Brant Owens for Campbell County Commissioner

05/31/2026

I could learn a thing or two from my campaign manager.

Not sure I could get away with booping a wet nose against your calf and demanding a head rubbing, but he does make friends easily.

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

Popped into the Sustainability Fair and Community Yard Sale at AJ Jolly Park.

It’s always encouraging to see people finding practical ways to reduce waste, support local vendors, and take pride in their community.

Plus, the Leo the corgi got to campaign a little too. 🐾

05/28/2026

This really resonates with me.

I grew up in Bellevue, back when childhood meant roaming the neighborhood until the streetlights came on. We walked everywhere. Along the streets and alleyways. To school and to the park. Through the woods to baseball practice at the Bellevue Vets. To friends' houses. To the corner store. We knew our neighbors, and our neighbors knew us.

And if you were seen misbehaving, your mom probably got a phone call before you even made it home.

The neighborhood itself gave us independence. But it also gave us accountability, connection, and a sense that people were looking out for one another.

Looking back, that wasn't just luck. It was the result of how communities were built.

Walkable streets. Connected neighborhoods. Parks nearby. Slower traffic. Places where people naturally crossed paths and looked out for one another.

Good physical communities create stronger personal communities. You get to know people when you actually see them. Kids build friendships naturally. Neighbors become familiar faces instead of strangers behind garage doors. Trust grows out of repeated, everyday interactions.

A lot of modern development has drifted away from that. Longer distances. Faster roads. Fewer sidewalks. More isolation. Childhood increasingly happens indoors, supervised, and scheduled.

I don't think that's inevitable.

Growth should not just be about adding more rooftops. It should be about building places where people can actually live well, and communities where people actually live together. Places where kids can safely explore, neighbors know each other, and everyday life feels connected instead of fragmented.

That's part of what I mean when I talk about "Start with the Basics."

Nothing happens if you do nothing.

We often blame screens for why kids don’t spend time outside anymore. But there’s another possibility worth considering: many communities no longer make independent childhood realistic.

Parents notice traffic speeds, long distances, missing sidewalks, and places where there’s nowhere comfortable to stop or gather. In many places, there are no “eyes on the street,” meaning trusted neighbors, familiar faces, or simply friendly people spending time outside.

So even short trips start requiring an adult with a vehicle.

A friend’s house becomes something that has to be scheduled in advance, getting to school requires a ride, and hanging out somewhere often means spending money.

Over time, childhood becomes increasingly indoors, supervised, and isolated.

Kids tend to use places that feel safe, connected, and welcoming to them. When those conditions disappear, outdoor life disappears with them.

What would it look like to build neighborhoods where parents felt comfortable giving kids a little freedom again?

05/27/2026

“Walk With Elected Officials.”

Simple. Accessible. Human.

I saw this recently from Bike Walk Knoxville and thought: that’s what local government should look like.

Not everyone can make it to a formal public meeting. But walking a neighborhood together? That’s different. More grounded. More real.

If elected, I’d organize regular walks like this throughout Campbell County. Different cities. Different neighborhoods. Different rural communities. Rotating. Consistent.

Elected officials shouldn’t just govern from a dais. They should show up where people actually live.

Sometimes the best way to understand a community is simply to walk it with the people who call it home.

Nothing happens if you do nothing.

05/25/2026

This photo came from an in-law of mine. We disagree a lot on many issues.

But I’m always happy to see her. And judging by the way she yelled to get my attention, she’s not too upset when she sees me either. I won’t assume she’s voting for me.

That’s okay.

Because at the end of the day, local government shouldn’t be about hating each other. It should be about doing the work. Showing up. Listening. Taking people seriously, even when you disagree with them.

I think Campbell County is hungry for a little more of that.

05/25/2026

WOW! I’m humbled with the support for today’s parade and the friendly faces I saw along the route.

Showing up matters. And people showed up for me today.

Nothing happens if you do nothing.

05/25/2026

Rally point for the parade - 3rd and Clay Streets in Dayton!