Bill Freeman's company chosen to serve as administrator of Nashville's Housing Incentive Pilot Program.

HIPP will allow developers and apartment owners to seek grants from Metro to offer mixed-income workforce housing in new and existing developments

Metro Press release - At a networking reception hosted at Emma Bistro on Tuesday night, Mayor Megan Barry announced the start of the Housing Incentive Pilot Program. Created by the Mayor’s Office and approved by the Metro Council, HIPP was designed with feedback from the developer and housing advocate communities to help address the need for workforce housing in Nashville.

“In order to meet the unique housing needs of people of all economic strata, we need a diverse set of tools and policies that will result in more individuals and families finding the housing options they need to succeed,” said Mayor Megan Barry. “HIPP will help us to incentivize mixed-income housing developments that will preserve the option for teachers, construction workers, service employees, and others to live and work in Nashville.”

HIPP was developed to work in concert with the Metro Council’s Inclusionary Housing Policy, BL2016-133, while also operating as a stand-alone incentive program for apartment owners and developers in Nashville. The Freeman Webb Company, which has experience administering programs for MDHA and other affordable housing developments throughout the county, was recently awarded the contract to serve as the administrative agency for the program.

Under the program, developers wishing to take advantage of the incentive program would need to provide affordable or workforce housing at a rate that is equal to or less than 30% of an individual or family’s household income. For example, utilizing the 2015 figures, the maximum monthly rental for a family of four making 60% of MHI, or $35,882 would be $897. For a family of four at the workforce level making $71,764, or 120% of MHI, the maximum rent would be $1,794.

Developers who meet these terms can apply for a grant to cover the difference between the price of market-rate housing and the price of the affordable or workforce housing units. For example, a developer who has market-rate apartments at $1,500 a month and offers comparable below-market housing units for $1,200 would get a grant for the difference of $300 per unit. For new construction the total grant will not exceed the cap of 50% of the increase in property tax value. The program also allows for existing residential units to be converted with the total grant not exceeding the cap of 20% of the property tax value.

“Having diverse housing options is critical to Nashville’s continued success,” said Adriane Harris, Senior Advisor –Affordable Housing. “We’re excited to announce an additional tool for developers to assist in increasing the housing supply needed to retain our teachers, hospitality workers, recent college graduates, and other residents who simply need a place to call home.”

The Metro Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 that will allow the program to operate for the remainder of FY16-17. Mayor Barry has proposed $2 million in the FY17-18 budget to continue the pilot program into the next year. For housing managers and developers seeking more information or wishing to apply, please visit http://hipp.nashville.gov

My Comment:  While Nashville's Inclusionary Housing Policy is likely to be invalidated by legislation working its way through the State legislature, the Housing Incentive Pilot Program would not be affected. The two policies were designed to work together. The Inclusionary Housing Policy was the stick and the Housing Incentive Pilot Program was the carrot. For more on this issue see, State legislature to stop Nashville's rental price-fixing policy from taking effect.
.

Top Stories

Freeman wants Mancini out

Freeman wants Mancini out  
Nashville Post -Failed Nashville mayoral candidate Bill Freeman is calling for Mary Mancini to step aside as the head of the Tennessee Democratic Party. According ...

Top Stories

Is Bill Freeman flying Black ministers to D.C to meet President Obama?

I honestly don't know. I have resisted the urge to run with a story on this blog unless I could substantiate it. After about eight years of blogging, only once I have I reported something as factual and then had to retract it. In this post I am simply reporting a rumor. This is a "word on the street" report and I do not know if it is true or not. I have heard this rumor from three different sources and the sources told me where they heard it. It sounds believable. The rumor is that Bill Freeman has flown several local Black ministers to Washington for a meet and greet with President Obama.

As one of the nation's leading raiser of funds for President Obama, I do not doubt that Freeman could call in such a favor. As a person who has shown he will spend whatever it takes and do whatever it takes to get elected, I do not think it beyond something Bill Freeman would do.  On the other hand, I think if it was true some of the Black ministers could not have resisted posting a selfie or bragging about their meeting with Obama on Facebook, so I don't know if it is true or not. 

If I had the time and a staff, I would try to track down this rumor and determine if it is true. I don't so I am simply reporting what is being rumored. If anyone can refute or confirm this rumor please post a reply or contact me at Rodwilliams47@yahoo.com. I urge The Tennessean or some other news organization with resource to investigate this. 

Top Stories

Bill Freeman wants a $12 minimum wage for Nashville

Mayoral candidate Bill Freeman has proposed a $12 minimum wage for Nashville, the effect of which would be to keep poor people poor and decrease opportunity for entry level jobs.

Freeman has proposed rising the minimum wage from $7.25, which is the current federal minimum, to $12 an hour. Thankfully, it is unlikely that out Republican controlled state legislature would permit Nashville to establish it's own minimum wage.

The effect of a minimum wage increase to $12 an hour would be that many jobs that now pay lower than that minimum would simply disappear, the way service station attendant jobs and bag boy jobs, which included loading your groceries in your car, disappeared long ago.  The number of people employed in the fast food industry would shrink as automated ordering and paying would increase. Many employees would see their hours cut. Another effect would be that a lot of things we purchase would increase in price.

Unfortunately, many people are not worth $12 an hour but finding a minimum wage job gives them an opportunity to learn work skills and develop work habits which opens the door for better paying jobs later. Increasing the minimum wage is cutting off the lower rungs of the latter of opportunity for the poor.

Freeman is the first mayoral candidate to openly campaign for an increase in the minimum wage but Megan Barry has spoken favorably of a local minimum wage and has said $11.04 an hour would constitute a "living wage."  I think the other candidates should out bid Freeman. Megan Barry should say she wants people to have more than just a "living wage," that working people deserve some luxuries and entertainment and other pleasures of life also and that she thinks a $15.50 minimum wage is about right. Then Kane or Rebrovick or Gentry should say, no, that is still niggardly, it is unfair that their are any poor people. Make it $17 an hours, or $18 an hour, or $20 an hour.

I know! The area median income for a single person in Nashville is $44,800. Divide that by 52 weeks and divide that by 40 hours and that comes to $21.54 an hour. Make the minimum wage $21.54 and hour and Bingo!, we have ended poverty and all people make at least the median income!

To read the Tennessean report on Freeman's proposal follow this link.

Top Stories

Bill Freeman makes a LOT of $$, but all of the mayoral canididates do OK.

The Tennesssean had an article this morning reporting on the results of an examination of the tax return of all of the mayoral candidates.  All of the candidates voluntarily released their income tax returns. All except Howard Gentry are married and filed joint returns, so the income is for both husband and wife except for Gentry. Here is the adjusted gross income for each of the candidates ranked from most income to least:

Bill Feeman: $2,412,451
Linda Eskind Rebrovick: $963,883
David Fox: $643,254
Charles Robert Bone: $255,282
Megan Barry: $243,144
Jeremy Kane: $227,596
Howard Gentry: $130,522

 Bill Freeman make a lot of money and all of them make a lot more than the average person.  I don't really think that is important and is not one of the criteria that would influence me in determining for whom I vote. However I do like knowing, just in a nosy sort of curious way, not that I think it is an important fact.  To read the full Tennessean article follow this link.

Top Stories

Megan Barry charges that Bill Freeman can't be trusted to stand up for abortion rights.

There is not a whole lot the mayor can do about abortion.  Regulation of abortion is a function of the state government within the limits of Roe vs Wade which says a woman has a constitutional right to an abortion. A mayor could ensure the city has no contracts with Planned Parenthood and do a few minor things, but not much.  That has not kept the issue from entering into the mayor's race. If you are a subscriber to The Tennessean, you can read about it at this link.

In summary, this is what happened according to the Tennessean article. Bill Freeman was somewhere where some pro-life activist were demonstrating. The asked Freeman what he thinks about abortion and he said, "I think it's a horrible choice for a method of birth control, OK?" After further pressure to state a position, Freeman said, "I appreciate what you're doing, and get out there and fight the fight."

Well, his comments were caught on camera and mayoral candidate and at-large Council member Megan Barry say's that Freeman can't be trusted to stand up for women's reproductive rights. She also called it "demeaning to all women" to say that women terminate pregnancies as a form of birth control. I don't quite get how that is demeaning to women. If women are careless or if other forms of birth control fail, or a women changes her mind about becoming a mother, is not an abortion to control a birth? Control it, as in abort it?

In response to the controversy, Freeman said he supports a women's right to to make her own health care decisions and that the issue has no place in the mayor's race. "I am pro choice," he says. "Those decisions are between a woman, her doctor and her God."

I think Freeman's position is like that of a lot of liberals in that they support the right to abortion but do not think an abortion is something to celebrate. I wonder if Megan Barry is elected if she will issue a proclamation declaring a "Celebrate Abortions Day?"  It wouldn't surprise me. Of course liberals do not like to call an abortion, an abortion, so she would call it "Reproduction Rights Day" or "A Women's Right to to Make Her own Health Care Decisions Day."

Below is the video of Freeman's exchange with the pro-life demonstrators that started this controversy.

Top Stories

Former Police Chief Emmett Turner Endorses Bill Freeman for Mayor

Former Police Chief Emmett Turner Endorses Bill Freeman for Mayor and as far as I know, he is not on the Freeman for Mayor campaign payroll nor an employee of Freeman-Webb.

Top Stories

What Bill Freeman is saying to the African-American community. And just which canidadate is the Tea Party candidate?

From Tim Skow, Host of First Tuesday - By now you have seen a flood of Bill Freeman TV ads for Mayor.....touting "cotton candy platitudes" and how he wants to be good for all of Nashville. Yet, on radio stations known for their African-American audiences, Bill Freeman is playing ads [including the following] that are some of the most divisive ever heard in TN. Bill Freeman has hired the Campaign Manager used last year by ultra-Liberal New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. His ad says:

  "...and Bill Freeman was one of the first and and biggest supporters of Pres. Barack Obama and he's worked to stop the Tea Party's agenda."

https://soundcloud.com/freeman-for-mayor/radio-60-freeman-bill

Please... take a minute, click on the link above and listen to this ad. Realize, there isn't a single Tea Party candidate in the race ! Mr. Freeman is simply "baiting" this targeted minority audience !

When Bill Freeman spoke at 1ST TUESDAY, he said he believes Mr. Obama is the best President in recent history ! [ its on video! ]

I'd appreciate you taking a moment to forward this to those you know who care about Nashville's future.
Thanks,
Tim

Top Stories

The big Belmont mayoral debate. Who won?

Last night was the night of the big mayoral debate at Belmont University sponsored by The Tennessean and WSMV-TV Channel 4.  Unfortunately I was unable to watch the debate. It was live-streamed but I was otherwise occupied. Fortunately, it is achieved on YouTube. Here it is.


The format of this debate is such that not each candidate gets to answer each question but any candidate can give a quick rebuttal to what another candidate says. With seven candidates in the race, there  is no way to have a real debate unless it lasted hours and hours then no one would watch it, so this is probably about as good of a format as one could have. Also, since most of the candidates are saying the same thing, there is no point to hearing seven candidates say the same thing but just saying it a little differently. Here are some highlights:

Transit and the AMP: Megan Barry says she would chase federal dollars to get transit funding and that sidewalks would go some where. Bone did not say anything much different and said we need a local transit plan and a regional transit plan. David Fox said we must find ways to have the private sector meet some of our transit needs.

The Education Gap between the good schools and the bad schools. David Freeman Howard Gentry get asked this question and neither one answer it. Freeman says the Mayor cannot do much about our schools except be a cheerleader and he says our teachers are not getting a fair shake by all the criticism of our public schools. Gentry doesn't say anything of importance either.  Kane, Fox, Bone and Barry give a rebuttal but one can't say much in one minuet. Fox says the mayor can be very important in influencing school policy.  Megan Barry calls for universal pre-K which confirms why I think she is the worst choice for Mayor. Young children from two-parent middle class or privileged families who have parents that read to their children, give them experiences and engage them, do not need pre-K while kids living in the projects may benefit. Why make pre-K universal rather than focus on where it may actually do some good?

The move of the jail and police headquarters to Antioch and Jefferson St..  Kane and Rebrovick are asked how they would have handled this. Kane says we should start from the neighborhood up and not impose things on neighborhoods. Rebrovick gives a lame answer not addressing the question.

How much would you invest and how would you pay for mass transit: Fox says he cannot come up with a dollar amount and say lets spend that amount. He says we need to come up with a plan, see what we need, what we can afford and sequence that. He again says he would seek private sector partners. I like his answer. Gentry gives a lame answer and says he would seek regional funding. Kane says, "whatever it takes."  Rebrovick offers a rebuttal and says we need to use smart technology.

I am discontinuing my question-by-question report. You can watch the debate for yourself. To save time you can watch it in double time and not lose content, if you know how to do that. Here are some highlights and impression:

• Megan Barry says she would put more money into the office of neighborhoods and gives an endorsement of NashvilleNext.
• Howard Gentry in addressing the proposed $100 Million flood wall ask a question I have wondered about. He says the water diverted from flooding downtown by the wall has to go somewhere else and he would want to know who would be negatively impacted by protecting downtown from a flood. He says the flood wall needs more study.
• Freeman says he is frustrated that the first he knew of the flood wall proposal was when he read it in the newspaper. He says there needs to be discussion and debate before something like this happens. 
• Freeman says we need to pay our police, fireman and city workers more, especially the police.
• Gentry says what happened in Baltimore could happen in Nashville and we need to address inequality.
• Are we investing too much too quickly and should the public be concerned? No, says Gentry; Kane says we must invest in education and transit but does not answer the question; Bone says keep the momentum going and quotes the Bible as he often does; and Barry says we need to take the growth all of the way to the county line.
• Megan says everybody should have transit to get them wherever they want to go.
• Rebrovick keeps pushing synchronized traffic lights.
• Fox is the only candidate who expresses concern about our city's debt obligations.

All of the candidates are personable and seem like friendly, likable people. Charles bone is quick on his feet with zingers and is quick to quote the Bible. Just judging the candidates on performance as a campaign speaker, I think Bone is probably the best one to play the role of a mayoral candidate. Freeman seems like the closest to a good ole boy, backslapping politician and someone you might want to have a beer with.

Fox makes fewer bold and visionary statements and is a little less charismatic than some of the other candidates. When asked to name a song that would make a statement about their campaign, Fox could not come up with anything. I am not sure I could either on the spur of the moment, but anything would have been better than just passing on the question. It is a shame that debate moderators ask such stupid questions. These forums should be about who can best manage the city and what political values a candidate subscribes to rather than questions of the "boxer or briefs" category.  Fox seems the most thoughtful and cautious of the candidates but in a day of massive attention deficit disorder where campaigns more closely resemble a Miss America Beauty contest, Fox's thoughtfulness and intellect may not be an advantage.

Having watched this debate and several others forums and having read the position papers of the candidates and visited the websites of the candidates and knowing something of their record, I have come to the conclusion that Megan Barry would be the least desirable of the candidates to have as mayor, and David Fox would be the best.  The other candidates are kind of lumped together somewhere between.

Fox seems the candidate most concerned that we may be overextending our indebtedness, the most open to seeking private sector solutions to problems, and the only candidate to express respect for private property rights and concern about the abuse of eminent domain. For sometime my support for Fox has been growing but I have been reluctant to reach a conclusion that he was the candidate I would vote for until I knew more about all of the candidates. I met one-on-one with Fox recently and talked with him for a little over an hour and am convinced that he is the best candidate and is absolutely genuine and has deeply held believes about the proper function of government and how the city should be managed. He would not be the mayor that would offer shiny new projects as much as a mayor who would protect our bond rating, use common sense to solve problems, and repair our crumbling infrastructure.

To read the Tennessean report on the debate, if you can get behind their pay wall, follow this link and another Tennessean report at this link. To see The WSMV Chanel 4 report follow this link.

Top Stories

1st Quarter update on Who is contributing to the Bill Freeman Campaign

Bill Freeman

 The candidate who has raised the most money and most of  in amounts of  $1,500.

I have examined Mr. Freeman's 1st quarter campaign financial disclosure report which is for the period that ended March 31st, 2015, which had a report due date of April 10th.

Mr. Freeman began the quarter with a balance on hand of $1,500 had receipts of $1,110,175 and ended the period with a balance on hand of $751,293. The candidate loaned his campaign an aggregate of $530,000. He reports in-kind contributions of almost $8,000.

Among the expenditures this quarter is $3,500 for consulting services paid to State Representative and Metro Council member Brenda Gilmore and  $18,090 to Metro Councilman Jerry Maynard for consulting services.

One thing interesting about Freeman's report is that most of his itemized contributions are for the maximum of $1,500. How does that happen? How are contributors persuaded to write checks for $1,500, rather than smaller amounts?  He also had $5,623 of unitemized contributions meaning the contribution was for an amount not over $100, but of those that are itemized the vast majority or for $1,500 each.

A review of this report shows the following contributions of interest.

I don't know who the Burns' are but Mary Jordan Burns, Susan Burns, and Virginia Burns, all of 419 Sunnyside Dr. each contributed  $1,500 for a household total of $4,500. Barney Byrd, CEO of Gen Cap America contributed $1,500 and Elena Bryd, homemaker, at the same address in Franklin contributed $1,500.

B. C. Clippard, who is "Scooter" Clippard who is a Republican insider who led Fred Thompson’s national fundraising efforts when Thompson made a run for the Republican presidential nomination, but then become a national finance co-chairman for McCain's campaign when Thompson dropped out, contributed $1,500. Of course, Bill Freeman was a major fund raiser for Barack Obama. Politics makes strange bedfellows. Thomas Beasley, former chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party and a founder of Corrections Corporation of America contributed $1,500.

Ann Archer Davis, a homemaker, and Kirby Davis, who I assume is her husband, who works for Freeman-Webb, each contributed $1,500 to the General Election and each contributed $1,500 to the run off.  The Elections Commission has ruled candidates may not accept contributions to the run off until after the general elections so the Freeman Campaign has had to return $3,000 of this $6,000. There are several other people who also contributed to the run-off who will have to have their money returned.  Councilman Sean McGuire who is a Vice President at Freeman-Webb contributed $1,500 and several other people who work for Freeman-Webb contributed $1,500 each. Several people with the last name "Webb" contributed $1,500 each.

Michael McWherter, former Democrat candidate for governor and son of former Governor Ned Ray McWherter, and Mary Jane McWherter of the same address each contributed $1,500. The Ned McWherter Trust contributed $1,500. Mike McWherter also contributed $1,000 to Charles Bone and $1,000 to Megan Barry. I do not understand people who contribute to different candidates seeking the same seat.

Bob Tuke, an attorney who is a partner with Trauger & Tuke who was the 2008 Democrat nominee for U. S. Senate and who contributes to lots of campaigns contributed $1,500. He also contributed to $1,500 to Megan Barry.

Gaylord Entertainment Co. PAC contributed $1,000. Gaylord also contributed $1,000 to Megan Barry. Beth Franklin, owner of Multi-Task Solutions and Steve Franklin of the same address who is also an owner of Multi-Task Solutions, each contributed $1,500 and in addition, Multi-Task Solutions contributed $1,500.

Will Cheek, Jr contributed $1,500, and Will Cheek III contributed $1,000. Hostettler Realty, LLC contributed $1,500. Michael Hodges, executive with the pay day lender company Advance Financial and Tina Hodges  of the same address each contributed $1,500. George Armistead, former Council member-at-large contributed $200.

Fred Detwiller. owner of beer distributing company DET Distributing contributed $1,500 and Kathryn Dettwiller of the same address contributed $1,500. Fred Detwiller also contributed $1,500 to the Bone Campaign.

Gordon Ball, the 2014 Democrat nominee for U. S. Senate contributed $1,500. He also contributed to  $1,500 to the Megan Barry campaign.

Renata Soto, Executive Director of Conexion Americas contributed $250. She also contributed $100 to the David Fox campaign.

Waller Landsen PAC contributed $1,500 and H. G. Hill Realty PAC, $1,000. I believe this two PAC's have contributed to all of the candidates except David Fox.

Robert Clements who is better know as Bob Clement, former Democrat U. S. Representative and former candidate for Mayor who now heads his own lobbying firm Bob Clements and Associates contributed $1,500 and Mary Clement of the same address also contributed $1,500.

General Sessions Judge Bill Higgins contributed $500; Julius Sloss, former councilman who now works for the Davidson County Juvenile Court, $500; David Smith, Juvenilte Court Clerk, $1,000; Reese Smith, IV of Haury and Smith Contractors, $1,500 and Reese Smith III, $1,500;  Former State Representative Mike Turner, $1,000, John Arrliola, former State Metro Councilman, State Representative and County Clerk, $500.

Dr. Ming Wang, famed eye surgeon, ball room dancer and philanthropist, contributed $500. He also contributed $500 to the David Fox campaign. 

A large number of other attorneys, contractors, builders, and realtors made contributions. 

Below is what I reported following the initial report which covered the period prior to January 15th:

As of the date of the first required financial disclosure, Jan. 15th 2015, Bill Freeman had only raised $1,500. Don't fret however, Freeman has the ability to self fund  whatever it takes to mount an effective campaign.  He started the report with no money on hand, loaned his campaign $30,000, received a single contribution of $1,500 from Chip Forrester, former Chair of the Tennessee Democrat Party, spent $30,000 in advertising to put his ads on Gray’s Disposal trucks and that is all his report shows.

Top Stories

Office holders who endorce Bill Freeman are on his campaign payroll: Maynard, Gillmore and Sherry Jones.

It is illegal to buy votes, but not illegal to put people on your payroll who will endorse you. While it may not be illegal, it is unseemly to buy endorsements.  I am talking about Bill Freeman and the number of prominent people who have endorsed him and are on his campaign payroll. At-large Metro Councilman Jerry Maynard and state Rep. Brenda Gilmore are among those who "endorse" Freeman but are also paid "consultants" to his campaign. Another person paid by the campaign who has endorsed Freeman is Democratic Rep. Sherry Jones. Maynard got paid $18,090 for three months work on the campaign.

To read The Tennessean article that exposed this, follow this link; however, unless you are a subscriber to the Tennessean you may not be able to access it. It looks like the Tennessean is finally putting up their pay wall.

Top Stories

Candidates ordered to refund runoff campaign funds

by Joey Garrison, The Tennessean, April 16, 2015 - Four Nashville mayoral candidates will have to refund money they prematurely raised for a runoff election they hope to compete in but one that won't necessarily take place. The Davidson County Election Commission on Thursday issued a letter ..... Bill Freeman, Jeremy Kane, Charles Robert Bone and Megan Barry have each raised money for not only their race in August, but also a Sept. 10 runoff that would occur between the top two finishers if no candidate collects at least half the votes. (read more)

Top Stories

Bill Freeman panders to Feminist with phony gender wage gap issue

Freeman Press Release:

Bill Freeman Promises Executive Order to Close Gender Wage Gap on Day One

Chairman of Freeman Webb Inc., Bill Freeman, candidate for Mayor of Nashville, today promised to sign an executive order to eliminate the gender pay gap within Metro Government on his very first day in office.

“The Metro Human Relations Commission published a telling Inclucivics Report in January that clearly shows an employment as well as wage disparity between white male employees and female, black and Latino employees. However, I was discouraged to see that throughout the entire 18 page report just one chart was dedicated to the disparity between the male/female makeup of metro government,” said Freeman.

The MHRC report shows that nearly two-thirds, or 63 percent, of Metro employees are male. However, men make up only 48 percent of the overall population in Nashville. The report also states that those working in upper level salary positions (income brackets above $40,000) are overwhelmingly white male employees, whereas those employees working in lower level salary positions (below $40,000) are hugely over represented by minorities and women.

“As Mayor I will direct each department head to examine and define any discrepancies in pay between men and women of the same job function. Over the next several years, getting every woman to the same salary as her male counterparts will be an integral part of our annual budget. While I cannot go back and mend past mistakes of others, I will work as long as it takes to move Nashville forward,” said Freeman.

“What we also need to do is institute training in all departments that focuses on creating a representative and inclusive workforce. Recruitment should strive for diversity and inclusivity and an annual report card should be compiled to track the departments’ progress towards meeting such goals.”

“I believe that it is imperative that our city’s government be wholly representative in gender and in race,” said Bill Freeman. “Government exists to represent the needs of its people, and if those people are not being represented effectively, then by definition, government has failed.

“Since its inception, Freeman Webb Inc. has worked tirelessly to create a workforce that mirrors Nashville’s diverse population. I have seen firsthand the value of diversity in the workplace and Freeman Webb has reaped the benefits. As Mayor my approach will be no different. I will not let women and minorities continue to fall behind in pay and employment equity.

“Growing up with five sisters I learned that Nashville women are leaders, entrepreneurs, leaders of industry, mothers, caregivers and so much more, and they deserve equal pay for equal work. What makes Nashville great is its sense of community and when one section of that community succeeds, we all succeed,” said Freeman.

Bill Freeman is the co-founder and current chairman of Freeman Web Inc. real estate management company. Bill is a devoted husband to his wife, Babs Tinsley Freeman, father to their three sons, and grandfather to two girls. In the past he has served on the board of directors of the Nashville State Community College Foundation as well as on the boards of the Tennessee State University Foundation, the Nashville Area YMCA, the Nashville Public Television Council and Children’s House.

#

Top Stories

FREEMAN CAMPAIGN CLOSES FINANCIAL PERIOD WITH $610,175 FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS

Campaign Raises 3x’s that of other candidates

Press Release, NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Bill Freeman’s campaign announced today that it has raised $610,175 from individual donors during the campaign’s first reporting period. This amount is three times that of what other mayoral candidates have raised during the same reporting period. “I am very thankful for those that have financially supported my campaign,” Freeman said. “I grew up in Donelson. I built my business and raised my family here in Nashville. I am proud to call Nashville home and I’m ready to lead this great city,” Freeman added.

“As mayor, my focus will be on recruiting jobs and businesses right here in Davidson County. I will also focus on affordable housing, improving education and solving our regional mass transit problem,” Freeman added. “Our campaign is going to work as hard as we can between now and August to earn the votes of the great people that call this city home,” Freeman said.

The campaign has enjoyed financial support from both Republicans and Democrats. “I have known Bill for many years. He’s grown a successful business and raised a great family right here in Nashville. He is a leader with the business experience that’s needed to lead this city. I’m proud to support him for mayor,” said Republican businessman Tom Cone.

“I have worked closely with Bill as a major supporter of the President since 2013. Bill is the kind of leader Nashville needs and who I strongly support. He has the business experience, the commitment to progressive social values and the wisdom to lead Nashville into its next exciting phase as Mayor. I am honored to be a part of his team,” said Democrat Jim Messina.

Top Stories

Mario Ramos, Hispanic/Latino Activist, Named Campaign Vice Chair

Press Release, NASHVILLE, Tenn. April 7, 205-- Mario Ramos, long time community and immigration activist, will serve as Vice Chair of the Bill Freeman for Mayor Campaign. State Senator Thelma Harper has previously been named Campaign Chair. 

“Bill Freeman is the best choice for the future of Nashville, and I am excited to serve as Vice Chair of his campaign,” Ramos said. “Bill’s experience in building a successful business and his years of giving back to our community give him the skills to lead Davidson County into an era of sustainable growth, inclusivity, and job development,” Ramos said.

Ramos formed his full service immigration law firm in Nashville in 1990. He has a long history in advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform; he was a major force in defeating English Only Nashville in 2009, he coordinated the Nashville stop of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride in 2003, he is on the Executive Committee of the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and is the 2009 recipient of the Advocacy Award for Outstanding Efforts in Support of AILA’s Legislative Agenda.

“We are beyond thrilled to have Mario on our team,” stated Bill Freeman. “Mario has proven himself to be an invaluable asset to the Hispanic community. I am lucky to benefit from his incredible leadership abilities and history of strong advocacy”.

Top Stories

Who has the money in the race for mayor how much does it matter?

I have examined the financial reports of all of the mayoral candidates for the campaign finance report period that ended Jan. 15, 2015. That period started when they filed the form appointing a campaign treasurer so it may have been different for different candidates.  Some candidates, in the case of Megan Barry and Charles Bone, filed a mid-year disclosure back in July 2014 and had funds on hand at the start of this reporting period. I have not examined those reports for the mid-year filing but have requested them from the election commission and will examine them when I get them.

The first quarter report for the period from Jan.16 though March 30th are due to be filed on April 10.  As soon as they are filed and posted by the Election Commission to their website, I will be analyzing them and reported who is supporting which candidate. I think it can be instructive to know where the candidates are getting their money from. It gives you an idea who their friends are and to whom they may be beholding if they get elected and who it is that you know that believes enough in the candidate to financially contribute to the candidate. If someone I admire and respect contributes to a candidate that makes me think they may be worthy of my support.

By all accounts, this will be the most money ever spent on a mayor's race. The seven major candidates are all wealthy and can put mass amounts of money into their campaign. I am not sure how wealthy each are or how much they are willing to risk of their own money but lack of money should not hinder any of them from running a good campaign. Probably by August 7th, we will be sick of TV ads, mail pieces, radio ads and robo calls. But it won't end then unless one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote and with seven major candidates in the race, I don't think anyone will get 50%, so the campaigns will continue a while longer.

Money may not win this race. I assume Bill Freeman is the wealthiest of the candidates and is willing to spend million to win it, but more than an adequate amount of money to spend on the race may not be a big advantage.  No one candidate is permitted to buy up all the available advertising spots on TV and freeze out his competitors.  I am not exactly sure of the rules, but it is my understanding, that if one candidate has pre-bought most of the available TV spots and another candidate wants to buy a spot, then the candidate who had first purchased them, must release them back to the media outlet and they will be made available at the same price to the opponent.

Also, I don't think that once one has received four or five pieces of mail from a candidate that the sixth, seventh or eighths piece has much impact. I am not a campaign professional, but there must be diminishing returns to saturating the voters with your message.

Another factor that makes me think money will not necessarily win this race is that voter turnout will probably be low. It is amazing how few people care about local politics. Among people I know many of them just can't generate much interest in a local election although they may be passionate about national politics. They may want to complain about the quality of schools, or lack of sidewalks or high taxes but they don't care enough to vote in local elections.  If this election coincided with a more high profile race such as a presidential election, then many people would vote for president and then vote for the mayoral candidate who had the most name recognition, but there is nothing to draw people to the polls this election unless they care about local government. Which, in a way, is a good thing. That means the people who do vote are more serious and are not going to be swayed by name recognition alone or a catchy slogan, but are more likely to carefully consider their choices. So, if a candidate has adequate money, more than adequate money may not be of that much help.

Below is the spread sheet of showing the money raised by each candidate. Fox leads the pack now, but that very well may change after the April 10th reports are released. To see what stood out when I examined their financial report, click on their name.  If you would like to see the complete report of a candidate, follow this link.

Candidate	Balance on hand at start	Funds raised	Funds spent	Balance on hand  at end 1/15/2015
Megan Barry	$321,967	$234,572	$109,849	$451,609
Charles Bone	$509,742	$250,224	$268,410	$491,556
Kenneth Eaton	0	0	0	0
David Fox	0	$1,303,030	$256,666	$1,046,363
Bill Freeman	0	$31,500	$30,000	$1500
Jeremy  Kane	0	$310,381	$39,297	$271,084
Linda Rebrovick	0	$658,463	$172,195	$486,268

I will also soon be reporting on the financial contributions to candidates for Vice Mayor, Council-at-large and council district races. I am in the process of reviewing them now. Stay tuned.

If you are a candidate for office, if you will send me your announcements or press releases or position paper on a topic of interest, I will most likely post it. If I post a candidate's press release I will note it as such and my posting of a press release of a candidate should not be construed as my endorsement. I will be making it clear which candidate I am endorsing. I do not generally post annoncememts of funrd raising events except for candiates I support.

Top Stories

Bill Freeman to report $1M for mayoral run, $600K raised

The Tennessean, April 2, 2015- Bill Freeman will report raising $608,000 from individuals over the last three months of Nashville's race for mayor and contributing $500,000 himself for an overall campaign haul that eclipses $1 million..... All mayoral candidates are to submit their first quarter fund-raising reports to the Davidson County Election Commission by April 10. (link)

Top Stories

Statement from Bill Freeman on Insure Tennessee defeat

Press Release, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – By not even allowing Insure Tennessee to get out of committee recently, the Tennessee State Senate has once, again in the name of political grandstanding, refused to help the over 470,000 estimated individuals, working families and veterans across Tennessee in need of insurance. The state has already turned away over $1 billion dollars of tax dollars that rightfully belong to Tennesseans in need, including thousands right here in Nashville, and with the Senate’s lack of action yesterday means the state will continue sending those federal tax dollars paid in by Tennesseans, to help those in other states.

 

It is shameful that politics have gotten in the way of helping our fellow Tennesseans in need. While Insure Tennessee is still alive in the House, it is unlikely to escape a similar fate should it get back to the Senate. The hospitals and health facilities here in Nashville and across the state on the brink of closing deserved better than this, and the hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans suffering without the insurance their federal tax dollars have already paid for deserved better.

 

It is my hope that going forward, what is best for all the people of Tennessee will be the ultimate desire of our legislature. That is what voters expect when they elect those who represent them in government offices, and if privileged enough to become Nashville’s next mayor that is exactly what the citizens of Davidson County will get – A mayor not concerned about agendas, but concerned about how to make our beloved city a great place for them to work, play and be proud to call home.

Top Stories

Who is contributing to the Bill Freeman campaign for Mayor?

Bill Freeman

As of the date of the first required financial disclosure, Jan. 15th 2015, Bill Freeman had only raised $1500. Don't fret however, Freeman has the ability to self fund  what ever it takes to mount an effective campaign.  He started the report with no money on hand, loaned his campaign $30,000, received a single contribution of $1500 from Chip Forrester, former Chair of the Tennessee Democrat Party, spent $30,000 in advertising to put his ads on Gray’s Disposal trucks and that is all his report shows.

Top Stories

The Mayoral Forum at the Urban Land Institue. David Fox is looking better and better.

Fox's star is rising but I am still listening.

This mayoral forum which occurred on March 24th was organized and sponsored by the Nashville chapter of the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit research and education organization dedicated to the responsible use of land and to creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. To learn more about the Urban Land Institute follow the link.

All of the mayoral candidates except Kenneth Eaton took part in the forum.  The candidates each answer five questions; questions about traffic and parking, affordable housing, regional multi-modal mass transit, infrastructure, and the roll of government in building a healthier community.

On most issues the candidates were indistinguishable. Fox scored a point with me when in his comment on affordable housing said, I am more of a "carrot" person rather than a "stick" person and I oppose mandatory requirements on developers making them do things. I could support incentives that entices developers to develop affordable housing by awarding them density bonuses for building affordable housing, he said. He went on to say, it is simplistic to look at affordable housing as simply a "supply" problem, saying it is also a "demand" problem. He said that by improving education, that will negate much of the problem by giving people the means to afford housing.

On the mass transit problem, Bill Freeman scored a point when he said the "AMP was a solution looking for a problem." He said the AMP was a colossal waste of time and that we must look for a regional solution.

Howard Gentry lost a point when he bragged about the Music City Star as a success. These are the facts about the Music City Star:

The commuter line starts 30 miles east of Nashville in Lebanon and runs into downtown. When it launched seven years ago, proponents promised that 750 people per day would ride the train. Yet, an average of less than 550 riders climb aboard daily. And those riders catch a break, because they pay just 15 percent of the total cost to run the train round-­‐trip from Wilson County into downtown and back once per day. Ticket fares are expected to rake in a measly $779,400 this year, a fraction of the train’s $5.1 million operating budget. Where does the rest of the money come from to cover the difference? The pockets of federal and local taxpayers. Nashville taxpayers alone fork over some $1.6 million a year to keep the train on time. The Star has the second worst ridership in the nation. (link)

If Howard Gentry thinks The Star is model for solving our transportation problem, he does not need to be mayor.

Fox scored another point with me when he said the World War II culture of planning is what got us to this point to where we are. "It was a culture that separated everything we do; where we live, where we work and where we shop. It has maximized our need to get in the car and go everywhere." He said we need to encourage nodes of development where you live, work and shop in close areas. I think he is exactly right. What was considered the most enlighten progressive ideas of the time led us to the car-dependent urban sprawl culture of today. I could expound on this with examples but am pleased to see we have a candidate for mayor who recognizes it. Fox went on to say we need to "harness the private sector" in developing mass transit. Fox is looking more and more like my preferred candidate. I would like to see Nashville do something outside the box when it comes to mass transit. Fox appears the only candidate thinking outside the box. To see Fox's remarks about mass transit go to time stamp 49:25.

On the question of health, Jeremy Kane lost a point when he commended the role of Meharry-General hospital. In my view, just as we got out of the nursing home business, it is way past time to get out of the hospital business. For more on this issue follow this link. Bill Freeman scored a point when he said, "I have no idea on how to solve the obesity problem in Nashville."  Sometimes saying you don't have a solution to a problem is the best answer. I am tired of politician claiming they can solve every problem.

I am not yet to the point to where I know who I will support for Mayor but the field is narrowing. Megan Barry was never in the running as far as I am concerned and I am ready to remove Howard Gentry from consideration. Fox gave several answers that pleased me in this forum and said nothing that disappointed me. Fox's star is rising but I am still listening.

Top Stories