Who is running for Mayor and Metro Council and who I am supporting (update #10)

This is update #10 on who is running for Mayor, Vice Mayor and seats on the Metro Council and who I am supporting. Since the last update on June 19th we have entered the final stretch of the campaign.  Many of the organizations that make endorsements have already done so, the airways are saturated with political advertising, neighborhoods are littered with campaign signs, numerous candidates forums have occurred, we are fast approaching the Tuesday July 7th deadline for voter registration in order to vote in the August 6th election and early voting starts July 17th. If you have not been paying attention to the upcoming election, now is the time to do so.


In my reporting on this campaign, I have made an effort to find out who the candidates are and have given a brief one-sentence bio on some of the them and if I could find a campaign website, Facebook page or a news story about the candidate I have linked to that.  Follow "Link" to learn more about the candidate. If the name is in italics that indicates that person is the incumbent.

In this update, I have made additional endorsements and  have added more links in order to provide more information about the candidates. If you are a candidate and I missed your website or Facebook page and you would like it listed, please send me the link. I will also post any candidate's press release announcing their candidacy if they send it to me.  Posting of a press release of a candidate does not indicate I am supporting that candidate.

Where I have made endorsements, the candidates name is bold and in red typeface. I will be making more endorsements soon but I may not make an endorsement in every race, as I may not have enough information to make an informed decision in each race or some districts may have candidates so equally distasteful that I don't care who wins.  Winnability is a factor in who I support as well as experience and philosophy of government and leadership potential.  Some candidate I am enthusiastically supporting, in other cases, I have a preferred candidate but the candidate may only be the preferred candidate because he is the best of the available choices. In some cases, I am choosing a bad candidate over a terribly bad candidate.

There has been so much written about each of the candidates for mayor, that I am only listing a few links. If you want to know more about any of the mayoral candidates, I suggest you do your own web search.

Below are the people running for Mayor:

• Megan Barry, progressive Council-member-at-large. She is the person I would least like to see elected mayor. (link) (link)
• Charles Robert Bone, an attorney. (link) 
• Linda Rebrovick, Consensus Point president and CEO. A Republican. (link) 
• Jeremy Kane, CEO and President of Lead Academy. (link) 
•  David Fox, a former Tennessean business reporter, former Titan adviser, former

  

  David  Fox

  school board chairman. He is a Republican and has a Republican campaign team. I am supporting David Fox. I am impressed by his intellect, his business background, his leadership as Chairman of the School Board and I share his general view on the roll of government and his view of what challenges will face the next mayor and his priorities.  He is the only mayor candidate that has taken a position against using eminent domain for redevelopment. As chairman of the school board he outsourced school janitorial service and grounds care saving the school system about $7 million a year. I believe he will look to private sector solutions to solve public problems where possible and I believe he is the candidate least likely to raise taxes. He is the only candidate who has taken seriously the increasing indebtedness of our city.  (link. link). 
• Bill Freeman, local businessman and major fund raiser for the Democratic party and the Obama presidential campaign.  Several things make Bill Freeman almost a tie with Megan Barry as the candidate I would least like to see elected mayor. He has advocated a $12 minimum wage for Nashville, a policy which would make it increasing difficult for poor people to climb out of poverty and a policy that would curtail business growth or new business start-ups in Nashville. He has gotten the endorsement of the SEIU, which is reason enough not to support him. (link) (link)
• Howard Gentry, former Vice Mayor, came in third when running for mayor in 2007. The only African-American in the race. He currently serves as Davidson County Criminal Court clerk. (link)

Tim Garrett

This is who is running for Vice Mayor:

• Tim Garrett, Councilman-at-large and former state representative. He is in the funeral home business. He is a Democrat, but he is a reasonable, fiscally conservative Democrat and a very nice guy with a depth of knowledge about Nashville. The job of Vice Mayor is to conduct Council meetings and to appoint the members of Council to committees. It is a fine balance between running efficient meetings and stifling debate. I think Garrett will strike the right balance. I think he will be fair and thoughtful in making committee assignments. With so many good people leaving the council, we need someone with institutional knowledge in the Council. Tim Garrett will be a great vice mayor.  (link)
• David Briley, grandson of former Mayor Beverly Briley, an attorney with Bone McAllester Norton, former candidate for mayor.  (link)

Candidates for at-large seats:

There are no incumbent Council members at-large. They have all been "termed-out." I am such an enthusiastic supporter of Ken Jakes that at this point he is the only candidate for an at-large seat I am endorsing.  One my vote for up to five people to fill the five council member at-large positions, however to vote for five dilutes the strength of one's vote. In addition to not wanting to dilute my vote, recently my enthusiasm waned for an incumbent district councilman seeking an at-large position who voted to advance rent control and has also cast some other votes I disagree with. I have selected some other candidates that I would suggest one vote for if one really wants to vote for more than one candidate. If the election was held today, I would only be casting one vote for an at-large councilman and that would be a vote for Ken Jakes . My choice for other candidates, if one is going to vote for more than one candidate, are indicated by a red asterisk.

• Buddy Baker, a retired Fire Captain with the Metro Fire Department and currently a termed-out Councilman representing District 20. (link) (link)
• Jody Ball, * a self-identified conservative, successful owner of a cost containment company that specializes in the reduction of medical billing for government and private entities.   (link) (link)
  
• Karen Bennett *. currently a member of the Metro Council representing District 8. She is a member of the Republican Party State Executive Committee. (link) (link)
• Al Carota (link)
• Erin Coleman, President of YAD consulting. She is endorsed by Women for Tennessee's Future, which is reason enough not to support her candidacy. (link) (link)
• John Cooper, He is the brother of Congressman Jim Cooper. (link) (link)
• Elizabeth Dachowski, a Green Party activist. (link)
  
• Adam Dread*,  a former member of the Metro Council and a recent Republican candidate for a judgeship. (link)
• Robert Duvall*, currently a district councilman, term limited out, former unsuccessful candidate for the State House, and former Chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party. (link)
• Leroy Johnny Ellis,
• Erica Gilmore, currently a district councilman representing District 19 and termed-out.  She is the daughter of Democratic state Rep. Brenda Gilmore.   (link)
• Ronnie E. Greer, Sr, a former member of the Metro Council representing District 17 prior to the current incumbent. (link)
• Frank Harrison, is currently a termed-out member of the Metro Council representing District 2.  
• Jason Holleman, a termed-out Councilman representing District 24. He briefly ran for the State Senate in the  Democrat primary last year. (link) (link) 
• Martin Holsinger, A member of the Green Party.  (link)(link) (link)
• Phillip Hostteler,
• Walter Hunt. He is currently serving as the Councilman from District 3, he is a retired substitute teacher and served in a high level capacity in the Boner administration and is a member of the Davidson County Democratic Party executive committee. (link)
• Sharron W. Hurt,  President and CEO of JUMP-Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership, an organization dedicated to revitalizing the businesses on Jefferson Street and bringing commerce to the North Nashville Community. 

  

  Ken Jakes

  (link)
• Ken Jakes, he owns a produce company and is a citizen activist who has often exposed government waste and corruption.  He has previously sought the position of Councilman at-large, garnering the most votes other than the five incumbents. link,  (link to everything ever published in this blog about Ken Jakes and learn of his work for honest and open government.)  
• James Keeton,*  (link)   (link)
• John Lasiter. He previously served in the Council represented District 18 in 2007. He is openly gay. link, link,  link,
• Don Majors, who has been working in constituent services for Rep. Jim Cooper, is leaving that position to run for council. He previously represented the Maplewood area in the Council in the 90s and early aughts.  (link)
• Lonnell Mathews, Jr., currently representing District 1 and termed out.  (link)
• Bob Mendes, an attorney, chairs the board of Nashville Electric Service.  (link)
• Jim Shulman, Former Chief of Staff for Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh, former member of the Metro Council.  (link) (link)
• Sandra V. Moore, she is the Council member in District 17 who is termed-out. 

District Council seats:

Below are the people who are running for a District council seats.  Most of the current Council members are "termed-out," meaning they have served two terms and are not eligible to seek reelection. The names of incumbents who are seeking reelection are italicized in the list below. Three Council members, Josh Stites in District 13, Brady Banks in District 4, and Chris Harmon in District 26 are not termed-out but have chosen not to seek reelection. In some of the races I am enthusiastically supporting someone and in some of the races, I am selected the least bad choice. In some districts, I do not know enough about the candidates to have a preference.

Lioniel Green, Jr.

District 1.

• Sylvester Armour, (link) (link)
• Ruby Baker, (link)
• Rueben Dockery, he is a former candidate for the State Senate.
• Lioniel Green, Jr. Former officer in US Army, served in Iraq, on the board of the charter school Purpose Prep and Northwest YMCA. I have met him and am very impressed.  (link)(link)
• Nick Leonardo, several YMCA affiliations. (link) 
• John H. Montgomery,
• Johnathan Richardson, Democrat, (link)
• Roosevelt Williamson, A retired Air Force Major, he has taught Junior ROTC at Whites Creek High School for the last 21 years. Prior to teaching at Whites Creek, he had a successful career in the Air Force, primarily in the Space and Missile career field, with assignments in missile operations, missile maintenance and missile test and evaluation. (link)

District 2.

• Laura Fortier,
• Decosta Hastings, He is a member of the Davidson County Democrat Party Executive

  

  Carrie Searcy

  Committeeman.(link) 
• Danavan Hylton, President and Owner of Hoshana Management Group (link) 
• Carrie Searcy is an attorney  focused on criminal defense, family law, and personal injury with the law firm of Edward J. Gross. (link) (link)
• Robert "Bobby" Stockard, (link)

District 3.

• Terry Clayton
• Tim Coleman, 
•  Brenda Haywood, retired teacher, wellness consultant, talk Show personality with 760 AM a Gospel Radio station. (link)

District 4.

• Robert Swope, has had a successful career in the music business. He has leadership ability and

  

  Robert Swope

  is a strong conservative. With the music business being so important to our city, I think it is important to have someone with that perspective on the Council. Mr. Tuttle is also a good conservative but I have talked to Mr. Swope and believe he is the better choice of two very good candidates. (link)(link)
• Peter Tuttle,(link)

District 5.

• Scott Davis,  is the incumbent. There is not a good choice in this race but the incumbent would be preferable to the challengers.  (link)
• Sarah Martin,  She is a liberal, works in the non-profit sector, neighborhood activist. She is a liberal, works in the non-profit sector, neighborhood activist.(link) (link) (link) 
• Pam Murray, is the former council member who was removed from office. (link)

District 6.

• Peter Westerholm, He is the incumbent and one of the more liberal members of the council (link)
• Brett A. Withers, a community activist. Withers would be the better choice. (link) (link)

District 7.

Steve Clements

• Anthony Davis, he is the incumbent councilman. 
• Stephen Clements, a Republican who heads the Caffeinated Conservatives group, works for the State of Tennessee, former Army officer, active in Madison Now and other civic affairs. He has leadership ability and will be an independent thinker. He is one of the candidates I am enthusiastic about. (link) (link)
• Randy Reed, he is a retired policeman who previously ran against Anthony Davis and did not do too well. 

District 8.

• Ramona L. Gholston,(link) (link) 
• Nina Ground 
• Robert Sawyers, Sr.,
• Chris Swann,works at Olympus Corp. and has spent more than 20 years in the medical field. He is a conservative. (link) (link) (link)
• Nancy VanReece, (link) (link)
• Daniel (Danny) Williams,

Cris Swann

District 9.

• Bill Pridemore, He is the incumbent seeking reelection. He was the recent Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee. He is moderately conservative. There will be a massive turn over of the Council this time. We need to keep some experienced councilmen in office.
• Rod McDaniel, (link) (link)

District 10.

• Doug Pardue, He is the incumbent seeking reelection and he is unopposed. He is one of the "good" councilman.

District 11.

• Larry Hagar, He is the incumbent, elected in a special election in August 2014. In the short while he has been in office, he has voted the right way on the several controversial issues. He deserves another term.

District 12.

• Steve Glover, He is the incumbent seeking reelection and is unopposed. He is one of the "good" councilmen. 

District 13.

• Furtesha Carter, (link) (link)
• Mark Cole,
• Holly Huezo

District 14. 

• Kevin Rhoten, a former Tennessee state attorney and legislative liaison in Gov. Pill Bredesen's administration.  (link) 

District 15. (There are two good candidates in this race and I have not yet made a selection.)

• Jim Garrett, (link) (link)
  
• Jeff Syracuse, There are two good candidates running in this district. Jeff Syracuse has 15 years experience in the music business, he is active in several neighborhood civic organizations and has the support of the current termed-out incumbent Phil Claiborne.  (link) (link)

District 16.

• Tony Tenpenny,  He is the incumbent. He was active in the effort to save the fair grounds. He

  

  Tony Tenpenny

  is one of the "good" councilmen.
• Mike Freeman, (link)

District 17.

• Christopher Cotton, an attorney and Vice Chair of the Davidson County Democrat Party (link)
• Colby Sledge, A community activist, public relations professional with McNeely, Piggott and Fox and former employee of the Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus. (link)
• Paula Foster. She is endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. She is practicing privately as a clinical social work supervisor and therapist as well as a practicing faculty member for the Vanderbilt School of Nursing. She lives with her "wife." (link) (link) 
• Tony Watson, He is a conservative and was active in saving he fair grounds.  (link) 

  

  Tony Watson

District 18

• Burkley Allen. She is the incumbent and is unopposed. She has shown leadership on the issue of regulating peer-to-peer vacation rentals and attempting to apply reasonable regulations of in-home recording studios and developed legislation to accommodate an innovative car-share program. She has worked to accommodate innovation and make the regulations not overly onerous. Her experience and her approach to resolving problems will be valuable in the new council.

District 19.

Amanda Harrison

• Keith Caldwell (link)
• Amanda Harrison, (link)
• Freddie O'Connell,  President of the Salemtown Neighborhood Association, board member of Walk Bike Nashville. (link)
• Bill Shick, an attorney, member of the Tennessee Democratic Party's executive committee. (link) (link)

District 20.

• Marisa Frank, (link)
• Frank Stabile, a neighborhood leader in the Nations Neighborhood. (link)
• Mary Carolyn Roberts (link) (link) 

District 21.

• Leah P. Dupree, An attorney and legislative liaison for the Tennessee Department of General Services. (link)
• Edward Kindall, a former school board member. (link)
• Mark Lollis, Jr 

District 22.

• Sheri Weiner, The incumbent Council member, a Republican. A member of Budget and  Finance who asks good questions. She has no opponent.  (link) 

District 23.

• Thom Druffel, (link) (link). Mr Druffel failed to turn in his qualifying petition. He says he was so busy he just forgot it. His name will not be on the ballot but he is conducting a write-in campaign (link). 
• Mina Johnson, very active in the West Meade neighborhood organization. (link)
• Timothy Lee, Tim Lee is a Republican and a former candidate for the state house. I like both Tim Lee and Jim Roberts in this race, however, I had already committed to Jim Roberts and am

  

  Jim Roberts

  supporting his candidacy and believe he would be the better choice.
• Jim Roberts, former Republican candidate for Chancery Court Judge. (link)

District 24.

• Allen Grant, a neighborhood leader in the Sylvan Park community. link) (link)
• Kathleen Murphy, She is a government lobbyist and active in Democrat Party politics and the daughter of Mike Murphy. (link)(link)

 District 25.

• Russ Pulley, (link)  He is the only candidate in the race. 

District 26.

• Jeremy Elrod, An attorney, employed at the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. (link)  (link)
• Luseni Bangalie Kromah
• Jimmy Mitchell (link)

Davette Blalock

District 27.

• Davette Blalock, The incumbent council member, A Republican. When Nashville had livery service price-fixing, she let the effort to repeal it. (link)
• Clement Ledbetter, (link)(link)

District 28.

• Daniel Lewis, is Chairman of the Davidson County Libertarian Party. I like Daniel and have in the past contributed to his campaign for another office. I would like to see one libertarian in the Council, but am supporting Melissa Smithson. I do not think Lewis is electable and he seems more interested in promoting the Libertarian brand than getting elected. (link)
• Melissa Smithson, A Republican. She has the support of Duane Dominy, the termed-our incumbent. (link)



Melissa Smithson

• Tanaka Vercher, (link)

District 29.

• Karen Johnson, She is the incumbent Council member. I know and like Karen a lot.   Karen takes her duties seriously and is a good council member and is responsive to her constituents.  I know nothing about Karen's opponent, but I want to see Karen reelected. Karen is a Democrat but is moderate in her views and is not an ideologue.  (link) (link)
• Vicky Tataryn, (link)

District 30.

• Jason Potts, the incumbent council member. It is unfortunate he does not have an opponent. If you live in his district I would suggest writing in your own name. (link)

District 31.

• Fabian Bedne, the incumbent council member.  No doubt Fabian Bedne is a liberal, but he scored a point with me when he took an extremely free market position of advocating removing the cap on the number of taxis allowed to operate in Nashville, something I have heard no conservative in the Council do. He also seems to be one of those Council members who carefully studies the agenda and asks good question. He returns phone calls and will listen to other opinions. (link) 

District 32.

• Jacobia  Dowell is the incumbent. She scored a point with me when she voted to "abstain" rather than vote for Metro benefits for same-sex couples. She also took what I consider a pro free market position in advocating for a co-op taxi company to get more permits. She also took a strong position against the jail locating in Antioch. She is smart and asks good questions in committee. Also, with such massive turn over in the Council this time, it is important to keep some continuity by reelecting some incumbents. I would probably vote to reelect Jacobia Dowell, if I lived in her district but I do not have enough information to make an informed decision, so at this time I am undecided. (link) 
• Ronald A. Haskins, I have heard favorable things about this candidate. I am still undecided in this race. (link) (link)
• William Kissie, 

District 33. (This is the District represented by Robert Duvall who  is termed-out. I have not yet reached a decision in this race.)

• Sam Coleman,  He is an attorney and a former Councilman. He has been described as a moderate Democrat. He has served in the Council before and with such a massive council turn over, having some people with experience is important. I don't know much about the other candidate, so at this time I am not making an endorsement but lean toward Coleman. (link)
• Jimmy Gafford, former police officer. He got the endorsement of the SEIU, so that is one strike against him. (link)

District 34.

• Steve Butler, on the board of Matthew 25 and on the  board of Stem Preparatory Academy, a charter school.   (link)
• Angie Henderson, (link)

Lonnie Spivak

District 35.

• Lonnie Spivak, a Republican and a former Republican primary candidate for the 5th Congressional district. He is smart and thoughtful and I suspect he will become a leader in the Council if elected. He is one of the candidates about which I am enthusiastic.  (link)
• Vic Lineweaver, A former Metro Councilman who went on to be elected Juvenile Court Clerk and terribly mismanaged the office. He was once arrested for failing to provide client files to the court. He was filmed by a local news station in his driveway getting his newspaper while on the phone claiming to be at work. Lineweaver lost his re-election bid for office of Juvenile Court Clerk. He has been trying to get back into politics every since. (Lineweaver arrested by Juvenile Court officers) (link)
• Dave Rosenberg, a supporter of State Rep. and Council member Bo Mitchel and a supporter of School Board member Amy Frogge. Those are two good reasons to vote against him. He has several Bellevue community involvements. (link)

Top Stories

The unanimous Council support for EPA CO2 regulation.

Below is the text of the resolution putting the Council on record supporting the EPA's regulation of CO2 and putting the Council on record agreeing that global warming is a scientific fact.  Out of our forty member council there is not a single global warming skeptic in the Council. I am surprised. 

 
This resolution passed unanimously. Unanimously! That means the "good" councilmen voted for it. That means Robert Duvall voted for it and Duane Dominy voted for it, and Josh Stites, and Karen Bennett, and Tony Tennpenny and Charlie Tygard and a handful of others, who I thought were conservative. Davette Blalock who I think of as one of the "good" councilmen  is even one of the sponsors.


Not a single one of them disagreed with this bill.  Please read it and see if you agree with it. I myself tend to believe global warming is a reality and I tend to believe the activity of mankind is a contributing factor.  However, I do not support this resolution. I do not want to give this much power to unelected bureaucrats.

CO2 is the stuff we exhale when we breath. When congress passed the Clean Air Act, they never intended to give the EPA power to regulate CO2. 

With this new power, EPA can rule by fiat. They can dictate the mileage standard for new cars. They can impose Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants, they can prohibit the construction of new industrial facilities.  The ability of EPA to regulate greenhouse gases gives the EPA control of most of the U.S economy, should they chose to exercise it.  To learn more of what the EPA may regulate, visit the EPA's own website. 

One did not even have to argue the merits of the issue  to vote against it, one could simply ask to be recorded as voting "no." Even if one wants the EPA to regulate CO2 one could oppose this bill because it is not a matter that a city council should express an opinion on.  If we are going to have a local body express an opinion on this matter why not, the Federal Reserves inflating the money supply $40 billion a month?  Why not the Benghazi policy failure and cover up?  Why not the looming fiscal cliff.  There are no end to national issues the Council could opine about if they want to start debating national issues. 

I am going to forward this post to the "good" council members.  If any of them want to explain their vote, I will post it.

If you see your council member, you may want to ask him why he voted for this resolution. 

RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-478

A resolution supporting the reducing of greenhouse gas pollution under the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act.

WHEREAS, the scientific community, most notably NASA, NOAA, and the IPCC support the following findings; and

WHEREAS, the decade from 2000 to 2010 was the warmest on record, and 2005 and 2010 tied for the hottest years on record; and

WHEREAS, the current level of CO2 in the atmosphere is approximately 392 parts per million (ppm); and

WHEREAS, one of the world’s leading climate scientists, Dr. James Hansen, stated in 2008: “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 392 ppm to at most 350 ppm”; and

WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency determined that current and future greenhouse gas concentrations endanger public health, and according to the Global Humanitarian Forum climate change is already responsible every year for some 300,000 deaths, 325 million people seriously affected, and economic losses worldwide of $125 billion; and

WHEREAS, extreme weather events, most notably heat waves and precipitation extremes, are striking with increased frequency, with deadly consequences for people and wildlife; in the United States in 2011 alone, a record 14 weather and climate disasters occurred, including droughts, heat waves, and floods, that cost at least $1 billion each in damages and loss of human lives; and

WHEREAS, climate change is affecting food security by negatively impacting the growth and yields of important crops, and droughts, floods and changes in snowpack are altering water supplies; and

WHEREAS, scientists have concluded that by 2100 as many as one in ten species may be on the verge of extinction due to climate change; and

WHEREAS, the world’s land-based ice is rapidly melting, threatening water supplies in many regions and raising sea levels, and Arctic summer sea ice extent has decreased to about half what it was several decades ago, with an accompanying drastic reduction in sea-ice thickness and volume, which is severely jeopardizing ice-dependent animals; and

WHEREAS, sea level is rising faster along the U.S. East Coast than it has for at least 2,000 years, is accelerating in pace, and could rise by one to two meters in this century, threatening millions of Americans with severe flooding; and

WHEREAS, for four decades, the Clean Air Act has protected the air we breathe through a proven, comprehensive, successful system of pollution control that saves lives and creates economic benefits exceeding its costs by many times; and

WHEREAS, with the Clean Air Act, air quality in this country has improved significantly since 1970, despite major growth both in our economy and industrial production; and

WHEREAS, between 1970 and 1990, the six main pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act — particulate matter and ground-level ozone (both of which contribute to smog and asthma), carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur and nitrogen oxides (the pollutants that cause acid rain) — were reduced by between 47 percent and 93 percent, and airborne lead was virtually eliminated; and

WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act has produced economic benefits valued at $2 trillion or 30 times the cost of regulation; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts vs. EPA (2007) that greenhouse gases are “air pollutants” as defined by the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate them; and

WHEREAS, The City of Nashville prides itself on being a leader in the fight against climate change and for clean air and, by creating the Mayor’s Office of Environment and Sustainability, has shown its ability to be a green leader in the Southeast; and

WHEREAS, The City of Nashville strives to meet the goals set out by the Green Ribbon
Committee’s 2009 Summary Report, which addresses environmental and livability issues in Nashville.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas pollution under the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act.

Section 2. The Council further goes on record as noting that climate change is not an abstract problem for the future or one that will only affect far-distant places, but rather climate change is happening now, we are contributing to it, and the longer we wait to act, the more we lose and the more difficult the problem will be to solve.

Section 3. We, the Metropolitan County Council, on behalf of the residents of Nashville, do hereby urge the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa P. Jackson, and President Barack Obama to move swiftly to fully employ and enforce the Clean Air Act to do our part to reduce carbon in our atmosphere to no more than 350 parts per million.

Section 4. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy a copy of this Resolution to Lisa P. Jackson of the Environmental Protection Agency and to President Barack Obama.

Section 5. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jason Holleman, Erica Gilmore, Brady Banks, Burkley Allen, ,Lonnell Matthews, Sean McGuire, Bo Mitchell, Davette Blalock

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred to:	Health, Hospitals and Social Services Committee
Introduced:	November 13, 2012
Adopted:	November 13, 2012
Approved:	November 14, 2012

Top Stories

Congratulations to Robert Duvall for winning the Scene Poll

The Nashville Scene has come out with their "People and Places Reader's poll, Best of Nashville 2012" issue. Along with  categories "BEST THING THAT'S CHANGED IN NASHVILLE IN THE LAST YEAR," which the Scene poll participants said was Nordstrom, (a place I have only been in once and a place I can't afford to shop) and BEST PET WALKER/SITTER' which the Scene poll participants said was Beth Joslin (whoever that is and if I had pet to walk I would walk it myself) is the categories "BEST METRO COUNCIL MEMBER" and "BEST METRO COUNCIL MEMBER YOU'D LIKE TO SEE GONE."

The results are not surprising really. I have in my mind a profile of the readers of the Scene and can predict their opinions. Well, not all of their readers of course. I read it myself, but I read a broad spectrum of stuff. I mostly read the Scene for the listings of art openings, and music performances and to see what good liberals are thinking.

My image of the average Scene reader is a higher than average income, white, pony-tailed, Birkenstock-wearing, latte-grande-sipping, avant-garde-art-loving, pretentious and condescending liberal. He has a dog but pays someone else to walk it. He is someone who sends his children to the best private schools but opposes charter schools and school vouchers. He is an avowed environmentalist and advocates cap and trade, yet has a big carbon foot-print due to owning a big house, a big dog and frequent trips by plane. He thinks society should do more for the downtrodden, but other than buying an occasional newspaper from the homeless guy, never gives anything to charity except when he contributes to WPLN and gets his free WPLN tote bag which he always carries with him to go grocery shopping at Whole Foods.

I have no idea how many people voted in the Scene's poll. They don't tell you. I didn't. I imagine few casual reader like me voted in it but mostly loyal readers who fit the profile I have imagined. Anyway, here are the results: 

BEST METRO COUNCIL MEMBER 

• Megan Barry 
• Jason Holleman 
• Peter Westerholm 

BEST METRO COUNCIL MEMBER YOU'D LIKE TO SEE GONE 

• Robert Duvall 
• Tony Tenpenny 
• Eric Crafton 

If I would have voted in this poll some of the names could have stayed the same, just switch the categories.

You can see that the voters in the Scene poll have opinions but they are not very informed opinions. Eric has been out of the Council for some time now. Despite being gone already, the voters of the Scene poll list Eric as one they would like to see gone.

Upon learning of being the number one "Best Metro Council Member you'd like to see gone" by voters in the Scene poll, Robert Duvall posted the following on his facebook page.

 I don’t read the Nashville Scene. So I didn’t know, until a fellow Councilmember called me today, that I have been named the “Best Councilmember You’d Like to See Gone.” 

 I had a bit of laugh at that for this reason. When you stand up for the people of your district and go against the wishes of the Belmont Boulevard crowd, you don’t win many points with Nashville’s elite politicians or media.

The wishes and well being of the people in my district come first. Always have. Always will. When the numbers don’t add up on huge new projects, no matter how shinny and exciting they may be, I will ask how we intend to pay for it without adding to the burden of the taxpayers. When my constituents ask me to oppose a property tax increase in a down economy, I will oppose it. When the opinion of my district is different than politicians and media, well, sorry guys. My district wins.

That is how I have conducted myself as a Councilman. It hasn’t won me friends among the cocktail crowd. But they don’t matter. What matters are good jobs and new opportunities for OUR part of Nashville. I have fought for that on the council and will fight for that in the State House. 

I congratulate Robert Duvall on his distinction on being disliked by the Scene poll participants. Sometimes you can know a person by the enemies they make.  

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Final update: What happened at the 9/18/12 Council meeting: Midtown rezoned, poll books bought

09/18/12 Metro Council Meeting

Meeting of the Metro Council on September 18th, 2012 More

Click on the above link to watch the Council meeting.  Below are the highlights with notation of where to go in the video to see the more interesting portions of the meeting.

It is announced that Juvenile Judge Betty Adams Green resigned effective the day prior to the Council meeting. The Council will fill the vacancy. Nomination for the office are to be in the clerk's office by September 25, and the Council will fill the position at the Oct 16th meeting. It will be interesting to see who the Council chooses to fill this vacancy. The Council gets lobbied hard on filling vacancies for these plum positions.

Three bills are pulled from the consent agenda.  This rarely happens. The three bills are Resolution 412 which would appropriate $400,000 from the 4% fund to purchase electronic poll books for the election commission, Resolution 412 which approves an agreements between TVA, NES and Metro for the purchase, interconnection, and operation of electricity generated by solar units installed at two fire halls, and Resolution 428 which authorizes the parking of vehicles at the former Stokes Middle School property.

Discussion of Resolution 410 (purchase of poll books) starts at 16:10. Budget and Finance had approved unanimously. Charlie Tygerd explains that the issues surrounding the controversy of problems with the electronic poll books were fully explained at the B&F committee and half the books have already been purchased and the new poll books save time and money.

Bo Mitchell who is running for a State House seat, gets a lot of TV face time grandstanding on the issue and says the B&F committee did not get adequate answers. He makes a motion to defer. Duane Dominy Speaks and says the answers to the questions raised by Mitchell were provided in committee. On a machine vote the motion to defer fails, 15 for deferral and 24 against.

Councilman Maynard attacks the integrity of the Election Commission and Charlie Tygerd defends the election commission. (This is good stuff. Maynard starts at 29:45; Tygerd at 33:25.) Tygerd gets frustrated and heated and does a great job responding to Mannard. Councilman Tony Tenpenny also takes to the floor revealing his frustration. Several other members speak on the motion and the resolution passes by voice vote. The way I see it, those who are attacking the election commission are simply not wanting to understand the explanation that were offered and are grandstanding.

Resolution 412 which approves an agreements between TVA, NES and Metro for the purchase, interconnection, and operation of electricity generated by solar units installed at two fire halls is discussed. Thanks to Charlie Tygerd, the questions I wanted asked were asked. (See it at 37:10) The return is a twenty year return on investment. That is a bad deal! Great job Councilman Tygerd! 

 Councilman Stein points out that the money has already been spend and all this bill does is enter into a contract to recoup some of the money already spend. On a machine vote, the resolution passes 37-2 with the two "no" votes being those of Tygerd and Duvall. If I had been in the Council, I also would have voted no. This measure was nothing more than a feel-good green project that was not in the city's best interest. The Council should have voted against this bill and sent General Services a message to stop the feel-good green stuff and only engage in green projects if they are good investments.

Councilman Evans explains her opposition to Resolution 428 which authorizes the parking of vehicles at the former Stokes Middle School property. (see 42:52) The resolution passes on machine vote 34-4-1

Each proposed charter amendment is considered separately.

• RS2012-279 by Tygard which would have Nashville’s mayoral, vice mayoral and Metro Council elections at the same time was withdrawn following a recommendation against the bill from the Council's Charter Revision committee. 
• RS2012-280 by Gilmore that would prohibit the Metropolitan Government from inquiring about a job applicant’s criminal history on the initial job application is withdrawn following a negative recommendation of the Council Committee. 
• RS2012-377 by Garrett, which would clarify the duties of the sheriff’s office passes. 

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-237 on second reading amends the Metro Code to implement a number of the recommendations of the study and formulating committee pertaining to employee and retiree benefits and pensions. This ordinance basically curtails the benefits of employees going forward. This is a wise move. Many cities are going broke because of liberal defined benefit packages and retirement plans. The bill passes.

An attempt is made by Councilman Clairborne to amend the bill so that going forward, former council members would not be eligible for the subsidized health insurance unless they had served 10 years and then they would pay the same rate as retirees who had served 10 years. (see 1:09:15 for discussion) Councilman Clairborne withdraws the amendment after several council members raise objections that the amendment has not been to committee, but he promises to bring it back as a separate bill.

Prior to term limits there were not that many former council members; with term limits there is growing number of former members of the Metro Council. Claiborne's proposal should be adopted.

ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-241 by Dominy, on second reading to require the annual contract for services between the Metropolitan Government and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce for the Partnership 2020 economic development program to be approved by resolution of the council and would require 21 affirmative votes to be approved, is deferred for two meetings.

BILL NO. BL2012-195 which would rezone more than 1500 properties over a 450 acre area in Midtown (between Charlotte and West End from I-440 to downtown) passes. The discussion starts at 1:32:50.

Below are news reports regarding this council meeting.

Council approves Midtown rezoning
 also. approved purchase of poll books


by Michael Cass,The Tennessean, Sep 18, 2012

The Metro Council voted Tuesday to approve a 455-acre rezoning in Nashville’s Midtown area and agreed to put five proposed charter amendments up for public votes in November.

 The council also voted to appropriate $400,000 to buy controversial voting equipment for the Davidson County Election Commission, agreeing to honor a contract with a vendor over objections about the technology’s performance in the August primary.(link)

 Metro Council Purchases Controversial Voting Equipment
 from NewsChannel5.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Metro Council Members exchanged some heated words over controversial electronic poll books during a meeting.

Despite the debate, the council voted to appropriate $400,000 to buy the equipment for the Davidson County Election Commission.  The money will purchase 200 machines and upheld a contractual agreement signed last year.

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Update: What happened at the 09/04/12 Metro Council Meeting

09/04/12 Metro Council Meeting

Meeting of the Metro Council on September 4th, 2012



Councilman Carter Todd, just recently elected President Pro Tempore of the Council, conducts the meeting.

Most of the bills on this agenda are zoning matter which would interest no one except the people in the vicinity of the proposed rezoning. I am not going to comment on those unless they are exceptional for some reason.

BILL NO. BL2012-194, a bill disapproved by the Planning Commission, would rezone a piece of property off of Dickerson Rd. to permit a scrap operation and has a lot of public interest. Many people were in the chamber wearing distinctive shirts indicating their support for the project. A lot of people speak in favor including Jack Cawthon of Jack's Barbecue fame. Four speak against, including former Council Member and President of NEON, Pam Murray. The hearing last almost an hour and passes on a voice vote. I don't know how a developer is successful in turning out so many people to speak in favor of a junk yard, except that what is currently on the property is even more undesirable than the junk yard according to some of the comments. Something I don't know about must be going on here. (hearing starts at the 7 minute mark)

RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-395 which would appropriate $8,745,000.00 from the General Fund Reserve Fund for the purchase of equipment and building repairs for various departments passes, after it is amended to delete $400,000 for new electronic poll books for the Election Commission. The attempt to remove the money for the election commission is led by Councilman Matthews and is a presented as a response to the complications involved in using the new electronic poll books in the recent elections, which was the first time the electronic poll books were used.  A motion is made to table Matthews amendment and there is a 14 to 14 tie vote! Councilman Todd, who is presiding over the meeting votes "nay" to break the tie which means the tabling motion fails.

Back on the amendment, Councilman Garrett explains that the vote to defer is not a vote against the Election commission at all, that in fact, the Election Commission had asked for a two week deferral. That is confirmed by another Council Member and that changes the whole complexion of the issue. Instead of the amendment being a show of displeasure by the Council, the Amendment is now a friendly amendment. Councilman Tenpenny ask an important question, asking if the city would be financially liable if it failed to purchase the machines which had been ordered. He does not get a clear answer. However, Mr. Cooper explains a resolution to appropriate the money could come back as soon as in two weeks so that concern seem to be alleviated.  After all of the discussion, the amendment passes 24 to 2 (This discussion starts at 1:28)

BILL NO. BL2012-195 on second reading which would rezone to higher density over 200 acres in midtown in the vicinity of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit project passed by voice vote. (Thankfully, no one mentioned Agenda 21. Our Council is not as nutty as some Councils in other cities.)

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