Sandra Sepulveda gives her victory speech
Sept. 12’s runoff election marked a few historic victories, as Nashvillians voted in a Metro Council that includes its first Muslim councilmember, its first Latina councilmember, and the most women on the council in Nashville history.
“Nashville is changing, it’s growing, and it’s getting more diverse,” said District 30 winner Sandra Sepulveda at her election-night party outside her home. “And if I could be a new voice for immigrants and younger voters — and not just them, but a lot of people who are fed up with the same people always being in office — then that’s gonna be something that pivots me forward.”
“My support came from everywhere, it’s so diverse,” said Zulfat Suara, celebrating her win as one of five Metro at-large councilmembers at the Cumberland River Compact. While she said the victory was exhilarating, she hadn’t lost sight of the job to come, saying her election is “a mandate — that we want a Nashville for all.” To that end, Suara — the first Muslim to be elected to the Metro Council — emphasized funding for Metro schools, including resources for students’ emotional and mental health. She would also like to see a community-based budget that receives input from citizens.
Sepulveda and Suara are two of the 20 women elected to the council, an all-time high that puts the male-to-female ratio at exactly 1 to 1.
A new coalition made up of notable advocacy groups visited some of the evening’s winners on Thursday night. The Nashville Justice League rented two party buses to hop from party to party, showing support for and celebrating the victories of the candidates they endorsed. The league was officially established in late June following the Metro budget debate, when a proposal to increase the property tax to fund public transportation and Metro schools fell short by one vote. The political action committee brings together the Equity Alliance Fund, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Votes, and the Central Labor Council to push for a more progressive Metro Council.
“We worked really, really hard to get a budget passed that would fund our schools, give our Metro employees the raises they deserve, as well as expand public transportation and community center hours,” said Anne Barnett of the Central Labor Council. When that budget lost by one vote, said Barnett, “We knew we had to form a larger coalition that could fight for all the things that are important for working people.”
Zulfat Suara celebrates her win with members of the Nashville Justice League
Nashville Justice League reps say they knocked on 13,000 doors throughout the city. TIRRC Votes, the election-focused wing of Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, knocked on an additional 14,000.
“You can’t win a council seat, or any kind of seat, without getting out there and knocking on doors,” said Ginny Welsch at her her election night event at Mexican restaurant Guacamayas near Thompson Lane. The Nashville Justice League reports that it knocked on 2,623 doors in District 16, helping Welsch defeat Tony Tenpenny.
At-Large Councilmember Sharon Hurt, also endorsed by the Nashville Justice League, won her re-election. She was one of two at-large incumbents re-elected, alongside Bob Mendes, who won enough votes in the Aug. 1 election to avoid the runoff.
Celebrating her win at Shugga Hi Bakery on Dickerson Pike, Hurt said another term will “give me an opportunity to really make a difference in the council.” Hurt added that she wants to focus on affordable housing, generating revenue through property taxes and support for mental health.
Thirteen of the 15 candidates endorsed by the Nashville Justice League won seats. At-large candidate Fabian Bedne fell short in the runoff, while at-large candidate Gicola Lane didn’t make it past the general election. Other winners included league-endorsed candidates like Burkley Allen for at-large and Kyonztè Toombs in District 2, who unseated Decosta Hastings.
