Freddie O'Connell Likely to Challenge Residency of Surprise District 19 Opponent

When the list of people who had qualified to be candidates in this year's Metro elections came out a week ago, there were, surprisingly, two names listed in Metro Council District 19. The incumbent Councilmember Freddie O'Connell, and a man named Joshua Parant. 

Parant pulled papers to run for the council seat on May 10, less than a week before the qualifying deadline. O'Connell says that's not an accident.

In an interview with the Scene — and then in the most recent edition of his newsletter for constituents — O'Connell says Parant has essentially dropped into his district at the urging of "aggrieved honky-tonk owner" Steve Smith, who owns Tootsie's and Honky Tonk Central. Now he says he'll likely challenge Parant's legitimacy on the ballot. O'Connell says Parant moved into the district just last month and is living on a month-to-month lease. 

“All these signs point to someone parachuting into the district who is not in any way conversant in the issues facing the district," O'Connell tells the Scene. 

The council member, who is seeking a second term representing the downtown area and parts of North Nashville, is not hiding his irritation at Parant's appearance and Smith's alleged involvement. Speaking to the Scene, he laments the idea of spending the summer campaign debating “the values of Kid Rock and Glen Casada.” Smith and Kid Rock are business partners in the new Lower Broad establishment known as  Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk and Rock 'n' Roll Steakhouse. But why the Casada mention? One of the required 25 signatures on Parant's petition to get on the ballot is from no less a citizen-in-good-standing than Cade Cothren. That's Casada's former chief of staff who recently resigned in disgrace after admitting to doing cocaine in his legislative office and sending racist and sexist text messages. 

Here's how O'Connell concluded a message addressing Parant's candidacy in his newsletter:

“I'm not convinced that a proxy of the honky tonks and a member of the Casada complex is going to be invested in these issues and building a District 19 that works for anyone but Lower Broadway.”

We reached out to Parant, who is a registered lobbyist for the Tennessee State Employees Association, to ask him about O'Connell's comments and whether he was persuaded by Smith to run in District 19. 

“Weird flex, but ok," Parant replied in an email. "This is a silly story. Concerned neighbors and business leaders have lost confidence in my opponent in District 19 and approached me to run and I have accepted that task. My opponent is going to have to do better than just attacking me on political ploys trying to divert voters from the issues and distracting them from remembering his record in the council which is freaking voters out.” 

Smith is out of town this afternoon and unavailable to comment for this story, according to Jeff Eslick, who does public relations for Smith. 

After Thursday's deadline for candidates to withdrawal passed with Parant still intending to run in District 19, O'Connell says he's looking seriously at challenging Parant's eligibility.

"Now that the qualification and withdrawal periods have ended, we expect to conduct a thorough review of the claim to eligibility of our opponent because nothing we have seen to date suggests he is actually eligible to be a candidate in District 19," O'Connell says.  

Update (2:00 p.m.):

Smith calls with a comment. 

"So far I haven't given either one of them any money," Smith says. "Number one, Councilman O'Connell's too stupid to call and ask me about giving him money. This Josh guy did call me yesterday and asked me if I would support him. I told him I would consider it, but I haven't given anybody any money." 

He adds: "I think Councilman O'Connell, I think he's just a paranoid nut. Please quote me on that."