Brookhaven Police Officer Sudie Palomarez said she recentlyheard someone say, “Don’t just be there, be a part of it.”

The 47-year-old Democrat said that’s one of the things that hasinspired her last-minute bid to run for mayor in this year’smunicipal election. The deadline for qualification is 5 p.m.Friday.

But there’s another bigger issue, she said. Palomarez has beenin Afghanistan for the last three years, training new policeofficers. She said living in that environment has taught her a lotabout what she wants from the world, and for it.

“Over the past three years I’ve been in a country where womencan’t do anything, so for me everything is different now,” shesaid. “I try to take advantage of being a free woman. We deservechoices, and if nobody runs to give us that choice, we don’t haveone.”

Palomarez, a Brookhaven native, has been in police work in thestate of Washington and in Lincoln County for more than 15 yearsbefore going to Afghanistan. She recently returned home and hasbought a house in Brookhaven.

“I’ve been all over the world and Brookhaven is home for me. Iunderstand the whole concept of the Homeseekers Paradise becausethere’s no place in the world like Brookhaven,” she said. “That’swhy I came home.”

Looking ahead, Palomarez said she knows one thing: She wants tocontinue her public service work, and she wants to give all she canto the city she loves.

“I’m not a politician as such, so I won’t make a bunch ofpromises that I don’t know if I can keep at this point,” she said.”I can promise people, however, that I will do the best I can forBrookhaven and its people, as well as the people that visit andwork here.”

Palomarez faces Board of Supervisors President the Rev. JerryWilson in the May 5 Democratic primary, and the winner will take onIndependent Alderman at large Les Bumgarner in the June 2 generalelection. Incumbent Mayor Bob Massengill is not running forre-election.