulations with enhanced design standards.”
