In the midst of a hot mayor’s race, the 21 candidates vying for the five Council at-large seats haven’t exactly captured the city’s attention. But at least they’re talking about things most Nashvillians seem to care about. “It’s not the sexy issues,” incumbent Leo Waters concedes. “We’re talking solid waste, storm water drainage, transportation issues, plus the continued reengineering of the water department.”
Perhaps exhausted after eight years of big projects, most residents want their leaders to focus more on infrastructure-related issues, many at-large candidates say. “People want government to get back to the core issues, like streets, schools, and public safety,” says candidate David Briley. “The broad issue,” adds incumbent member Chris Ferrell, “is ‘What’s going to happen in my neighborhood?’ ”
Here in the last political campaign of the century, Metro’s Council at-large race has a decidedly retro feel. People are concerned about trash pickup, flooded basements, and sidewalks—the lack thereof, that is. As a result this race is centered not on ideology, but on responsiveness to people’s needs.
Take candidate Howard Gentry. He says that if elected, he’ll try to do a better job at “communicating information to the general public.” He doesn’t share a vision for the city, only an assurance that he’ll be accessible.
And for the most part, the others are no more inclined to offer grand treatises of political thought. Asked what distinguishes him from his opponents, candidate Tandy Rice says, “Being accountable and being consistent.” And candidate Larry Schmittou says, “If people want a conservative guy to watch over their money, they might want me.”
In other words, this year vision is out—and attention is in. That can make it hard to differentiate the candidates. But here’s a primer. Because of term limits, there are only two incumbents in the race: Leo Waters and Chris Ferrell. Both are considered favorites, given the fact that they are better known than their rivals. (No incumbent at-large member has ever lost a race in the history of Metro.) Both might win reelection without a runoff. During their first terms, the two have taken risky, unpopular positions—Ferrell voted against the stadium deal, while Waters opposed initiatives to privatize the water department—but they have won the respect of their fellow Council members.
After Ferrell and Waters, the race is wide open. Gentry, the former Tennessee State University athletic director, has run a well-organized campaign and seems poised to become the first African American politician to represent the county as a whole. He cites his diverse background, which includes everything from selling cars to working at a bank, as distinguishing him.
Briley also appears strong as the campaign winds down. The grandson of the late mayor Beverly Briley and brother of state Rep. Rob Briley, the candidate has raised close to $50,000 and should make the runoff. He says he wants to tackle the problems of truancy.
“There is a high correlation between missing school and not graduating, and there is an equally high correlation between not graduating and criminality,” he says. “This is one of the few issues where we know we can make a difference.”
The little-known Carolyn Baldwin Tucker seems to be gaining momentum. The longtime educator, who received the endorsement of The Tennessean last week, is passionate about education reform. “When I say I want accountability in schools, I know what accountability entails,” she says.
Other strong candidates include Adam Dread, a former morning deejay and a self-proclaimed “alternative conservative,” music agent Tandy Rice, former Nashville Sounds owner Larry Schmittou, and event planner Luvenia Harrison Butler, whose aggressive campaign—she ran and lost in 1995—has rankled her opponents while seemingly bolstered her chances of making the runoff.
Finally, there’s Al Woods, the adult entertainment mogul. He might pull a surprise and wiggle his way into a runoff as well. Woods owns Regina’s House of Dolls, but is he adding spice to the contest? Asked why voters should elect him, he says, “I’m a financial conservative. I want to keep public spending in check.” He’s just boring enough to be a contender.
Comments (0)