Senator Jack Johnson: Nashville's 'Local Hire' Amendment 'Bad, Bad Economic Policy'

Senator Jack Johnson, who is chairman of the Tennessee state Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, tells TNReport that he is unequivocally averse to a new "local hire" charter amendment passed by Nashville voters on Aug. 6. Thankfully, we may be saved from becoming the San Francisco of the South by the State legislature. Thank God for men like Senator Johnson.

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Come and Support! Robert Duvall for Council At Large

Come and Support! 

Robert Duvall for Council At Large

Monday, August 24 th 5:30-7:30pm.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 

440 Welshwood Dr. Nashville, TN 37211-4207 

Please join Friends of Councilman Robert Duvall as we get ready for a "SWEET" VICTORY 

Bring your family and friends and enjoy delicious desserts and light hors d’oeuvres as we come together to support Councilman Duvall in the runoff election for Council at Large.

Donations Requested. Paid for by Elect Robert Duvall, Robert Taylor, Treasurer

To visit Robert's website follow this link: http://www.robertduvall.us   

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BL 2015-1120, Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit overlay tool bill to be withdarwn.

Council member Burkley Allen had announced she plans to withdraw BL 2015-1120, the bill that would establish a tool to permit neighborhoods that are zoned "RS" to have Detached Accessory Dwelling Units. As she explains, this bill would not permit DADU's for any neighborhood, but would simply provide that tool if a neighborhood wanted the DADU overlay, permitting DADU's in their neighborhood.

I am disappointed this bill is being withdrawn.  Fortunately however, Ms Allen has been reelected and can reintroduce the bill in the next council.  That would be starting over and the bill would have to again be on public hearing.  I hope she does not give up on getting this passed and will reintroduce it in the next Council.CM Allen has worked hard on this bill and has addressed many of he concerns people have with it.

I know many people do not want this tool to be available.  They want to preserve Nashville the way it is.  Nashville is not going to remain the way it is.  We are growing. We need greater density if we are to avoid greater future urban sprawl, if we are to avoid more crowded roadways, if we are to expand the tax base so it is possible to pay for all of the city's debt without raising taxes, it we are to have good mass transit, and if we are to have affordable housing without resorting to mandates and counter productive price controls to achieve it.

DADU's are now permitted in districts zoned "R" but not in districts zoned "RS."  RS is a residential zoning that prohibits duplexes.  This is the email from CM Burkely that was posted to the Nashville Neighbors Google Group.

From: "Allen, Burkley (Council Member)" <Burkle...@nashville.gov>
Date: August 15, 2015 at 7:24:07 AM CDT
To: "Allen, Burkley (Council Member)" <Burkle...@nashville.gov>

Subject: BL 2015-1120 Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit overlay tool

 Dear Neighbors,
       I understand that there are concerns that this bill would change zoning in neighborhoods to allow  Detached Accessory Dwelling Units.   However, that is not what the bill does.  This is not a zoning change, and it does not apply anywhere.  This ordinance simply creates a tool similar to a historic overlay that a neighborhood could choose to implement if they determined that it was appropriate for them.  The passage of this ordinance would not change the zoning for any property in the county.
       I introduced this bill through the established process back in May.  It had all the required notices and public hearings.  I did not realize the need to go to neighborhoods because I was using an established tool, the overlay, with established DADU guidelines that had been put in place over a year ago with public input.  When I became aware that there were concerns among neighbors,  I held public meetings, scheduling them as soon as I could while still allowing time for adequate notice.
    I have continued to listen to concerns and to offer and accept amendments that would address those concerns.  In response to the concern that this would be a tool for investors rather than neighbors, I have written an amendment to require that  a minimum of 30 contiguous lots be included.  In response to concerns that this would lead to demolition of existing homes, I have accepted an amendment to prohibit demolition of the principal structure within 3 years of building a DADU.  In response to concerns about the widespread use of DADU’s for short term rental, I have agreed to revisit the STRP regulations and include the DADU category in the 3% limit  that would greatly restrict the use.
          Because there is still so much mistrust about this bill, however, I plan to withdraw it on third reading. I have had some good discussion and have ideas for a more targeted tool that I will discuss with neighborhoods before anything is reintroduced.   My intention has never been to harm neighborhoods, and it is important to me to have their support.

Kind regards,
Burkley Allen
Metro Council 18th District

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Boots & Jeans, BBQ & Beans with Gov. Scott Walker, Sunday, Aug. 23rd.

9th Annual Boots & Jeans, BBQ & Beans

State Senator Jack Johnson

Sunday, August 23, 2015 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM (CDT)

Franklin, TN
 

I have attended these events on three previous occasions. They are a lot of fun. Last year's guest speaker was Governor Bobby Jindal.

I don't know if Senator Jack Johnson will be performing or not, but in addition to being a great senator he is a great entertainer. He performs with the Austin Brothers band. If you like the music of Ray Price and Merle Haggard, you will love this band. They have performed in the past and I hope they perform again this year. The food is good and it is just a fun time.

I have seen Governor Scott Walker speak once before and he is someone you do not want to miss. In a crowded Republican field for the nomination he is currently among the top three contenders. He very well could be the next President of the United States.

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David Fox in Hermitage, August 23rd 5:30-7:30

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More Debates and Cadidates Forums

Wednesday, August 19, 6 pm
Live on Tennessean.com. and WSMV-TV Channel 4

NashForward/Tennessean/ Belmont Mcafee Auditorium

Monday, August 24, 7 pm
League of Women Voters/Vanderbilt/Channel 5 Televised Debate Blair School of Music 2400 Blakemore Avenue

Wednesday, September 2, 6pm 
FOX 17 Trevecca Nazarene University

At-Large Candidates Forum -- 
Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors, Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood, Belmont University and Vanderbilt University are partnering together to host an at-large candidates forum on Thursday, August 20. Blake Farmer, WPLN Host/Assistant News Director, will be the forum moderator.

The forum will be from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the Community Room at Belmont United Methodist Church, located at 2007 Acklen Avenue. For more information, contact Mary Pat Teague at 615-322-8337.
Regards, David G. Thompson, President Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors, Inc.

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August 18th Council Agenda is now available. Be aware of Vampire Bills. This is the last meeting of this Council.

 Be aware of Vampire Bills

The August 18th Metro Council agenda is now available and will be a long agenda. This will be the last meeting of this term of the Metro Council.  Some bills that were deferred indefinitely on third meeting from months or years ago may reappear on this agenda.  Many people think a bill is defeated if it is deferred indefinitely, but that is not so. So, if you have a zoning issue (or other issue but mostly zoning issues) that you were once concerned about, review this agenda to see if it has reappeared. Any bills not passed on August 18th really will be dead and would have to start over with the next council.

I will be reviewing the agenda and offering my usual analysis but I don't know the significance of all the zoning bills and really don't even attempt to know their significance, but I do know how the Council works and I know this is the meeting where a lot of people get blindsided by a bill passing that they thought was long dead. Also some Council members who are termed-out or defeated may not be as responsive to constituents as they otherwise would be.

Here is the link to the agenda. 

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An explanation of the Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay zoning bill (BL2015-1120) on the Aug. 18th Agenda.

There is a lot of confusion and concern over what is happening with regards to detached accessory dwelling units in Nashville. BL2015-1120 will be on the agenda August 18th.  I support BL2015-1120 and other bills that advance DADU's. I think that allowing accessory dwelling units on lots will create affordable housing without the heavy hand of government mandating it or imposing price controls. It will also expand the tax base so we can afford to pay off all of the debt the city had accumulated without raising taxes. It will make mass transit more likely to develop and succeed and it will reduce future urban sprawl.  Below is an analysis for BL2015-1120 from the Green Hills Neighborhood Association. 

Dear GHNA Members,

BL2015-1120, creation of Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay for RS zoned areas, is scheduled for the 3rd and final vote on August 18. Neighborhoods zoned R (allowing duplexes) currently allows DADUs. This bill has been deferred twice due to concerns and opposition from numerous neighborhoods across Nashville. This bill creates the process for a DADU overlay only for RS zoned neighborhoods; it does not create an overlay for any one area. A Council Member would make application to request an overlay for a specific RS zoned area; the request would go through Metro Planning Commission and three votes at Metro Council. The Metro Code reference in this bill (Section 17.16.030 F) provides for some restrictions; 7 and 8 below will be included for DADUs:

1. One principal dwelling and only one detached accessory dwelling permitted on a single lot. 
2. The same person who owns the principal dwelling shall own DADU. 
3. One of the two dwellings must be owner-occupied. 
4. Living space and dwelling footprint have size restrictions. 
5. Height restrictions. 
6. DADU shall be of similar style, design and material color as principal dwelling. 
7. There must be 30 contiguous lots in an area to request a DADU overlay. 
8. Any house deemed to have historic eligibility couldn’t be torn down to be replaced with a principal dwelling and a DADU. 

 At the community meeting held on August 3, neighborhoods from across Nashville were represented. CM Burkley Allen conducted the meeting; after explaining the bill and the above restrictions, she stated there are a few RS zoned neighborhoods that would like to keep their RS zoning (as opposed to R zoning which would allow full blown duplexes), but would like to have the option of building a detached accessory dwelling unit behind their existing house. CM Allen stated she was surprised there was so much opposition to this bill creating an overlay.

Below are some of the concerns expressed regarding creating a DADU Overlay in RS zoned neighborhoods: 

• Neighborhoods have worked too hard to downzone to RS to see the RS zoning weakened by this overlay. We can see a lawyer, like Tom White, coming in and arguing that half the houses in the neighborhood have a second dwelling, so why can’t his client build a duplex? Most thought weakening the definition of RS zoning is opening the door for unintended consequences. Former CM John Summers explained he was on the council when the SP zoning was created; they tried to cover all the future consequences, but over the years things have changed and now SP is just “junk” zoning.  
• The few RS zoned neighborhoods that want this overlay “want their cake and eat it too,” but they need to decide if they want to be RS or R. They should not be allowed to have it both ways · It was suggested the Planning Department create a new zoning code that describes a principal dwelling with the option of having a second smaller detached accessory dwelling unit. Keep all the restrictions that are in the overlay bill, but create a separate zoning code. That way the RS zoning definition is not weakened. The Planning Dept is reluctant to do this because they would need to make many changes to the Metro Code, but these would be one-time changes. Why should the majority of RS zoned neighborhoods deal with a weakened definition of RS zoning, just so a few neighborhoods can have “their cake and eat it too?” 
• There is lack of enforcement. Codes simply does not have the manpower to make sure all the restrictions are being followed.  
• CMs have flexibility as to how they conduct their determination whether to request an overlay or re-zoning. There is no requirement for a certain percentage of property owners’ support to create a DADU Overlay. By comparison, the new Contextual Overlay District created last year requires 100% property owner support. Historic Overlays also require a high standard of support, which has prevented some neighborhoods such as Sylvan Park from receiving a Historic Overlay. Yet the DADU Overlay bill doesn’t specify any level of support at all. 
• There were concerns about these DADUs being used for AirBnB and short-term rentals. CM Allen responded this is something that may need more thought. Some individuals have converted garages to apartments; they would still be entitled to a DADU. The concern is that they could have two spaces for short-term rental (AirBnB). 
• Where overlays are approved, this could potentially increase density in our RS neighborhoods. It could affect parking, trash pickup, all types of city services. Most RS neighborhoods do not want the increased traffic and parking. CM Allen stated she is listening and other Council Members are listening. She has a couple of options: 

1. She could defer this bill indefinitely; since this is the end of the Council term, any bill not acted on dies. It would be necessary for the process to completely start over with the new Council. OR 
2.  She could withdraw this bill, go back to the Planning Department and request they create a new zoning code for RS neighborhoods that want to have DADUs; the new zoning code would contain all the restrictions found in the DADU portion of the Metro Code. By creating a new code, the RS zoning code would continue to define one single family dwelling on one lot. OR 
3. She could ask for a final vote on August 18. 

If you have specific questions about this bill, you may contact the sponsor, CM Burkley Allen, at Burkley.Allen@nashville.gov If you have an opinion, please let the Metro Council know before August 18 by sending an e-mail to councilmembers@nashville.gov. The GHNA Boar

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Dean’s $1B IOU: The cost of ‘It City’

by Scott Harrison, Nashville Business Journal, Jul 31, 2015- Mayor Karl Dean’s legacy includes skyline-altering projects that helped turn Music City into “It City.” To get us here, he’s bet big on Nashville’s growth — leaving the city with nearly $1 billion in additional debt....in 2007, Nashville had just under $2 billion in outstanding debt on its books. At the end of June, that figure had climbed to about $2.9 billion — a nearly 50 percent increase in eight years, and a far larger clip than his predecessor.

And that number doesn’t include the bond funding used to build the $600 million Music City Center, a case where repayment falls on the Convention Center Authority. Nor does it account for the bulk of $65 million in bonds the Metro Sports Authority issued to pay for the new Nashville Sounds ballpark in Germantown.

... Moody’s also suggests that if Nashville’s tax base doesn’t continue to grow, and debt burdens remain elevated, the city may have to raise taxes to pay for its tab.  .... To pay for the additional debt of the past few years, Nashville needs to keep growing.  .....The city owed $3,261 per Nashvillian in June 2014, a 32 percent increase since June 2007.  .....Since mid-2007, Metro has borrowed about $730 million to fund schools.....Charlie Tygard,.... argues that Metro is overexposed if the economy slows. (link)

My comment: I am bullish on Nashville. I do not fault Dean for much of what he has done. I supported the convention center. I would have voted for it.  I would have not supported such an investment if I were a citizen of Knoxville or Memphis or most other American cities, but I believe it was a wise investment for Nashville. I believe Nashville can be a successful convention city. In fact, considered individually, I find little to criticize about any of Nashville's major recent "investments." It is the cumulative effect that concerns me.

Also, borrowing to pay for basic consumptions, just as schools, deeply concerns me. We are like a household that is using the credit card to buy groceries and depending on continuing raises or continuing overtime pay to pay off those credit cards debts when they become due. Now is the time to step back and reduce our indebtedness and balance the budget. If we have a downturn in the economy we are screwed! I fear that if Megan Barry is our next mayor, our debt will continue to grow and spiral out of control. That is why, among other reasons, I am supporting David Fox for mayor.

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(update) Meet and Greet with Senator Ted Cruz, Monday August 10th.

This event has been moved to The Factory (Jamison Hall) 230 Franklin Rd. Franklin, TN 37064


Ted Cruz To Visit Brentwood.  Ted Cruz will be at Southern Sweets for a meet and greet, Monday, August 10th, 1:30 pm, Cool Springs House, 1490 Volunteer Pkwy, Brentwood, TN 37027. The event is free but you must register. Follow this link.

As with all of my announcements of political events, an announcement does not constitute an endorsement.

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The Election results are in. My commentary.

If you read this blog, then you are probably someone who cares about local political affairs and already know who won and who lost last night and have seen the unofficial returns. The returns remain unofficial until certified by the election commission. Here  are the returns with some comments. The highlighted names are those who either won outright or made the runoff.

Mayor's race:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
M. BARRY	11255	259	12935	24449
C. ROBERT BONE	4944	186	5790	10920
D. A. FOX	11196	210	12305	23711
B. FREEMAN	11396	274	10509	22179
H. GENTRY	5222	144	6661	12027
J. KANE	2202	60	2487	4749
L. ESKIND REBROVICK	2609	119	3080	5808
WRITE-IN	34	0	28	62

I am extremely pleased that Fox made the runoff and I think he stands a better chance of winning in the runoff, running against Barry than if Freeman would have been the runoff opponent. While Freeman is probably every bit as liberal as Barry, Freeman's personality makes him seem more reasonable and more acceptable to moderate folks.  Fox is not as conservative on the social issues as I would like, but a pro-life, anti-gay marriage candidate probably would not stand a chance getting elected in Davidson County.  And anyway, those issues are national issues and it doesn't matter much what a mayor of Nashville thinks about them. Fox is not a crusader for liberal social causes the way Barry is however.

 Fox is a  conservative on economic issues, property rights and free enterprise. He is pragmatic, smart and thoughtful and likely to but Nashville's finances on a solid footing. Can Fox win against Barry? I think he has a good chance. I think there is a feeling among many Nashvillians that Nashville needs to call a halt to greater indebtedness and I think most Nashvillians do not want another property tax increase anytime soon and I think most people will view Fox as the candidate least likely to raise taxes again. Also, I think many feel that too much emphasis and tax giveaway had been focused on downtown and will see Barry as part of that excess. However, since Nashville is a predominately Democratic town, Barry has the advantage going into the runoff and Fox must make his case.

One thing heartening about this election is that while money goes a long way toward winning an election, it cannot buy an election. Freeman drastically outspend his opponents including $3.6 million of his own money. He put Black leaders on his payroll and then got their endorsement, he reportedly flew Black pastors to D.C for a meet and greet with Obama, he dominated TV advertising, yet still came up short.  

Vice Mayor race:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
D. BRILEY	21010	530	25696	47236
T. GARRETT	19975	521	21398	41894

I am very disappointed. I know Tim Garrett and he has a lot of experience and institutional knowledge. He is also considered a more conservative Democrat while Briley is considered more progressive. However, the roll of the Vice Mayor is to pretty much limited to running efficient meetings and making committee assignment. I felt confident Garrett would have struck the right balance between running efficient meetings and allowing adequate debate. I also felt he would have been fair in making committee assignment. I am going to give David Briley the benefit of the doubt and hope he does the same.

Council at-large races:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
B. BAKER	5715	161	6794	12670
J. BALL	2859	68	2763	5690
K. BENNETT	8122	212	8982	17316
A. CAROTA	1126	23	944	2093
E. COLEMAN	7648	174	8678	16500
J. COOPER	16317	408	18222	34947
E. DACHOWSKI	4236	101	4153	8490
A. DREAD	7538	202	8361	16101
R. DUVALL	9171	217	9436	18824
L. JOHNNY ELLIS	2077	51	1727	3855
E. GILMORE	16814	286	19369	36469
R. E. GREER, SR	5604	139	6653	12396
F. HARRISON	4024	95	5497	9616
J. HOLLEMAN	7241	186	9140	16567
M. HOLSINGER	1168	25	1046	2239
P. HOSTETTLER	3745	127	3844	7716
W. HUNT	7122	187	8680	15989
S. W. HURT	8799	206	10994	19999
K. JAKES	5830	127	5917	11874
J. KEETON	2123	53	1832	4008
J. LASITER	4221	86	4813	9120
D. MAJORS	6169	178	9794	16141
L. MATTHEWS, JR	7597	142	10243	17982
B. MENDES	10406	267	13844	24517
S. V. MOORE	7110	178	7624	14912
J. SHULMAN	8627	274	12918	21819
WRITE-IN	725	3	633	1361

No one got 20% of the vote so the top ten vote getters will be in the runoff. I only voted for one candidate, not wanted to dilute my vote, and that was Ken Jakes. I am very disappointed. I was almost certain he would make the run off. However, I think Ken Jakes can do as about as much good being the citizen activist he is as he could do in the Council. I also thought Adam Dread would make the runoff. He recently run for a county-wide office, running for Judge and he is a former Councilman at-large. He had name recognition.

Cooper and Mendes spend a lot of money and had TV advertising. Obviously that helps. Also, being the brother of the Fifth District U. S. Congressman is a big plus. I got two or three mailing from Holleman, so sort of expected him to make the runoff. Being a district councilman helps as Matthews, Duvall, Bennett, Holleman are all termed-out district Council members. However it did not help Sandra Moore or Walter Hunt. I was kind of surprised by Hunt not making the runoff. He has been around a long time and a lot of people know him.

The result I am most pleased about is Robert Duvall. I will be voting for Duvall in the run-off.

District 1:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
S. ARMOR	102	3	212	317
R. BAKER	155	12	372	539
R. DOCKERY	58	3	109	170
L. GREENE, JR	448	9	844	1301
N. LEONARDO	900	11	447	1358
J. H. MONTGOMERY	52	4	45	101
J. RICHARDSON	29	1	60	90
R. WILLIAMSON	80	8	175	263
WRITE-IN	0	0	5	5

I am very pleased to see Lioniel Green, Jr. make the run off and will be supporting him.

District 2:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
L. FORTIER	67	0	75	142
D. HASTINGS	443	6	606	1055
D. W. HYLTON	23	1	25	49
C. SEARCY	197	4	315	516
R. "BOBBY" STOCKARD	334	6	608	948
WRITE-IN	2	0	2	4

 I was supporting Carrie Searcy. I have no run-off preference at this time.

District 3:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
T. CLAYTON	387	5	448	840
T. COLEMAN	417	6	347	770
B. H. HAYWOOD	732	9	738	1479
WRITE-IN	4	0	3	7

I had no preference in this race and do not know the candidates.

District 4:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
R. SWOPE	553	5	1102	1660
P. TUTTLE	607	7	820	1434
WRITE-IN	2	0	9	11

Congratulations Robert Swope! I expect Swope to be a conservative leader in the Council, who will not "go along to get along" or hide in the herd. I think we have a conservative leader in the Council in Robert Swope!

District 5:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
S. DAVIS	515	2	316	833
S. MARTIN	466	1	261	728
P. MURRAY	327	3	179	509
WRITE-IN	1	0	1	2

I am for Scott Davis in the runoff.

District 6:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes

P. WESTERHOLM	759	12	544	1315
B. WITHERS	1283	11	850	2144
WRITE-IN	10	0	4	14

I am pleased with this outcome.

District 7:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
S. CLEMENTS	414	1	323	738
A. DAVIS	931	0	670	1601
R. REED	374	9	214	597
WRITE-IN	4	0	4	8

I am very disappointing. Stephen Clements if a friend of mine and I had contributed to his campaign and encouraged him.

District 8

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
R. L. GHOLSTON	153	2	152	307
N. GROUND	47	2	55	104
R. SAWYERS, SR	85	7	95	187
C. SWANN	250	7	301	558
N. VanREECE	362	9	500	871
D. (DANNY) WILLIAMS	86	3	110	199
WRITE-IN	6	0	4	10

This runoff will be a contest between a very progressive candidate in VanReece and a conservative in Chris Swann. Swann is deserving of our support.

District 9:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
R. McDANIEL	311	5	311	627
B. PRIDEMORE	493	7	625	1125
WRITE-IN	2	0	2	4

 Good outcome. Pridemore deserved another term.

 District 10

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
D. PARDUE	768	12	823	1603
WRITE-IN	12	2	19	33

No opponent for Pardue and he is a good Councilman.

District 11:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
L. HAGAR	1169	23	1163	2355
WRITE-IN	19	0	20	39

Hagar had no opponent and has proven to be one of the "good" councilmen.

District 12:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
S. GLOVER	893	32	1234	2159
WRITE-IN	21	2	36	59

No opponent. Glover deserved another term.

District 13:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
F. CARTER	127	0	129	256
M. COLE	303	4	257	564
H. HUEZO	372	3	310	685
WRITE-IN	2	0	7	9

 I did not know enough about any of the candidates to have an opinion in this race.

District 14:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
K. RHOTEN	616	6	756	1378
WRITE-IN	8	0	8

 I do not know anything about this candidate who ran unopposed.

District 15:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
J. GARRETT	527	13	389	929
J. SYRACUSE	1062	14	972	2048
WRITE-IN	2	0	2	4

 I suspect Syracuse will be one of the "good" council members.

District 16:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
M. FREEMAN	524	10	530	1064
T. TENPENNY	496	13	312	821
WRITE-IN	3	0	4	7

I do not know Freeman, but am disappointed Tenpenny lost. He was an advocate for saving the Fair Gounds and was as consistently conservative as anyone on the Council.

 District 17

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
C. COTTON	291	2	226	519
P. D. FOSTER	434	9	257	700
C. SLEDGE	530	4	402	936
T. WATSON	199	4	122	325
WRITE-IN	4	0	3	7

This is the district I live in and I was supporting Tony Watson. Between these two candidates in the runoff I do not had this time have a preference at this time.

District 18

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
B. M. ALLEN	1053	30	1068	2151
WRITE-IN	19	0	19	38

CM Allen had no opponent, has been a good council member and I am pleased to see her reelected. 

District 19

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
K. CALDWELL	134	2	99	235
A. HARRISON	161	12	146	319
F. O'CONNELL	433	5	458	896
B. SHICK	101	2	87	190
WRITE-IN	4	0	4	8

Disappointed. I favored Amanda Harrison.

District 20

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
M. FRANK	397	6	253	656
M. CAROLYN ROBERTS	394	12	348	754
F. STABILE	233	4	115	352
WRITE-IN	4	0	2	6

I was supporting Frank Stabile, but do not know very much about Ms Roberts.

District 21

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
L. DUPREE	415	8	309	732
E. T. KINDALL	485	25	490	1000
WRITE-IN	2	0	1	3

Do not have an opinion of the victor.

District 22

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
S. WEINER	1031	51	1754	2836
WRITE-IN	23	1	19	43

I was glad to see Sheri win without an opponent. She is one of the "good" council members.

District 23:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
M. JOHNSON	844	41	1275	2160
T. LEE	246	11	391	648
J. ROBERTS	617	20	912	1549
WRITE-IN	275	4	440	719

I was pleased to see Jim Roberts make the runoff. I will be supporting him.

District 24:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
A. GRANT	851	56	1153	2060
K. MURPHY	1188	81	1406	2675
WRITE-IN	3	0	11	14

This is one of the worst losses of the night. Kathleen Murphy is a lobbist, daughter of Mike Murphy and had the state-wide Democrat machine behind her. She is a very partisan Democrat.

 District 25:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
R. PULLEY	1299	56	2213	3568
WRITE-IN	20	0	39	59

 I have no opinion of this candidate.

District 26:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
J. ELROD	798	16	781	1595
L. BANGALIE KROMAH	113	0	93	206
J. MITCHELL	364	6	297	667
WRITE-IN	4	1	1	6

I had no knowledge of the candidates and no preference in this race.

District 27:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
D. BLALOCK	471	14	607	1092
C. LEDBETTER	317	12	342	671
WRITE-IN	5	0	3	8

Great outcome! Davette is one of the "good" council members.

District 28:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
D. T. LEWIS	67	0	38	105
M. SMITHSON	328	5	264	597
T. VERCHER	421	0	425	846
WRITE-IN	1	0	1	2

 My candidate did not win. Disappointed.

District 29:

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
K. Y. JOHNSON	1030	9	943	1982
V. A. TATARYN	216	3	218	437
WRITE-IN	1	0	3	4

 I did not know Karen Johnson's opponent, but I like Karen Johnson and pleased to see she won.

District 30

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
J. POTTS	554	6	472	1032
WRITE-IN	14	0	10	24

I am disappointing Potts did not have an opponent. 

 District 31

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
F. BEDNE	925	3	894	1822
WRITE-IN	17	1	20	38

 Councilman Bedne is a good council member and he deserved a second term.

District 32

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
J. C. DOWELL	366	7	665	1038
R. A. HASKINS	57	0	70	127
W. KIZZIE	211	2	213	426
WRITE-IN	1	0	2	3

 I did not know the other candidates but think Jacobia Dowell has done a good job and am pleased to see her win another term in the Council.

District 33

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
S. COLEMAN	782	13	933	1728
J. GAFFORD	374	5	318	697
WRITE-IN	2	0	4	6

 Sam Coleman is a previous Council member. A moderate. He had the support of Robert Duvall. Good outcome.

District 34

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
S. BUTLER	840	41	1556	2437
A. HENDERSON	1204	28	1736	2968
WRITE-IN	4	0	1	5

 I did not have a preference in this district and do not know Henderson.


District 35

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
V. LINEWEAVER	312	8	400	720
D. ROSENBERG	1043	13	1472	2528
L. SPIVAK	394	7	530	931
WRITE-IN	3	0	4	7

 I was supporting Lonnie Spivak and am very disappointed he did not win.

Amendment #1 which would increase Council terms from two to three:

Wow! The public has spoken divisively that they like term limits for about the third of fourth time. Term limits make for a weak Council and a strong mayor and strong bureaucracy, but I guess that is what the public wants.

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
For RATIFICATION	15953	374	18837	35164
Against RATIFICATION	30179	601	32299	63079

Amendment #2 which would also extend term limits and shrink the council.

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes

For RATIFICATION	16508	417	19913	36838
Against RATIFICATION	29382	533	31027	60942

Not even close. The public likes a  big, weak, council.

 Amendment #3, the "local hire" amendment, which will require 40% of the work force on any tax payer funded project valued at over $100,000 be make up of Davidson County residents.

Candidate Name	Election Day	Absentee	Early	Total Votes
For RATIFICATION	27155	524	28998	56677
Against RATIFICATION	19026	431	22029	41486

This will drastically increase the cost of metro projects but will probably be found to be in violation of both the U.S. and the Tennessee Constitution.

Congratulations to the winners!

Below is what others are saying about the election:
The Tennessean: Nashville mayoral election: Five takeaways
The Tennessean: Voters approve local-hire amendment, reject council changes
The Tennessean: Barry, Fox headed for runoff
4WSMV:  Barry, Fox campaigns gearing up again for runoff election

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Southeast Nashville Conservatives' Breakfast Saturday, August 15, 2015

What: Southeast Nashville Conservatives' Breakfast Saturday,
When: August 15, 2015. Social/Dutch Treat Breakfast 8:30 - 9:00 am Program 9:00 - 10 am
Where:  Shoney's (Antioch) Bell Rd. @ Cane Ridge Road (I-24E, Bell Road Exit)
Who: Our goal is to have the runoff mayoral candidates speak, along with introducing some of the newly elected Council members.  Hosted by: Robert Duvall & Pat Carl

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