#MayoralChatter: It's On

Every week, we'll round up the news, speculation and general chatter about the upcoming mayoral election (and whatever else we feel like including). Send tips, thoughts or endorsements to tips@nashvillescene.com. Let's get to it. 

Well, we now know when the election will be — very soon. Early voting will begin on May 4 and run through May 19. The election will take place Thursday, May 24.

The Power of Incumbency

Things are working out nicely for Mayor David Briley. He announced this week that he'll be embarking on a listening tour throughout the county. That's a good thing for a mayor to do, and also a clever way to campaign for free. The Briley administration also announced that the mayor will give the annual State of Metro address at the downtown library on May 4. Interestingly, he'll miss a chance to give a big speech before May 1, decision day for the transit referendum. But that does mean the State of Metro will take place on the same day that early voting for the mayoral election kicks off. Nice timing. 

Off the Rails

Each of Briley's major — or at least recognizable — opponents is opposing the mass transit plan now. Erica Gilmore announced her evolution on the plan earlier this week and Harold Love Jr. declared his opposition a few days later. Long-shot weirdos like Carol Swain and Ralph Bristol are opposing the plan too. Remember, of course, that the transit vote will be on May 1. So whatever happens, all of these candidates will have to reckon with the results of the referendum for a few weeks before the mayoral election. If it passes, it will be interesting to see what the candidates opposing it have to say about implementing it. 

Breaking Down the Mayoral Race 

Against my better judgment, I veered into the punditry lane a bit for some analysis on the mayoral race and even a prediction of sorts. 

It certainly seems like David Briley is going to win this year’s mayoral election. This week, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the election must take place in May. If Briley doesn’t win another year in the office, I’d be surprised. 

Maybe the best way to do this is to lay out the case for a Briley victory and see how sturdy it appears. 

To start with, his ascent to the mayor’s office by way of Megan Barry’s downfall and resignation gives him at least a bit of the advantage of incumbency. One of his advantages is the support of a set of movers and shakers from Nashville’s business community who just don’t want the rabble to make a bunch of fuss. When he ran for mayor more than a decade ago, Briley — who was running as a lefty of sorts — wasn’t exactly this crowd’s type. But continuity is their goal, and that means he’s their man now. 

Along with that, Briley has name recognition — you can do a lap around almost the entire city on a road named for his grandfather, late Nashville mayor Beverly Briley — and he reportedly raised $400,000 in three weeks. 

Still, who knows? A shorter election cycle only seems to strengthen Briley's status as the frontrunner. But electoral politics can get pretty weird these days, so we'll see.