An Intimate Conversation with Lillian Stewart, The first female Mayor of Franklin, TN

In this episode, we honor Lillian Stewart — the first and, so far, only female mayor of Franklin, Tennessee — through an intimate conversation with Pam Lewis. A sixth-generation Williamson County native and former French teacher, Stewart brought a deep sense of place and long-term vision to city leadership. During her tenure she championed historic preservation, transformed the look of downtown Franklin's streetscape, and helped establish the state's first impact and adequate facilities fees on new development — policies that allowed Franklin to grow without sacrificing its character. As she put it herself, "Quality costs money. I wanted to keep Franklin's idyllic quality of life, and create policies that were good for everyone."