Two top officials in Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration are departing the office, O'Connell said Wednesday.
Tanisha Hall, brought on in December as director of transportation and mobility, is returning to her company Fairpointe Planning, which was at risk of losing its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise status as a result of her departure, the mayor said.
Hall was expected to lead on a transit referendum, which the mayor's office could put forth to voters later this year.
Also leaving is Sam Wilcox, deputy mayor under former Mayor John Cooper who stayed on in a new role in the O'Connell administration. He was working on development projects including the East Bank with chief development officer Bob Mendes.
The statement from O'Connell:
“We are sorry to see Tanisha Hall and Sam Wilcox leave the mayor’s office. Both are extremely talented individuals who have a history of working hard for Metro.
Tanisha’s company, Fairpointe Planning, is a woman-owned (WBENC), DBE certified transportation planning firm. In the last month we have learned that Fairpointe’s DBE status could be jeopardized by her role on the mayor’s transit team and we absolutely want to respect and protect her leadership in equitable mobility and her entrepreneurship. We will miss her expertise but know she can continue to make an impact through Fairpointe’s work with NDOT and WeGo.
Sam’s dedication to projects like creating the Freeman Center at Burrus Hall, saving Fort Negley Park and shepherding the Imagine East Bank plan to reality in both Mayor Cooper’s and my office has been a gift. Sam has exciting plans ahead, his not mine to unveil, but we hope he won’t be a stranger to Nashville.
It is my belief that the mayor’s office is a place where people can grow into their next opportunity, even when we’re sad to see them go."
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
