Episode 22: A Conversation with Mayoral Candidate Jasmine Hardin

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Welcome everyone.
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I'm James Spraggins, and this is mildly amusing.
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Um I'm gonna stop saying I'm excited about the guest.
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I say it every single time.
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So I'm just gonna say that today's guest is Jasmine Harden, uh a Lebanon girl who moved back a few years ago and she's a candidate for mayor.
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Uh I did not know she was a person dwelling on the earth until she uh uh threw her hat in the ring, and I met her the next day for coffee and have kept in touch with her, and um we finally got her to come in and talk to us, and very glad we did.
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It was a it was a good conversation.
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You're gonna learn a lot about her.
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Um and uh so anyway, but I also wanted to mention uh a couple of things.
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Um it's very exciting, Amy.
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The war's back on, apparently.
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The Iran War is back on.
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I read the you know, turned on the TV this morning, and yeah, so that's exciting.
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Um so um uh but also uh on a serious note, I wanted to mention a good friend of mine passed away a couple of nights ago.
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She had been having a little bit of trouble.
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Uh she was uh lived a very uh a very fulfilling 94 years.
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Uh but the last few years were probably not uh she wasn't living her best life.
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And anyway, I'm talking about Mary Lois Grundy.
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Um I've known her for a very long time, and she's very well known in the community.
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Um she was um married to uh Jimmy Grundy.
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They had the place out on Bravertsville Road.
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Uh you nobody no one ever met a kinder or more gracious lady, and um I would go visit her, and uh I almost felt like I was meeting uh visiting with a relative.
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And we used to joke about that because she grew up in Casey County on the Big South Fork, as did all my people, my Spraggins's and Ryanerson's, and they all knew each other and all that.
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And but she lived in Lebanon most of her life, um, and we're glad that she did.
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Uh I have one I always think about this, and I cringe every time.
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When Wendy and I got married, we paid for the wedding ourselves, and so we were just very cost conscious.
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And we didn't do the we had not been going to the United Presbyterian for very long.
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We weren't even actual actually members, but we were we were uh attending.
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Well, we didn't do the thing that most people do where you put the invitation in the bulletin and everybody in your church gets to go.
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We didn't do that because we're like, oh money, uh but uh the week or so before the wedding, uh Mary Lois Grundy knocks on my door with a with a wedding gift anyway.
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And um uh she was just that kind of person and always smiling, and I'm certainly gonna miss her.
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A whole lot of people are gonna miss her.
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So uh goodbye to my friend Mary Lois Grundy.
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Um I had another interesting thing happen.
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Um one of the things that I you know I think when I was starting this podcast is that that our media uh local media landscape has changed m in many most ways for the worse.
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But one of the things we miss, um, I miss is Channel 6 TV.
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And that was a venture started and operated for many years by Gary White.
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Um and you know, he put his heart and soul into that thing.
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And uh you can still go, he has a um uh a YouTube channel, and he's uploaded many, many, many uh stories they did, interviews they did, even commercials that they did.
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Well, I reached out to him uh a week or so ago and I said, I've been wanting to find when I had the restaurant Blues on Tap, I did some ads, and one of them um was a Christmas message from Blues on Tap, and and I was holding my uh my first son, he was about a year old, uh Henry, was in my arms, and I thought, oh, I'd love to see that again.
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Henry is will be starting his sophomore year at UK um very soon.
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And I thought, gosh, I'd love to see that again and show it to everybody.
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Well, he went to the so I reached out to Gary, happened to find his number.
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He said, Well, let me he said, I'm not sure.
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He said, I've got a lot of stuff with you already uploaded, but I'll look for that one.
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And a few days later he says, Hey, I found it, I've already uploaded it.
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And so he sent that and another blues on tap ad that we did.
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And so, what a nice guy.
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Lebanon misses you, Gary White.
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Thank you so much.
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Um anyway, so uh I hope you're gonna enjoy today's uh episode with a conversation with uh Jasmine Harden.
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We are recording at the in the dining room at here at Myrtledine.
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Uh the AC is not working at the library, and Jamie Collins very kindly allowed me to take the equipment.
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And um and I I reckon she expects me to bring it back.
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We'll see.
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Um today's episode is sponsored by my good friend, a good friend of this podcast, Dennis George.
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Thank you very much, Dennis.
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We appreciate you.
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Uh, thank you all for tuning back in, and uh you're gonna enjoy this conversation.
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I just know it.
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Welcome back.
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I'm James Spraggins, and this is mildly amusing.
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My guest uh who has joined us in um oddly in the dining room at Myrtle Dean because the AC is still out at the Marion County Public Library, who kindly allowed me to take their equipment.
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Uh our our guest today is Jasmine Hardin.
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We've been working on scheduling this for a long time since you announced you were running for mayor.
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Jasmine Harden is um gonna tell us about herself, but briefly.
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She's uh she's a Lebanon girl and was away from here for a few years, but then moved back because she missed home, I reckon.
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And um she has this year decided to throw her hat in the ring for mayor.
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Um this will be the first time in almost 30 years that uh current mayor Gary Crenshaw will not appear on the ballot, and so it's opened things up.
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And um uh I got a couple of texts a few months ago from some friends of mine who were very excited to tell me Jasmine Harden is running for for mayor.
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I said, Well, that's really great.
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Who's Jasmine Harden?
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Um and uh she is not someone I knew existed and until she decided to so it's at least upped your exposure, you know, if nothing else.
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But uh we had coffee the next day, and um anyway, I'm no less excited that she is running.
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And um, Jasmine, thank you so much for being here.
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Tell us about yourself.
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Thanks, James.
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Excited to be here.
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Uh Jasmine Harden.
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I, as James said, I grew up in Lebanon.
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I am a 2004 graduate of Marion County High School.
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Um, after high school, I left and went to Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky.
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So right outside of Lexington.
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Was there four years, majored in accounting with a minor in communication with the intent uh to go to law school and become a tax attorney?
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Um I took a year off.
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A tax attorney.
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Yeah.
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What's the difference in being a tax attorney and being a CBA?
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Um you can, you know, litigate on tax issues, you know, work for the IRS and work on like the legal cases for those or you know, Department of Revenue.
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Okay.
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So a a bit different.
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It's the more legal aspect of, you know.
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You're not, you know, counting beans, you're you're you're litigating on one side or the other of a tax case.
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Of a tax case.
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Okay.
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All right, sorry, go ahead.
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Yeah.
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So took year off to work as an accountant, and um then actually after my first semester in law school, did an internship with the IRS and decided this is not where I want to be.
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So went to law school at U of L 2009 to 2012, graduated, took the bar, still have PTSD from that.
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No, I will not be barred in another state.
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Kentucky is it.
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That's the only bar exam I planned to take.
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And so graduated in 2012, passed the bar, and then started working in banking.
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Um, so 2012, when I graduated, you know, was after 2009, you know, financial issues.
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So, you know, banks were in trouble with, you know, foreclosures and all those different pieces.
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Yes, I was in the legal side of banking.
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So working uh with the bank on like foreclosures and bankruptcies and regulatory uh pieces, did that for four years, and then went into a law firm setting and worked at a law firm doing conflicts of interest and I was living in Louisville, Kentucky.
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So, you know, moved from Lebanon to Georgetown and then from Georgetown moved to Louisville.
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Uh, worked in Louisville for a year for a family business as an accountant, and then went to law school at U of L and then stayed in Louisville until 2019.
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Your IRS you were still in Louisville.
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Yes.
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Okay, all right.
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And so worked in downtown Louisville for that IRS branch and then also did a small stint internship at the Department of Revenue in Frankfurt.
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Um and, you know, after the banking, went into a law firm, loved the ass, and I was on the back side of the law firm, so more like general counsel side, not front side, you know, client billable attorney.
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Um, loved that work, you know, wasn't in court every day like I was um in banking, you know, with travel, had had two kids by that point, so wanted to, you know, get something that was a bit more flexible, um, enjoyed the law firm work, um, thought I wanted to do, you know, healthcare regulation, did that for a year at Humana, decided that was not for me, and then came back to a law firm setting, but on a different side as a consultant.
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Um, so what I in that was 2020.
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So uh 2020 started with the company that I'm with now.
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Did COVID have anything to do with that?
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Um that you decided to no.
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So I whenever I was at Humana, I was remote.
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Whenever I was in the law firm, I actually worked two to three days from home.
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So I've been working from home since 2016, at least two to three days a week.
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Um moving to the consulting at Humana, I worked from home full-time.
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Moving to consulting was more of a decision that I felt complacent in my position at, you know, the healthcare company wanted something a bit more challenging, and so then moved into the consulting side of things, which is where I am today and have been for over five years.
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Um, working as a consultant now for law firms in conflict of interest and you know, legal ethics.
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Uh, so my background with the law firm doing that, you know, internally for a law firm, now I do it externally on advising really, you know, people process technology and updating.
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With all these shifting gears, you're always moving into another thing.
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It's like you must there must be a steep learning curve, like uh the banking side, the tax side, and then ethics.
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I mean, did you have to go back and get any more training or was it on-the-job training as you were making these moves?
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Yeah, so there all my positions were in the compliance and regulatory space, but yes, had to do on-the-job training, did some professional development training, uh, on the legal side, you know, focused my continuing education around ethics and you know, compliance and those pieces.
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The position I have now is more, you know, professional development in like the legal and legal ethics spaces.
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Um but working with clients to improve their, you know, conflicts of interest and ethics programs at law firms.
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Right.
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Um, so interesting to me, maybe not, you know, the most interesting conversation, like you said, you know, may put you to sleep if you know I talk about legal ethics for too much, but do get, you know, excited about that space.
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And it's a it's a change management position and so can kind of relate it to a mayorial position in, you know, the law firms are doing things that they've always done.
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You know, they've done it for 30 or 40 years, it's always worked.
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And so then I come in as a change agent and I'm like, well, we're going to, you know, automate and redu, you know, remove these manual efforts and put you into a new technology that can, you know, expedite this process and improve the firm.
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So love what I'm doing now.
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I work from home full-time, and in 2020 or 2019, I was still at Humana, but decided to move back to Lebanon because my oldest daughter was about to start kindergarten.
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And so you just really started evaluating community and people, commute, you know, had something to do with it.
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I was pregnant with my third uh child at that point, and it was just like, what does the future look like?
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And is this how where and how I want to raise my children?
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Had that been something in the back of your head for a while that you wanted to maybe end up back home?
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No.
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Uh, you know, whenever you graduate in two, you know, whenever I graduated high school, it was I want to get away as far as pop, you know, as I cannot believe, you know, I do not want to stay here, it's too small.
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You know, I want to branch out and do something, you know, different and you know, travel and live somewhere out of state.
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And then it was like, okay, I went to college in Kentucky, I went to law school in Kentucky, and it was like, okay, I really love Kentucky.
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And then you have that, I anyway, had a mindset shift whenever I had children and was like, okay, this is great and all, but I loved my you know childhood.
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I loved where I grew up.
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You know, I'm still friends for decades with the people that I grew up with.
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And it was, you know, the more people I talked to or met in the city, they just they didn't have that connection or maybe didn't have that community piece or, you know, a village or a neighbor that they could call to help.
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And I was like, okay, this is what I want for my children.
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And so that's when really it was probably in February or March when we started looking at schools and you know, evaluating where she was going to go to kindergarten.
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And then by April of 2019, we had a contract on a house here.
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Okay.
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So it was not necessarily a rush decision, but you know, I had friends that were like, Are you crazy?
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What are you going to do?
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Uh, my daughter was even like, Is there a Target or a Starbucks in Lebanon?
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Like, what in my?
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And I was like, We have a coffee, coffee job.
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Yeah.
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And so, but one of the best decisions that we've made for, you know, our family and ourselves was moving back here seven years ago.
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Tell me about your husband.
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He was obviously okay with this move.
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Who is he?
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Where is he from?
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Yes, so um, he's okay with this move now.
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Maybe he thought it was a crazy idea at the time.
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Yeah.
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But it was he what he he traveled regionally at that point for um a cell phone company, and so he was like a regional director.
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So he was driving every day anyway, so it didn't really matter where his starting point was.
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Base of operations.
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Uh, took a bit of convincing, but took him to a uh maker's mark.
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That's when they had they had some sort of festival or uh thing back in 2019.
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So I took him there, maybe gave him a couple of shots of bourbon, don't know.
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And then at later that evening, we were sitting in the house.
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Yes, we were sitting at a friend's house um that night, actually in the neighborhood that we, you know, were planning that we planned to move into, and he said, Oh, I could live here.
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And so that's all he needed to say.
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And I was like, Great, called a realtor the next day and was like, You said you could live here, let's make it happen.
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Right.
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And so just put the plan in place, went and viewed a house like that next week, and then had a contract after he made that statement two weeks later on a home.
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You don't give him a chance to change his mind.
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Yeah, right.
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I'm like, you said this.
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I don't know if you were under you know the influence, but we're gonna run with it.
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Wendy and I have all often uh thought, we don't know how people raise kids without having a big network around to call at the last minute.
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I'm stuck here doing this, I gotta take this one to the doctor.
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Can you go pick up so-and-so from the school or whatever?
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I don't know how in the world.
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We were very lucky.
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My parents lived uh just right up the street.
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Wendy has got 10,000 cousins, aunts, and uncles around here.
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And uh yeah, I don't know how you do it.
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And then there's so there's that, you were coming back to a network that you knew, but also it's a cheaper place to live than where you are.
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So anyway, so it made a lot of sense.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I want to get to this, we can get to this later, but one thing I've often thought is that um a challenge Lebanon has, uh its population maybe has grown a little bit, but it seems like over the it's been pretty much stagnant.
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Um the city would like to grow its population, I would assume.
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Um, but it's a challenge.
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Even though we have the equivalent of Lebanon's population flow in and out uh every day to work at our factories, they still go out, they go back home.
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Um and so I've often wondered what the city could do to make it attractive.
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First of all, the low-hanging fruit are the people who were born and raised here, who maybe still have family here, who maybe have um aging parents who need care.
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And so they're like, Well, I would move home if Lebanon enabled me to apply my trade and do what I've been doing.
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And so I'm sure you've thought a lot about those kind of things that like, well, I don't know, and I don't have any answers, but uh I've often thought maybe the city should like set up a table at every class reunion and just say, We're here right here.
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Give me 10 minutes, I'll buy you a drink at the park, whatever, and tell me like what do you do?
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Would you ever consider moving back?
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What are the obstacles to moving back?
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You know, stuff like that.
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Yes, absolutely.
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And have thought about this, have talked to some current college students and just you know asked questions.
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What would entice you to move back to Lebanon?
00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:57.359
What do you need from the city in order to move back here?
00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:03.599
You know, even talked to you know, small businesses and those pieces, like what positions are you hiring?
00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:17.440
And a lot of the things that I've you know thought about and then you know got confirmation or you know, talked to, you know, like I said, the college students and these people is one, we do not have the housing available.
00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:21.680
Um, so it, you know, affordable housing for, you know, this is my first job.
00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:31.119
I need to have, you know, a home available and you know, not necessarily a single family home that's 300,000, you know, I need a town home that's 150,000.
00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:39.839
So having the housing available, having, you know, space for them to work in, and then also having, you know, the jobs available.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:46.240
Uh, with the housing, actually met with Terry Thomas yesterday at the Career and Development Center.
00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:53.519
And she has reporting where, like you said, 5,000 people are leaving Lebanon, 5,000 people are coming into Lebanon every day.
00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:59.920
Those people that are leaving, you know, they're spending money elsewhere, you know, they're not, they're going home after they work.
00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:04.640
We're around 950 homes short for workforce housing.
00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.279
Really?
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:05.920
Yes.
00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:16.960
So almost 1,000 homes short for housing that if we had available, it could reduce that those that are commuting out after they work here.
00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:20.400
They're coming into work, but they're not able to find housing.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:24.640
Talked to a small business owner that has over 40 employees.
00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:35.920
She went around with, you know, one of her employees to look for housing here, and she ended up buying a home in Camelsville or Taylor County, drives in every day because she couldn't find a home within her price point.
00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:36.319
Okay.
00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:57.039
So how the city can work on that, you know, try, you know, read a couple of different books, listening to some podcasts, you know, reading different articles, and how other cities have tried to, you know, reverse this is with planning and zoning and you know, creating that, you know, right now, like in my neighborhood, I cannot have an additional dwelling unit.
00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.920
It's not allowed.
00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:00.559
Like different places, you can't have an additional dwelling unit.
00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:10.880
So if you allow those ADUs to be built in the back of a property, maybe it's a one-bed, one bath, you could rent that for$700 a month, or you know, things like that.
00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:18.799
Or you could zone instead of single family, you could zone for, you know, one to four, you know.
00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:22.799
So then you have four plexus or duplexes on specifics.
00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:26.559
And we're seeing some of that as a place being built like on North Street right here.
00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:28.880
We're seeing some of that, but there's nothing.
00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.000
But how the city can help is with planning and zoning.
00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:35.200
And then there are also different grants and things that are available.
00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:51.519
I'm still learning more about this on the grants that you can get where the city could go in and level a home, you know, prep the ground for that developer to come in and then build that forplex or build, you know, those townhomes.
00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:58.319
Because you have potentially a lot of small developers here, but they may not have that initial, they have the money to do the duplex.
00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.599
They don't have that, you know, 30.
00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:06.480
50,000 to clear the land and do all those pieces, but grants available to cities to be able to do that.
00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:16.079
So workforce housing, you know, affordable housing is really what we, you know, one of the platforms that I want to stand on and how the city can help in that way.
00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:32.559
Another way I think this city could help that I've, you know, read about other cities doing, uh, which I think I talked to you about before, is having like an internet cafe or some sort of like internet available where professionals, I work from home every day, I've met several people that live here that work from home.
00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:36.240
And then us being able to market, hey, we have this building available.
00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:44.480
You can come rent an office, you know, a couple of days a week, and then you know, that's money back to the city, but then you can work from this space.
00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:49.519
And because working from home works for a lot of people, but there are a lot of distractions at home.
00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.000
There are.
00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:56.000
And if you can at least drive five minutes to a place, and I do see some people using the workspaces at the library.
00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:58.400
Yes, I've used those multiple times.
00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.519
But yeah, I think it's a good idea.
00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:03.119
And you know, even the coffee shop just to get that human interaction.
00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:10.079
Yes, I'm on Zoom calls and team calls all day, but to actually, you know, see a person in the flesh is helpful.
00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:18.960
And so having some sort of space to, you know, have available because my company will, you know, rent out a space for me to go so many days a week.
00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:22.799
So the, you know, looking at the city, do we have any of those types of buildings available?
00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:32.559
Can we, you know, convert a space into those types of internet cafes or, you know, we work type spaces, you know, that they have in cities that I can go rent.
00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:36.240
And then that's attractive for people that live in other cities.
00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:38.880
Okay, there's a lower cost of living in this area.
00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:54.000
I have I work from home, but I can also go into this space and have some sort of interaction with people, you know, in at the water cooler, or you know, just to build it and then being able to market it to people living in, you know, other high cost areas.
00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:56.240
Do you see many municipalities doing this?
00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:11.119
Do you do you see examples of a city like Lebanon or Danville or something that, okay, the private market's not doing this, but we know we need it, and then they go and like find the structure that's uh that's per perhaps available and turn it into this?
00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:33.680
Yeah, so I haven't read about cities in Kentucky, like the one that I'm thinking about was I can't think of the name, like a city in um Oregon where the city had done this, and what they did is provided Wi-Fi um in the downtown area, and then in this in a specific building that they had, and you know, piloted it to see if people would come use the space.
00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.000
Okay.
00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:40.400
So not in Kentucky specifically or you know, a smaller area, but I have seen it from cities and other states.
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.279
Right.
00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:50.640
We've uh I have projected us a little further than I meant to at this point in the conversation, but um what um what made you decide to run?
00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.319
Had you been thinking about this for a while?
00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.400
Why did you decide to do this?
00:24:54.720 --> 00:25:00.079
Yes, so I had been thinking about doing some sort of public service for a while.
00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:05.039
And it wasn't, you know, this one event happened and I was like, absolutely, I'm going to run for mayor.
00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:10.960
I think it was just small incremental events that kind of led up to, okay, why not me?
00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:20.720
And it was, you know, I wanted to, I think as a mayor or as a local, you know, representative, you can make such an impact on your community.
00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:26.240
And so I was just seeing things, you know, I wanted to move back here to raise my family.
00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:32.480
You know, I like X or this neighborhood or, you know, these youth activities.
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:38.880
And whenever you see, you know, state government or federal government, it's really about those federal policies.
00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:43.039
And everything is, you know, red and blue, or you know, left and right.
00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:46.799
And locally, it's just it's people over politics.
00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.640
It's like, how can I help the people?
00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:51.759
And so I've always wanted to be in public service and help the people.
00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:56.079
And so this position came up, and it was like, okay, why not me?
00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.440
Like, I want to make an impact.
00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:04.640
I want to leave a legacy being local government and going from really ground-up politics is where you make the difference.
00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:10.000
And I want to make the difference where I live and not, you know, necessarily globally.
00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:14.079
And so it's like, how can I impact the most people in this community?
00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:27.039
And it's like, okay, running for mayor is going to do that, to be able to, you know, revamp the city and help the people here in this community rather than you know worrying about, you know, state or federal politics.
00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:34.160
Some of the things you've mentioned uh just now and and in previous conversation is quality of life seems to be very important to you.
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:37.759
You're thinking about amenities like places to walk, things like that.
00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:40.079
We have a fantastic park, I think.
00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.480
Yes.
00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.480
Especially for a town our size.
00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:44.559
I don't know if it's equal anywhere.
00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:48.960
Um talk about some of the quality of life things you'd like to tackle.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:54.720
Um, does this like relating to downtown as a place to go and for people to go and meet?
00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.759
Talk about that a little bit.
00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:57.759
Yes, so lots of big ideas.
00:26:57.839 --> 00:27:09.039
I do understand, you know, the term is four years, but you know, being able to create these ideas for then us to prioritize and you know, hopefully implement.
00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:14.079
Um some of those are around, and like you said, we do have a great park.
00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.759
I think it's over 100 acres.
00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.680
106 acres or something like that.
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:25.200
And we have, you know, so many people coming in even to use those facilities, but want to make the park more accessible.
00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:32.720
So as far as a people aspect of that, we do not have sidewalks in you know all areas leading to the park.
00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:40.880
So if you drive on, I believe it's Metz Drive from you know Wendy's to the park, one of like the main thoroughways through town, there's no sidewalk there.
00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:44.160
So it's from your neighborhood, you got to walk in the street to people's yards.
00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:47.599
Yes, I have to drive you know a quarter of a mile to the park.
00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:51.759
And so it's like, how can we make the park more available to the community?
00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.960
We need a sidewalk.
00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:56.640
Or maybe here we need, you know, a bike lane.
00:27:57.039 --> 00:28:04.960
Sidewalks can get more political than you think because it's, you know, on someone's yard and you know, those pieces and people walking by.
00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:08.160
But at the end of the day, it's always what's best for the community.
00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:13.440
So sidewalks is um one of those, creating those sidewalks.
00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:17.839
The other piece, I mean, downtown revitalization is its its own thing.
00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:31.680
Uh, but as far as you know, community aspect and you know, creating things for people, putting benches or putting different green spaces in downtown to have it available for people to sit and chat.
00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:39.039
Um, really uh, you know, creating these, they're called third spaces.
00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.799
Like people have home, they have work.
00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:42.000
What is their third space?
00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:46.319
If it's the park, let us be able to get them a sidewalk to the park.
00:28:46.400 --> 00:29:03.279
If it's a bench downtown, we may need a sidewalk to get there, but let's have that area, a couple of benches where people can sit and chat with their neighbors, you know, people passing by, maybe they want to sit out there for lunch, but having that available, and so then people build that community.
00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:12.240
And many generations ago, you know, they had that, they had that available to them, or they went to different places, or people are sitting on their front porch.
00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:27.519
Um so creating that type of space in the community, and then, you know, we've already invested in the arts here with Center Square, but making that more available to all demographics in the community.
00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:37.599
Um, you know, they get grants, but seeing if there are more grants where they can give, you know, scholarships to different, you know, students to be able to attend events and be there.
00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.240
Yeah.
00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.599
Yeah, that's the other thing.
00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:44.000
Um, I do hear people say sometimes there's nothing for kids to do, but I'm like, what are you talking about?
00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:52.079
We got the park, but then Kentucky's uh classic arts offers so much if they're not they don't want to be a football player, but there's other things they want.
00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.599
It's I think it's great.
00:29:53.839 --> 00:30:05.920
Um speaking of downtown revitalization, I think you've had some conversations as have I with um some folks are trying to jumpstart restart our Main Street program.
00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.640
Yes.
00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:13.359
Um have you like Denise Thomas, I know, is very involved in that, and she came and spoke to our preservation group about that recently.
00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:20.880
Um what's your understanding of what they're wanting to do and how would city how would city government uh take a part in that?
00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:26.000
Yes, so had a great conversation with Denise Thomas about that exactly.
00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:34.880
Also have met, you know, with Brooklyn for economic development and just you know a couple of different small business owners that are downtown.
00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:47.119
But the main barrier right now for them being able to get off the ground with downtown revitalization is they need to map the downtown area, like what does downtown actually consist of?
00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:51.200
It's not just Main Street, you know, it's a couple of blocks on each side.
00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:59.920
So they're mapping the downtown, and then the biggest barrier is hiring a downtown, it's called a Main Street coordinator.
00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:07.279
I believe is what the position is and how the city can help with that is hiring that main street coordinator.
00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:07.519
Right.
00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:33.440
Um, so one of my top priorities, if elected, um, is hire, you know, interviewing and hiring and working with those different teams, because I think it's a collaboration of economic development and the chamber and you know, tourism and you know, the downtown, they have a steering committee working with them to hire the right person to get a plan in place to really revitalize the downtown area.
00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:56.240
If we hire that main street coordinator, then that opens up grants for the city to be able to get to you know host events or update buildings, you know, paint buildings, update sidewalks, hang signs, so many different things that we can get grants for, but we have to have that person in place and the downtown mapped in order to apply for those grants.
00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.279
Right, right.
00:31:57.759 --> 00:32:00.640
Um it's been a challenge for a while.
00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:06.640
We have some things, some people, some very heroic business people trying to make a go of downtown.
00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.240
It's a big, big challenge.
00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:17.119
And even so, if go to Barkstown on a on a Wednesday afternoon, it's busier than Lebanon's downtown on a Saturday afternoon.
00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:19.519
There's just, I don't know what you gotta do.
00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:26.319
Um, what when you talk to some of the local downtown businesses, what are what are some of the specific challenges they tell you about?
00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:33.119
Um they mention that there's not a consistency of hours among the businesses there.
00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:40.720
So, like if they if their business is open on Monday and others are not, then there's not as much attraction because that person can't hit they want to go to all the businesses.
00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:43.920
They want to hit all the stops on one day.
00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:49.519
Um the others for them are, you know, how are they marketing their business?
00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:55.759
You know, can they get other organizations to help them market and get the word out about their business?
00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:02.960
You know, they may have been there for so many years and they just don't know how to reach specific, you know, people and groups.
00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:14.079
And then the others, unfortunately, they just don't think that our community wants to support small businesses and they take their dollars out of town.
00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.960
I hear that all the time.
00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:23.359
And so even our people here, they're like they want to go to Bargetown or they want to go to Danville or they want to go to Louisville on the weekends, and they do not want to spend the money here.
00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:34.960
So I, you know, part of that is you know downtown revitalization, but we also have to put the spirit or the energy, and you know, I think we used to call ourselves the heart of Kentucky.
00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:45.680
We need to put the heart back into the heart of Kentucky and that community really bring that energy to the community to say, hey, support these small businesses, you know, support local.
00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:58.960
You know, it's I think that's a you know global saying, but that's what we need you to do is that support the people here, they can create jobs here, you know, they give back, they support the youth, you know, sports teams, they support the arts.
00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:02.640
Like if you look on the art center, it's all local businesses that have supported.
00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:08.719
If you look on the back of these kids' jerseys, it's local businesses, you know, in the park, the signs.
00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:12.400
It's like so let's support them because they are supporting us.
00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:16.639
And so that's the biggest thing is really getting the community support.
00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:35.440
And it's not only the businesses, you know, that are downtown on Main Street, it's you know, Walmart to Kroger, like all the businesses that are spread from those areas, because I've heard from you know others as well outside of that main um Main Street corridor that need the local support.
00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.079
Yeah.
00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:49.920
Uh it's so funny when I was growing up, and up until um, you know, the dot-com bubble bursting and the housing crisis in 08, up until then, Lebanon was the place to go.
00:34:50.400 --> 00:35:02.719
Um and um in the up until you know, all through the 90s, um on a Friday night, it was four or five deep waiting for a table at the bar at at Hennings.
00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.280
Yeah.
00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:10.320
Um and gradual part of it, frankly, was because we were the only wet town for a long ways, you know.
00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:21.360
And so we were pulling people from Green County, Taylor County, Casey County, uh, even Danville, but they've all gone wet, so we've lost that that distinction anyway.
00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:29.760
But um, and so I don't know what and at the time I thought, well, I think Lebanon local people are supporting the businesses, but I don't know.
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:32.079
I hear people talk about going to Barn, and I do too.
00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:33.199
I'm I'm guilty too.
00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:40.079
If we have people from out of town, I'm frankly right now not gonna probably think first about going to downtown Lebanon.
00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:45.440
I'm gonna go to Barstown or Danville or I might take them out to lunch at Maker's Mark or something like that.
00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.800
But I really don't know.
00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:50.320
It's a chicken and egg thing, and I don't know how you you get people to make it.
00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:56.800
And I think it's I think another thing is bringing the community together.
00:35:57.039 --> 00:36:10.800
And if you know that small business owner or you've met them or had a conversation with them, then maybe you're more likely to, you know, frequent their establishment because you're like, oh, I know X, I want to go support them.
00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:16.800
So, you know, getting out and being able to meet them in different events and not, you know, at their business.
00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:26.000
So can the city create different events for you to meet these business owners and then you build that relationship where okay, I want to go support them.
00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:34.800
I think it all comes back to people and you know, getting the people together and then saying, okay, I want to support them.
00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:35.280
Yeah.
00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:46.480
And I think you're right to um a Main Street director could help kind of consolidate and organize so that okay, I'm downtown.
00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.159
Well, this restaurant's not open.
00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:53.039
This shop or or the restaurant's open, but the shop's not open, or only one shop's open at the same time.
00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:53.920
I don't know.
00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:59.920
People do want to they want to walk up and down and go to a bunch of places, not just not just one or two.
00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:01.599
Yes, exactly.
00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:08.239
Um so what are some other things you think that you can't do everything.
00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:16.400
Uh but what are some challenges you think, you know, this could be um this could go on my list for the first four years?
00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:26.960
What are some other things that you're thinking like, well, this is something I think that is, you know, needed, but also a realistic goal, like that I can put on my list for the first term.
00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:28.400
Yes, first of many.
00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:30.400
Hopefully.
00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:36.320
So downtown revitalization, you know, workforce housing, uh, which goes with planning and zoning.
00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:39.840
Another piece is uh looking at our ordinances.
00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:43.119
Some of our ordinances are 30 or 40 years old.
00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:53.679
Um, so updating those um to you know clean up housing and you know, have certain buildings that are built.
00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:58.079
Maybe they have to be a certain paint color, maybe they can't be in, you know, this area of town.
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:06.239
So looking at the different ordinances and updating those just to bring them to the future and to modernize those.
00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:12.159
A another piece, and you know, I have a survey out there right now, so I'll do a plug for that.
00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:28.000
It's open until the end of July, and it's on my Facebook page, and then one of uh one of the main uh things that people have even responded is out downtown revitalization was number one, and then youth activities, you know, as you said, was number two.
00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:37.039
So, you know, looking at, you know, we do have these events at the park, we have Kentucky Classic Arts, um, we have, you know, the Marion County Sports Complex.
00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:41.920
So seeing, you know, and even doing a survey, okay, you're looking for things for youth, what are we looking for?
00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:49.280
And seeing how the city can support that or support an organization that can create uh different activities for youth.
00:38:49.760 --> 00:39:05.280
Um, maybe it's uh more of a family event, you know, some cities have food truck Fridays on you know, Fridays in the summer, and so we do concerts at Kentucky Classic Arts and we block off Main Street for ham days.
00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:08.159
Can we block off Main Street once a month in the summer?
00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:19.280
I love it, and have a family event, you know, family-friendly music, have food trucks, and just it's not this huge organized, you know, multiple months of planning event.
00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:24.559
It's small event, youth can come, family can come, and have different activities there.
00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:32.559
So youth activities and trying to think of different ways to involve youth, but also to involve um families as well.
00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:43.760
Um, I understand that when you you really hit the ground running on this, and you have obviously been intentional about going out and meeting people and talking to them.
00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:50.079
Um I think you cast a wide net and you said, hey, if you want to, if you would like my ear for a time, let me know.
00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:51.840
I'll be there in 20 minutes or something like that.
00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:54.719
Like what um what how has that gone?
00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:59.199
Um what are some of the interesting things that you've learned that maybe you hadn't thought about?
00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:02.400
Yes, so I did set a couple of boundaries.
00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:06.480
I can't be there in 20 minutes, but I did say, you know, I'm available to chat.
00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:10.639
So I've received, you know, several messages on uh Facebook.
00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:16.320
Also put, you know, have phone number and email out there for people to reach me on.
00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:19.360
I have a list and I'm just going from the top down.
00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:22.320
So if I haven't reached out to you yet, I have not forgotten you.
00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:27.679
Yes, you are on my Excel spreadsheet of the next person to contact.
00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:42.559
And honestly, that's gone very well because I think people just want an avenue or you know, a place to reach out to and you know, voice their grievances or even say what they think is going well.
00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:42.960
Right.
00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:47.679
So I've talked, you know, outside of city administration, like these are just community members.
00:40:47.760 --> 00:41:11.840
So I've talked to, you know, business owners and developers and you know, some people that just have want a street light on their street because you know they are having you know higher call-ins to the police department and you know, talking with people that like, yes, youth activities are great, but there's also lots of 55 plus in the community that want to have things available for them.
00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:14.000
So that's gone really well.
00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:28.960
And honestly, I was shocked at how many people, you know, reached out and wanted to um speak up or just give feedback um on what they want to see from the city because I, you know, it's it's a local government position.
00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:40.079
And if I do not hear from the people, then it's going to be my ideas plus you know the other city administrator ideas, and that's what we're going to implement.
00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:45.199
And if you know we need new and fresh ideas, so give us that feedback.
00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:52.880
And if we can implement or if you know it does impact a large group of people, let's work to see how we can prioritize it.
00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:55.920
So in consulting, I always say, okay, 80-20 rule.
00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:58.639
If it affects 80% of the firm, we'll move forward with it.
00:41:58.800 --> 00:42:10.800
If it only affects 20, we're gonna have to table that for phase two because the the cost doesn't, you know, we don't get the benefit from you know what it's going to cost or how it's going to move forward.
00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:16.000
So it's not where I'm getting this feedback and I'm gonna say, yes, absolutely, we're doing everything.
00:42:16.159 --> 00:42:18.239
No, okay, I got this feedback from you.
00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:25.920
Let me voice it out or you know, talk with others about it and see, okay, does this impact most of our community?
00:42:26.159 --> 00:42:32.960
If so, okay, let's think of solutions and then not only solutions, because people love pointing out problems.
00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:35.679
They not they do not always give a solution.
00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:40.480
And if they do, okay, can you give me some ways that we can implement it?
00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:42.159
Like how can we act on it?
00:42:42.239 --> 00:42:50.880
So we get stuck in that analysis-paralysis phase of here's the solution or possible solutions, let's implement these issues.
00:42:51.039 --> 00:42:52.960
So getting that feedback has been great.
00:42:53.039 --> 00:42:58.719
Looking at, okay, does it impact or could it impact 80% or more of the community?
00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:03.280
If so, okay, we're we want to stand on that, and then that's when we have to prioritize things.
00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:05.039
Okay, what can get done?
00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:07.119
How long is it going to take?
00:43:07.280 --> 00:43:08.239
What do we need?
00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:12.079
What usually it's funding, what money do we need for that?
00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:14.400
So have a list of that as well.
00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:27.599
Um, you know, of those items, even you know, use some of that feedback, put some of those items into my survey so that people could um vote on those to see, okay, is this actually affecting the community?
00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:32.559
And then just kind of waiting and see, okay, how can we move forward with those?
00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:34.480
So your survey you said is on your Facebook page.
00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:40.000
So if you just go to Facebook and look for Jasmine Harden for mayor, yes, it's a Google form, and you can click into it.
00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:42.159
It is 100% anonymous.
00:43:42.320 --> 00:43:44.320
I do not know who said what.
00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:54.320
Um so uh which is also great because I've gotten great, honest, and transparent feedback on that uh because it's not tied to anyone's name.
00:43:54.880 --> 00:43:59.760
Um so yeah, it's been I've had over 106 responses as of this.
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:00.159
Morning.
00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:00.960
I think that's a lot.
00:44:01.280 --> 00:44:01.760
Yes, that is.
00:44:02.320 --> 00:44:03.119
That's pretty impressive.
00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:03.679
Yes.
00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:19.440
So if you say we have what six to seven thousand people in the city getting a response from over 100 is pretty great for you know this type of survey whenever people I think people just want to be heard at a certain point.
00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:23.760
And is that the best way to reach out to you just to go to that Facebook page and then send a message to you through that?
00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:24.159
Yes.
00:44:24.239 --> 00:44:26.719
So you can send a bit message through my Facebook page.
00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:31.440
It also has my email on that page, which is Jasmine Harden for Mayor at Gmail.
00:44:31.840 --> 00:44:35.760
And then it has a phone number that you can reach me as well.
00:44:36.400 --> 00:44:58.400
The sense I've gotten over the years is that and this is not a criticism of anyone who has stuck their necks out and and actually done uh gotten the done the dirty work that most of us didn't want to do, but uh that leadership has been longstanding and entrenched.
00:44:58.719 --> 00:45:07.360
And like and that um and that more and more decisions were made in a closed loop, if that makes sense, if that makes any sense.
00:45:07.599 --> 00:45:28.079
And I wonder if you're my sense is people are excited that they know that not just for mayor, but there's a lot of uh positions that are that are wide open and people seem for whatever reason like, okay, now I'm gonna I'm gonna throw my hat in the ring or whatever, and there's more opportunities to uh get in the ear of some folks.
00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:31.360
Do you find that people are like, well, thank goodness you're running?
00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:37.360
Uh I think you will have an open mind, and like are people kind of like relieved, excited, you know, in that way?
00:45:37.679 --> 00:45:40.719
Yeah, I mean people seem to be very positive.
00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:48.719
I you know, we have to take that, you know, some decisions do have to be made behind closed doors, some things do have to be kept, you know, private or confidential.
00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:53.920
Um, you know, other things the community can weigh in on or you know, give ideas on.
00:45:54.159 --> 00:46:18.320
I think the difference has shifted in that technology, has made things more available and you know, people putting information out there, like with my Facebook page, people have been very receptive to it and open and you know, giving that feedback or you know, responding to the survey because we have the technique technology and platforms available for me to be able to push information out to others so quickly.
00:46:18.559 --> 00:46:47.760
And so we didn't necessarily have that in the past, or you know, people aren't using social media in that way, and so now we're able to use that, and so that's why I think we can get that communication out there and get people to respond in a different way, and then it also goes to, you know, as far as the city, you know, modernizing it in that way so that we can blast out information, you know, to in in reason that's available that we can send out to the community.
00:46:47.920 --> 00:46:55.519
Um, that's my you know, ethics and conflicts background coming out, um, that we can make available as quickly as possible.
00:46:55.679 --> 00:46:59.599
So is it, you know, do we need, you know, a social media person?
00:46:59.760 --> 00:47:01.039
Do we need a website person?
00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:06.559
Because right now it's more of this person is doing it and has X number of responsibilities.
00:47:06.719 --> 00:47:14.719
Do we need someone dedicated to that because the community does want to have the information available to them fairly quickly?
00:47:15.119 --> 00:47:20.480
Um we have new, you know, news sources that are out right now, um, you know, GNG on demand.
00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:25.519
I mean, they blast things out very quickly now that we didn't have available before.
00:47:25.840 --> 00:47:35.679
Um so I think we just have more technology and information available because of different platforms and you know, social media being one of those main ones.
00:47:35.760 --> 00:47:37.760
So then it's just looking at the city.
00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:46.159
How can we modernize and so that we can communicate with the community in in reason?
00:47:46.400 --> 00:47:46.960
Yeah.
00:47:47.280 --> 00:47:53.599
Um uh how's the campaign going and what are some of the ways that you are campaigning?
00:47:53.760 --> 00:47:57.599
I would assume it will change as we get closer and closer and closer to November.
00:47:57.760 --> 00:48:00.719
But how's it going and what kind of things are you doing and gonna do?
00:48:01.039 --> 00:48:02.719
Yeah, so it's going very well.
00:48:02.800 --> 00:48:21.920
Um as of now, I'm posting weekly on my Facebook page, just you know, talking about different things that I've seen in the city or my different platforms and elaborating on those a bit more, uh hosting events, uh, working on hosting, you know, monthly events up until the election in July.
00:48:22.000 --> 00:48:38.800
Uh so in June, I had a coffee, you know, had several people attend that just to talk, you know, answer any questions that they had, uh, met at you know school grounds, went through questions, you know, grabbed coffee, uh, pretty, you know, informal, just having a conversation with the community and just you know putting myself out there.
00:48:39.039 --> 00:48:46.719
In July, this is where I'm meeting with more of the um city employees and calling and meeting with individuals.
00:48:46.800 --> 00:48:52.639
So July, I'm using it more to focus on these individual meetings, hence why I'm here at this podcast today.
00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:58.159
You know, getting lots of those things scheduled and phone calls scheduled this month, and then August.
00:48:58.320 --> 00:49:02.079
I have an event August 5th at the sports complex.
00:49:02.239 --> 00:49:17.280
So similar to the coffee, but rented a basketball court and then a um room so parents can come in the room planning on having the survey results there so that everyone can see, okay, this is how What's the date of that?
00:49:17.519 --> 00:49:20.559
August 5th, 5 30 to 7 at the sports complex.
00:49:20.639 --> 00:49:22.000
Room 3, court three.
00:49:22.480 --> 00:49:22.800
Uh-huh.
00:49:22.960 --> 00:49:23.119
Okay.
00:49:23.840 --> 00:49:24.480
That's a great idea.
00:49:24.719 --> 00:49:28.079
Yeah, and so the kids can go in, you know, play in the gym.
00:49:28.239 --> 00:49:47.119
Parents can come in or bring their kids in, you know, to the room as well, just to, you know, see the survey results, have a conversation with me, planning on doing, you know, pizza and drinks because it is during dinner time, um, and just putting myself out there again just to meet the community and get feedback.
00:49:47.360 --> 00:49:49.760
Haven't planned an event for September yet.
00:49:49.840 --> 00:49:56.079
I'm sure it'll be somewhere around Hamdays, and then we'll plan, you know, some final events for October leading up to the race.
00:49:56.239 --> 00:50:00.079
So just trying to get out there and say, hey, I'm running for mayor.
00:50:01.119 --> 00:50:03.280
What do you want to have a conversation about?
00:50:03.440 --> 00:50:04.719
Here are my platforms.
00:50:04.880 --> 00:50:06.559
How does that fit into what you want?
00:50:06.719 --> 00:50:09.199
And then also try, like I said, getting that feedback.
00:50:09.360 --> 00:50:11.199
Does this affect so much of the city?
00:50:11.360 --> 00:50:17.360
Maybe I need to tweak one of my you know, four platforms, or maybe I need to expand on it.
00:50:17.440 --> 00:50:23.760
Because at the end of the day, everything, you know, my decisions are always geared to does it benefit the city?
00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:24.159
Right.
00:50:24.400 --> 00:50:25.440
That means yeah.
00:50:25.519 --> 00:50:26.880
So just yeah.
00:50:27.119 --> 00:50:28.320
So the campaign's going well.
00:50:28.480 --> 00:50:30.880
Have ordered signs from Newcomb Graphics.
00:50:30.960 --> 00:50:36.320
I've already got those, they're in my garage, you know, ready to go whenever the time is allowed.
00:50:36.559 --> 00:50:37.360
Um, you know.
00:50:37.679 --> 00:50:38.079
All right.
00:50:38.400 --> 00:50:39.039
Yeah.
00:50:39.360 --> 00:50:48.800
Um, and your husband's uh was there any um uh convincing curve that had curve that had to be overcome uh with him, or was he pretty much good with this?
00:50:49.199 --> 00:50:51.679
Yes, he was absolutely 100% behind me.
00:50:51.760 --> 00:51:00.239
He's very supportive, has always been very supportive, and he is, you know, his question was like, absolutely, you know, why not you?
00:51:00.320 --> 00:51:03.599
Like I think you absolutely could do this, you have great ideas.
00:51:03.760 --> 00:51:09.840
So it was never a question, it was more of him questioning me like, are you going to go file or when are you going to file?
00:51:09.920 --> 00:51:12.719
Like, this is what you want to do, do it.
00:51:12.960 --> 00:51:13.199
Right.
00:51:13.440 --> 00:51:13.599
Right.
00:51:13.840 --> 00:51:21.039
So I'm more of a private person, like, I don't want to put myself out there, and you know, but he was 100% supportive of it.
00:51:21.360 --> 00:51:21.920
Well, that helps.
00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:26.079
I guess I would have been shocked if you had said anything else, but uh it does help.
00:51:26.239 --> 00:51:31.280
He is He's not liking it, and our our divorce is final in October.
00:51:33.519 --> 00:51:37.519
Um yeah, so he's been at you know as many as events as he can be.
00:51:37.679 --> 00:51:43.519
Uh, of course, he has you know men's league at the country club on Wednesday, so he gets you know hounded with questions.
00:51:43.599 --> 00:51:45.360
Some commitments are inviolable.
00:51:45.599 --> 00:51:45.840
Yes.
00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:50.159
He's he's the grocery shopper at the house, and he's like, I'm not sure I can go to Kroger now.
00:51:50.239 --> 00:51:55.119
Like after I've filed, he's like, people may stop me in the aisles and I do not know who they are.
00:51:55.360 --> 00:51:55.599
Right.
00:51:55.760 --> 00:51:58.559
Um the tobacco and sunglasses.
00:51:59.920 --> 00:52:02.719
Well, Jasmine, uh, thank you so much for coming on.
00:52:02.800 --> 00:52:04.559
I'm glad we finally got around to this.
00:52:04.639 --> 00:52:09.199
I'm excited to see how your campaign goes and um wish you the very best of luck.
00:52:09.440 --> 00:52:10.239
Thanks very much.
00:52:10.480 --> 00:52:11.119
Absolutely.
00:52:11.280 --> 00:52:12.960
Uh, and thank you all for listening.
00:52:13.039 --> 00:52:20.079
Uh, this uh this particular episode uh is sponsored by my good friend and the friend of this show, Dennis George.
00:52:20.159 --> 00:52:22.320
Uh we uh thank him very much.
00:52:22.480 --> 00:52:23.840
Uh join us again.
00:52:23.920 --> 00:52:26.159
We'll have more podcasts a coming.
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