• ABOUT

    Barbara Sturgeon

JOIN MY NEWSLETTER

Get the latest information as it applies to your neighborhood!

ABOUT BARB

TRAVEL

Barb and her family moved to Singapore in 1996 where they lived for 4 years. Traveling to many different countries throughout Asia and Europe was a culturally enriching experience that gave Barb a better world perspective and a richer appreciation for her American citizenship.

Barb learned that America is truly the most innovative country in the world and one of the friendliest.

GROWING UP

Born in Rocky River, Ohio to a father who was a small-business owner and a mother who was a violin teacher / stay at home mom, Barb was one of seven children. Her father taught Barb and her siblings the benefit of good education and hard work as he successfully led his business from one small hardware store into three while also helping to support the home. Barb’s mother instilled in her children the high value of a strong family and deep, abiding faith.

EDUCATION

Barb graduated from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering before going to work for Armour-Dial Corp. as an industrial engineer and plant supervisor.

She later worked as a Project Management Engineer at John Brown Engineering in Chicago until she left the workplace to raise a family.

Home & Family

Returning to the United States, Barb and her family moved to Williamson County, TN in 2010. There, they became and remain members of St. Henry Catholic Parish. Barb and her husband, Rob, have three wonderful daughters who graduated from St. Cecilia Academy.

Their son, and eldest child, lives in Fairview with his wife and five young children. He works in the IT Services industry. The eldest daughter graduated with a degree in Journalism and is a freelance writer. Daughter #2 graduated with a degree in Business and works in Nashville, while the youngest has graduated with a Master’s in Architecture and is working in Franklin, TN.

Barb is an avid baker, quilter, knitter, and gardener, and earned her Master Gardener Certificate here in Williamson County. She very much enjoyed her volunteer Master Gardener hours at the Giving Garden in Franklin. She also enjoys her husband’s penchant for gourmet food and wine, a joint passion of theirs. They work with one another to manage an Airbnb and other rental properties they own together.

Public Service as a County Commissioner

Barb made the decision to run for office in 2014 because she believes government operates at its best when citizens participate.

Since her election, Barb has addressed her constituents’ concerns and become more passionate than ever about citizen involvement.

Because of this, Barb maintains a monthly newsletter for keeping county residents informed on Williamson County Commission business and holds monthly coffees at The Good Cup, where she meets with residents at a local Coffee Shop so she can listen to them in person, hear their concerns, and work with them to build and maintain a great community.

The past 12 years of serving her District have allowed Barb to learn and understand what is important to her neighbors in District 8 as individuals and as a whole. She looks forward to serving another 4 years.

Barbara Sturgeon

POLITICAL PLATFORM

Vote for Barbara Sturgeon

Since being elected to this office 12 years ago, I have enjoyed building relationships with those who have reached out to me with their concerns. I want to hear what you have to say, and I want to help.

I urge you to connect with me so that together, we can keep what is important to Williamson Countians and make our community stronger and an even better place to live.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference—for our families, our communities, and our country.

Sensible County Growth

As your representative, I have advocated for reasonably judicious checks and balances on new development. My goal for this has always been to protect the safety and welfare of the community, and to adhere to the goals of our zoning ordinance.

However, new development threatens to choke our roads and infringe upon areas our County has slated for Rural Preservation.  I have challenged and continue to question traffic studies that imply the current congestion on Sneed and Hillsboro Roads is acceptable. The increasing traffic congestion over the last 12 years proves the need to improve how we plan new development, how we assess needed road improvements, and how we fund them. We must find a way to improve the county’s ability to assess the future impact of new development, especially on our roads. We need more accurate traffic studies.

For decades, the state has woefully underfunded Williamson County in education compared to almost all other Tennessee counties.  Williamson County is getting nearly half the funding compared to other counties. For our schools to continue growing with our population, we need fair funding; otherwise, county taxpayers are forced to make up the difference. Considering the large portion Williamson County contributes to the state of Tennessee’s revenue, it is short-sighted for the state to underfund state road improvements, which are needed for economic growth.

Let us welcome new residents to our beautiful community in an intelligent, responsible, and calculated way that can be supported by our current or prudently expanded infrastructure.

Government Transparency

It has been a pleasure promoting and initiating open communications with residents in our community. I keep all interested parties informed through my bi-monthly newsletter and actively listen to your concerns during monthly Coffee Meetings at “The Good Cup” in Grassland Village. I want to know your concerns because my goal is to represent your interests on the County Commission.

Fiscal Responsibility

My vision for our schools is excellence in education achieved with responsible funding.

I am fighting for fairness in Tennessee state funding of education dollars for Williamson County Schools, and am 1 of 6 petitioners in a lawsuit with the state of Tennessee demanding Williamson County’s fair share of education TISA funding. The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed a 3 judge panel to hear this case, which should go to trial at the end of 2027. The state has woefully underfunded Williamson County in education compared to almost all other Tennessee counties for years, and it gets worse with each passing year, with Williamson County getting nearly half compared to other counties. For our schools to continue growing, for our county to keep providing a large portion of the state of Tennessee’s revenue, we need fair funding; otherwise, county taxpayers are forced to make up the difference. This is especially true in state road infrastructure funding within Williamson County, which needs expansion due to growth and age.

While the state allows us to utilize little other than property taxes to pay for the operation of our rapidly-growing County, I have advocated for creative alternatives that can help us raise needed revenue. These alternatives include the ‘Educational Impact’ fee on new residential construction and supporting the sale of available county assets, such as the Cool Springs Convention Center. Still, increased funding for what the state is responsible for is still needed.

The Williamson County Commission recently voted to take on approximately $300,000,000+ of bond debt for an expanded rebuild of Williamson County’s jail, juvenile detention center, and juvenile judicial system. With the rapid growth Williamson County has experienced over the last 20 years, these projects are desperately needed, but I believe that we could do better at making tough choices to cut project costs to reduce the resulting debt. Next up is ~$100,000,oo0 for a new county courthouse. I supported the creation of the Courthouse Task Force, recently charged with determining the best choice for where and how we build a new courthouse while minimizing the project cost.

Twelve years ago, I voted in support of studying the Williamson County medical center to assess its future economic health and make informed decisions on its future.  Unfortunately, having this discussion was not approved by the majority of the commissioners. Recently, the Hospital Board has entered a phase of “Strategic Planning” and will be making a recommendation to the Commission regarding selling Williamson Health or not. I will strive to keep the welfare of my constituents, their health, and as taxpayers first.

In 2025, Tennessee boasts a debt per capita of approximately $1952 per Tennessean. For Williamson Countians, it is an additional $4036 of county debt.

Critical County Resources

I am very proud of our law enforcement community, who serve and protect us with character and integrity. Sheriff Jeff Hughes has made remarkable improvements in the Sheriff’s Office and has improved employee recruitment and retention, bolstered by increased funding by the County Commission, which I supported.

I will endeavor to pay our law enforcement employees more competitive wages in order to continue getting the best of the best for Williamson County. Not only for law enforcement employees but for all critical and harder to recruit teachers and county employees.

ENDORSEMENTS

If there were a “constituent care” award given to County Commissioners, Commissioner Sturgeon would be the recipient. A most common phrase, usually prefacing her public comments, for which Barb is noted is “my constituents think” or “my constituents want to know”. Commissioner Sturgeon knows this axiom of governing very well.

With regard to strategic planning, controlled growth, and fiscal responsibility, Barb is your gal. She has worked hard to increase transparency, get straight answers, and encourage frugal budgeting in an environment that is quite difficult to navigate such principles. Endorsing Commissioner Sturgeon in her efforts toward re-election is a pleasure and an honor.

There are few servant leaders of this caliber. Citizens of the 8th District will be blessed to once again have Commissioner Barb Sturgeon continue her service to them four more years.

I am happy to endorse Barb Sturgeon as she campaigns for a second term as our representative to the Williamson County Commission. Barb has been diligent in keeping us informed regarding issues coming before the Commission. She sends notices of the agenda, meets with constituents on a regular basis, and sends followup after each Commission meeting to let us know the results of the meetings.

She has been very responsive to requests for assistance from our neighborhood and very helpful in providing information about how best to navigate Williamson County offices. Barb is always respectful and seeks to serve the needs of her constituents, regardless of political viewpoint, and I think her experience and wide ranging knowledge of the people and issues in Williamson County will be invaluable.

“I appreciate the leadership Barb Sturgeon has demonstrated on the county commission for the past 8 years. She has been a real asset to District 8 and has to the County.

Barb has always been responsive and available to listen and understand my concerns and suggestions.

Barb is a true advocate for sensible county growth. She values the natural beauty and charm of Williamson County and is willing to work towads preserving and protecting it.”

Franklin has been our home for over 20  years. Of all the County Commissioners, School Board Members, Planning Commissioners, and Mayors we have met, above all, Barb Sturgeon has been the most helpful, the most available to constituents, and the hardest working local government servant.

Barb sends monthly emails highlighting local government issues as well as meets with residents each month at a local coffee shop to keep her constituents informed. Barb has assisted us in navigating the workings of local government and has provided a much-needed liaison for concerned citizens. Barb has been a strong advocate for preserving our county’s heritage through responsible development.

She has represented her constituents well, advocating for fiscally wise leadership and transparency.  With genuine enthusiasm, we strongly endorse Barb Sturgeon for re-election as a Williamson County Commissioner.

It is my great pleasure to endorse Barb Sturgeon to continue to serve as one of the Williamson County Commissioners for District 8. Throughout her 8 years on the County Commission, Barb has consistently sought to bring about efficiency, transparency, and accountability from county government to its citizens.

She seeks to get to the truth in every issue. She is the role model  on the commission for communicating with her constituents, authoring a newsletter and meeting with any interested parties at a convenient location every month. We are very fortunate to have Barb’s dedicated service to the people of District 8.

Barb Sturgeon is known as a strong proponent of creative solutions to the issues Williamson County is facing. She has demonstrated over the past four years that she is focused on the best interests of the residents of this community and is an advocate for low taxes.

She regularly seeks input from her constituents via regular newsletters and constituent coffees. Barb is a Commissioner who encourages pursuing new solutions to problems rather than just accepting the status quo.

I strongly endorse Barb Sturgeon for re-election to the Williamson County Commission.

PreviousNext