By Rachel Sawicki

Jeffery Broughton Sr., 47

Work and/or education: Lead pastor of Living Grace Worship Cathedral; clinical hospice chaplain since 2006; owner and president of Grace Transportation; worked in the airline industry for 18 years.

Family: Married with two children.

Middletown residency: Eight years, lives in the Parkside community.

Q: Why are you running for Middletown City Council?

A: I believe that my leadership and my experience could definitely enhance our community. I worked on all levels in outreach and volunteerism, from the local to county to state.

Q: What is your top priority?

A: Safety is a major concern in keeping Middletown a family-oriented town. Additionally, our veterans, our youth and our seniors are very dear to my heart, and making sure we have men and women of all colors represented in our community.

Q: The Middletown comprehensive plan is due for an update this year. How has the town met some of its goals from previous plans and what should be included in the update?

A: We know that Middletown is growing on various levels, and there’s a lot of concerns within the community regarding space, land usage, traffic, pollution emissions. The main thing that I would focus on in this comprehensive plan is safety and the growth of Middletown, like what we can handle and what we cannot handle, and what is going to be more beneficial for the growth and development of our community.

Q: Does Middletown need more new homes and commercial spaces or better utilization of existing structures?

A: I believe in building up rather (than) out at this time because there is so much new development. Everyone is entitled to move to a great community for education, work and health and wellness. But I think we have to improve what we have before adding more. … Otherwise, there’s a chance that something could be overlooked or missed.