The County Trustee has been a constitutional office in Tennessee since the beginning of the state, being an appointive office by the county court in the 1796 Constitution but becoming a popularly elective office in the 1835 Constitution and remaining so under the 1870 Constitution and its 1978 amendment. The trustee is elected to a four-year term of office in the August general election in same year that the governor is elected. T.C.A. Section 8-11-101.

TRUSTEE EXPERIENCE

Brenda has over 21 years experience in Montgomery County Government. She began her service to Montgomery County in 1975 as a Senior Deputy Trustee. In 1998, she was elected as District 2 County Commissioner and served two terms on the County Commission .

In August, 2006, with three names on the ballot and after receiving over 57% of the Montgomery County vote, Brenda was elected as Montgomery County Trustee.

Brenda is married to Al Radford. They have one son, Jonathan Emerson Radford. Jonathan is married to Kimberly Lumpkins Radford. Brenda's interests include gardening, reading, singing and visiting with her family and friends. They have two beloved family pets, Penny Lane and Abbey Dash.

Through her marriage to Al, Brenda's family have lived in Montgomery County for more than five generations. Their family have owned and operated small businesses in Montgomery County for four generations.

TRUSTEE EDUCATION

• University of Tennessee , Institute for Public Service, Certified Public Administrator, May 12, 2000.
• University of Tennessee , Institute for Public Service, Local Government Leadership Certificate, October 26, 2001.
• Clarksville High School , Class of 1973

TRUSTEE MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES

• Middle Tennessee Trustee's Association, Vice-President 2007-2008.
• Tennessee Trustee's Association
• Tennessee Government Finance Officers Association
• National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers and Finance Officers
• County Officials Association of Tennessee
• County Officials Association of Tennessee Board of Directors 2007-2009
• Tennessee Rehabilitation Center Board of Directors
• Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Clarksville, Board of Directors
• 2001 Leadership Clarksville
• Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Clarksville Downtown Civitan
• Montgomery County Historical Society
• Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee
• Friends of Dunbar Cave Board
• Association of the United States Army
• Humane Society of the United States
• United Way, Cumberland Society
• Preschool Sunday School Leader for over 25 years
• Hilldale Baptist Church

TRUSTEE ACHEIVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

• February, 2007- For the first time, the Trustee's Office began opening the office on Saturday Mornings in February to deliver improved customer service.
• June 30, 2007-FY 2006-07; County Idle Funds Investment Interest Revenue increased 87.83% over FY 2005-06 Investment Interest Revenue. This is a $3,474,399.00 increase in revenue not anticipated in the FY2006-07 Budget.
• Brenda Radford, Montgomery County Trustee, is often asked to speak to church, community or civic organizations about the various duties and services of the Trustee's Office. Some of the topics discussed are as follows: Montgomery County Economy, Growth Trends in Montgomery and Surrounding Counties, Interest Rates in Banking, Tax Collections, the Tennessee Tax Freeze 2007, Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled Homeowners, Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans or their Surviving Spouses; and, Tax Relief for Widow/ers of Casualty of War.
• August, 2007-Montgomery County's Moody bond Rating is upgraded from an A1 to Aa3. This improvement reflects steady growth in the county's large tax base, an expanding economy anchored by a large, growing military base, strong operations and an above average debt burden. An "A" rating considers bonds to be upper-medium grade and pose a low credit risk, while an "Aa" rating considers the bond to be high quality and subject to very low credit risk."

COUNTY COMMISSION COMMITTEES AND ACTIVITIES:

• District Two, Montgomery County Commissioner 1998-2006
• Animal Control & Adoption Service, (Chair, Dec., 1998-Feb, 2001)
• Chaplain of the County Commission October 1, 1999 until September, 2001 (first Chaplain to invite area Pastors to give the Invocation)
• Economic Development Council 2003-2005
• Fire Protection, Chairman (First Female Montgomery County Commissioner to serve) (Chairman 2002-03)
• Information Systems
• Legislative Liaison (1998-2001)
• Loss Control Committee
• Millennium Commission, Secretary (1999-2003)
• Millennium Commission Historic Picture Committee, Chairman (1999-2003)
• Purchasing, (Chair, Jan 1, 1999-Feb. 1, 2000)
• School Liaison, Chairman (2002-2003)
• Audit Committee
• Water Sculpture Selection Committee - Sculpture to be located on the Millennium Plaza.
• Montgomery County 's Representative on the Arts Reach Steering Committee-an A.P.S.U. Grant that studied the Economic Impact of the Cultural Arts in Montgomery County .
• University of Tennessee , Center for Government Training, Middle Tennessee Advisory Board
• Clarksville/Montgomery County Veteran 's Home Board

COUNTY COMMISSION AWARDS AND ACHEIVEMENTS:

• May 17, 2000-Our City Newspaper-People and Writer's Choice-Best County Commissioner
• May 30, 2001-Our City Newspaper-People's Choice Award for Best County Commissioner and Hardest Working Community Leader; placed third runner up for People's Choice Up-and Coming Political Figure
• February 27, 2002 Our City Newspaper-People's Choice Awards for Best County Commissioner and Hardest Working Community Leader; placed second place for Up-and-Coming Political Figure and third place for Most Admired Local Public Figure.
• 1999-2003 Historic Picture Project Chairman-responsible for organizing and leading the Historic Picture Committee that placed 151 sepia-toned reproductions that are displayed in a brochure and on the renovated Historic Courthouse and Courts Center walls. The Montgomery County Archives received negatives of the 497 pictures that were donated and photographed.
• January 22, 2003, Grand Opening of the Historic Courthouse, Montgomery County Courts Complex and the Millennium Plaza .
• When Brenda served on the Montgomery County Commission-Montgomery County 's Moody Bond Rating improved on November 29, 2000 from A2 to an A1 rating-the first time since 1967.