There will be a contested mayoral race this year — we just don't know when.
At-Large Metro Councilmember Erica Gilmore announced her candidacy today, unveiling a website and challenging Mayor David Briley, who assumed the office following Megan Barry's resignation last month. The election is currently set for Aug. 2, but the Tennessee Supreme Court is set to hear a lawsuit arguing that the election must take place in May.
Briley confirmed that he was running to keep the office earlier this month, and his campaign is backed by powerful business interests who discouraged other candidates from getting in the race in the name of continuity. Gilmore is pushing back against that notion right out of the gate.
“What we need more than continuity, is a mayor with a strong mandate from the voters," she said in a statement to The Tennessean.
"We welcome Councilwoman Gilmore to the race," Briley campaign treasurer Hannah Paramore says in a statement. "Nashville is a special place because good people want to lead and contribute to improve our city. In just a few short weeks, David Briley has brought focus to the job of managing the city, tackling challenges and making progress on opportunities that will benefit all of Nashville. He has delivered a steady, guiding hand when it was needed to regain public confidence. David Briley is the right person to lead our city, and I am confident that the widespread support that is rapidly forming behind David will result in his winning the special election.”
The winner of this year's election will serve out the remainder of Barry's term before facing another election in August 2019.
You can watch Gilmore's announcement below:
