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Mayoral forum: Incumbent Rocio Trimino Lopez and Stephon Lagan emphasize communication, resident services and safety
Summary
At a Brentwood candidate forum, Mayor Rocio Trimino Lopez and challenger Stephon Lagan outlined competing approaches to improving resident services, traffic safety and housing enforcement while debating how the town should handle human-rights divestment and immigration protections ahead of the May 5 election.
Rocio Trimino Lopez, the town’s incumbent mayor, and challenger Stephon Lagan laid out contrasting but overlapping plans for Brentwood at a candidate forum focused on resident services, public safety and local government transparency.
In her opening remarks, Mayor Rocio Trimino Lopez highlighted her record on pedestrian safety, school engagement and fiscal balance, saying she has worked "to attract millions of dollars of investment" and would continue prioritizing inclusion and services for Brentwood’s large Latino community. Stephon Lagan emphasized improved communication systems and customer-focused resident services, saying, "Residents shouldn't have to chase information" and proposing quarterly community meetings, office hours with the mayor and a social services coordinator to connect residents with county and state resources.
The candidates both addressed how the town should respond as higher-level funding tightens. Lopez advocated strategic private-sector partnerships and energy-efficiency investments to lower long-term costs. Lagan urged an aggressive push for grants and bond funding with county and state representatives and closer cooperation with neighboring municipalities to pool services.
The forum turned to public-safety issues. On traffic calming, Lopez backed data-driven measures, including cameras and pilot programs, and said "the data doesn't lie" about speeding through town. Lagan described a recently funded comprehensive traffic safety plan (the town issued an RFP for engineering) and recommended interim "tactical urbanism" fixes—small, low-cost changes—to reduce immediate danger while the plan is developed.
On housing and code enforcement, Lagan argued Brentwood needs better tools for rental inspections—"purchase software" to speed inspections and outreach so renters know their rights—while a candidate who has worked in enforcement cautioned that strict code action can displace tenants and should be paired with tenant supports and landlord collaboration.
The candidates were asked about a recent town resolution affirming Brentwood's commitment to human rights and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza; the moderator framed the question noting that resolution. Lopez said she sponsored and brought the measure to the council; Lagan said decisions about divesting town or county funds would be a joint mayor-and-council determination and proposed creating standards and measurable criteria to guide any investment or disinvestment choices.
On immigration enforcement, Lagan said the town has a long-standing non-intervention practice and that local police "cannot help with immigration matters when ICE comes into town," adding he would prioritize helping residents understand their rights and find resources. Lopez said she has been working with county officials and local churches to prepare legal-rights trainings and community resources.
The forum closed with reminders of an April 27 in-person meet-and-greet and the May 5 election. Both candidates said they would prioritize communication, services and safety, offering voters different methods for reaching those goals.
The forum was hosted online by Jess Elliott Meyer, the town’s chief election judge, with Spanish interpretation provided by Gustavo. The moderator was Aarti Anantha Narayanan.
