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    Nashville, Tennessee municipal elections, 2015

    From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 27 min

    Nashville panorama Kaldari 01.jpg

    Last updated on October 30, 2017
    Municipal Government Final.png
    Nashville, Tennessee municipal elections, 2015
    List of candidates
    Mayor
    Vice Mayor
    At-large
    Metro Council: District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35
    Districts map
    Election rules
    Ballot questions
    Issues
    2015 Municipal Elections
    Nashville, Tennessee

    The city of Nashville, Tennessee, held nonpartisan elections for mayor and metro council on August 6, 2015. A runoff in the races where it was required took place place on September 10, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 21, 2015. All 41 metro council seats—including the office of vice mayor—were up for election.[1][2]

    Numerically speaking, a Nashville city election is always one of the largest local electoral events in its election cycle. As of 2015, the city has a population of over 600,000 and boasts the third-largest municipal council in the country behind Chicago and New York City. With 42 offices up for grabs and a total of 122 candidates—10 more than the 112 who filed in 2011—2015 was no exception. The election could be broadly broken down into four levels of races: a mayoral seat, a vice-mayoral seat, five at-large seats and 35 council districts.

    In the mayoral race, two-term incumbent Karl Dean was term-limited and therefore unable to seek re-election. Megan Barry won the seat after a runoff election. Seven candidates filed to succeed him, including three local Nashville politicians: Barry, a term-limited at-large council member, David Fox, a former chair of the Metropolitan Nashville School Board, and Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry, formerly an at-large council member, vice mayor, and 2007 mayoral candidate. Also in the race were local attorney Charles Robert Bone, real estate executive and Democratic fundraiser Bill Freeman, charter school founder Jeremy Kane and local businesswoman Linda Eskind Rebrovick.

    Money played a big role in the mayoral race. Freeman, as noted above, has an extensive fundraising background. In 2012, he was a major bundler for President Barack Obama's (D) re-election campaign.[3] Freeman and three other candidates—Charles Robert Bone, Linda Eskind Rebrovick and David Fox, a former hedge-fund operator—had already raised over $1 million each by early April 2015.[4] The race was competitive; because no clear frontrunner emerged over the summer, a runoff was likely. Click here to read about some of the issues that shaped Nashville's 2015 mayoral race.

    The race for vice mayor pitted former council member David Briley against at-large council incumbent and former Tennessee state legislator Tim Garrett. Briley served on the council from 1999 to 2007. He ran for mayor in 2007 and finished fifth in the general election.[5] Garrett was elected to the council in 2007. Before that, he was the District 10 representative on the metro council from 1983 to 1999 and the District 50 representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1984 to 2004. Garrett ran for the vice mayoral seat in 1999 and lost. Incumbent Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors was prohibited from running for re-election due to term limits.

    The at-large race went to a runoff. It featured a total of 26 candidates fighting for just five seats. The rules for at-large runoff elections are described below. All five at-large incumbents were term-limited, but plenty of term-limited district council members are seeking election to one of the city-wide seats. Nine district members ran. All of them have been members of the council since 2007.

    Eighty-seven candidates vied for the 35 district seats. Term limits and three early retirements opened up 20 of these seats. Fifteen incumbents sought re-election. In races that featured incumbents, the average number of candidates was less than two. Seven of these races featured unopposed incumbents, and only three incumbents faced more than one candidate. In races without an incumbent, the average number of candidates was slightly above three. There were a few open races that deviated from this average. Districts 1, 2 and 8 had eight, five and six candidates respectively, while Districts 14 and 25 had one candidate each.

    Mayor[edit]

    Candidate list[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Karl Dean was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 Runoff election:

    Election results[edit]

    Nashville Mayor Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngMegan Barry 54.8% 60,519
    David Fox 45% 49,694
    Write-in 0.2% 241
    Total Votes 110,454
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville Mayor General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngMegan Barry 23.5% 24,553
    Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Fox 22.8% 23,754
    Bill Freeman 21.4% 22,308
    Howard Gentry 11.6% 12,110
    Charles Robert Bone 10.5% 10,962
    Linda Eskind Rebrovick 5.6% 5,827
    Jeremy Kane 4.6% 4,767
    Write-in 0.1% 62
    Total Votes 93,687
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015

    Polling[edit]

    2015 Nashville Mayoral Election
    Poll Bill Freeman Megan BarryHoward GentryLinda Eskind RebrovickDavid FoxCharles Robert BoneJeremy KaneMargin of errorSample size
    Gerstein Bocain Agne Strategies
    (July 16-20, 2015)
    		 18%20%11%7%19%9%3%+/-4.4500
    Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research
    (July 9-14, 2015)
    		 24%15%12%7%13%8%4%+/--500
    Anzalone Liszt Grove Research
    (June 28 - July 1, 2015)
    		 21%16%13%9%11%8%3%+/-4.4500
    Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group
    (June 11-13, 2015)
    		 18%13%12%11%6%6%3%+/-5.0400
    AVERAGES 20.25% 16% 12% 8.5% 12.25% 7.75% 3.25% +/-1.25 475
    Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

    Metro council[edit]

    Map of Nashville's council districts. Click to enlarge.
    2016 →
    ← 2014
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    Note: Cities listed in this box are those among the 100 largest in the United States that held elections in 2015.


    Candidate list[edit]

    Vice Mayor[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Diane Neighbors was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    At-large[edit]

    Note: Five at-large seats were up for election. All five council incumbents were term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 1[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Lonnell Matthews, Jr. was term-limited. He ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 Runoff election:

    District 2[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Frank Harrison was term-limited. He ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 3[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Walter Hunt was term-limited. He ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 4[edit]

    Note: First term incumbent Brady Banks announced his intentions not to seek re-election in February 2015.[6]
    August 6 general election:

    District 5[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 6[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 7[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 8[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Karen Bennett was term-limited. She ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 9[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 10[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    • Doug Pardue Green check mark transparent.png - Incumbent Pardue was elected to the council in 2011.

    District 11[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 12[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    • Steve Glover Green check mark transparent.png - Incumbent Glover was elected to the council in 2011.

    District 13[edit]

    Note: First term incumbent Josh Stites announced his intentions not to seek re-election in February 2015.[6]
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 Runoff election:

    District 14[edit]

    Note: Incumbent James Bruce Stanley was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    District 15[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Phil Claiborne was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    District 16[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 17[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Sandra Moore was term-limited. She ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 18[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    • Burkley Allen Green check mark transparent.png - Incumbent Allen was elected to the council in 2011.

    District 19[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Erica Gilmore was term-limited. She ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    2016 →
    ← 2014
    2015 Elections for Mayors and City CouncilsMunicipal Government Final.png
    Municipal Elections
    2015 Elections By State
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    2015 Elections
    Albuquerque • Anchorage
    Arlington • Aurora • Boise
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    Note: Cities listed in this box are those among the 100 largest in the United States that held elections in 2015.


    District 20[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Buddy Baker was term-limited. He ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 21[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Edith Taylor Langster was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    District 22[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    • Sheri Weiner Green check mark transparent.png - Incumbent Weiner was elected to the council in 2011.

    District 23[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Emily Evans was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    September 10 runoff election:

    District 24[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Jason Holleman was term-limited. He ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    Note: Although Nick McGregor appeared on the official candidate list, he did not appear on the election returns.

    District 25[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Sean McGuire was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    District 26[edit]

    Note: First term incumbent Chris Harmon announced his intentions not to seek re-election earlier in 2015.[7]
    August 6 general election:

    District 27[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 28[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Duane Dominy was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    District 29[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 30[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    • Jason Potts Green check mark transparent.png - Incumbent Potts was elected to the council in 2011.

    District 31[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    • Fabian Bedne Green check mark transparent.png - Incumbent Bedne was elected to the council in 2011.

    District 32[edit]

    August 6 general election:

    District 33[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Robert Duvall was term-limited. He ran for election to an at-large seat.
    August 6 general election:

    District 34[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Carter Todd was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    District 35[edit]

    Note: Incumbent Bo Mitchell was term-limited.
    August 6 general election:

    Election results[edit]

    All Districts Runoff[edit]

    Nashville City Council At-large Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Cooper 14.5% 56,802
    Green check mark transparent.pngErica Gilmore 12.8% 49,996
    Green check mark transparent.pngBob Mendes 10.5% 41,160
    Green check mark transparent.pngSharon W Hurt 9.8% 38,317
    Green check mark transparent.pngJim Shulman 9.6% 37,676
    Erin Coleman 8.9% 34,877
    Karen Bennett 8.5% 33,052
    Lonnell Matthews, Jr. 8.4% 32,807
    Robert Duvall 8.2% 31,925
    Jason Holleman 8.1% 31,763
    Write-in 0.5% 2,122
    Total Votes 223,951
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 1 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngLoniel Greene, Jr. 50.4% 2,064
    Nick Leonardo 49.5% 2,027
    Write-in 0.2% 8
    Total Votes 4,099
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 2 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngDeCosta Hastings 54.5% 1,349
    Robert "Bobby" Stockard 45.4% 1,123
    Write-in 0.1% 3
    Total Votes 2,475
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 3 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngBrenda Haywood 54.9% 1,675
    Terry Clayton 44.9% 1,371
    Write-in 0.2% 6
    Total Votes 3,052
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 5 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngScott Davis Incumbent 52.1% 1,081
    Sarah Martin 47.7% 990
    Write-in 0.2% 4
    Total Votes 2,075
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 8 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngNancy VanReece 59.3% 1,347
    Chris Swann 40.4% 918
    Write-in 0.4% 8
    Total Votes 2,273
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 13 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngHolly Huezo 52.8% 907
    Mark Cole 46.9% 805
    Write-in 0.3% 6
    Total Votes 1,718
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 17 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngColby Sledge 55.5% 1,357
    Paula Foster 44.1% 1,077
    Write-in 0.4% 9
    Total Votes 2,443
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 20 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngMary Carolyn Roberts 51.7% 981
    Marisa Frank 48.1% 912
    Write-in 0.3% 5
    Total Votes 1,898
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 23 Runoff Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngMina Johnson 58.9% 3,381
    Jim Roberts 40.6% 2,327
    Write-in 0.5% 30
    Total Votes 5,738
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official runoff election results," accessed October 2, 2015

    At-large - District 20 General[edit]

    Nashville City Council At-large General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngErica Gilmore 9.6% 36,675
    Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Cooper 9.2% 35,080
    Green check mark transparent.pngBob Mendes 6.5% 24,581
    Green check mark transparent.pngJim Shulman 5.7% 21,869
    Green check mark transparent.pngSharon W Hurt 5.3% 20,086
    Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Duvall 5% 18,877
    Green check mark transparent.pngLonnell Matthews, Jr. 4.7% 18,064
    Green check mark transparent.pngKaren Bennett 4.6% 17,390
    Green check mark transparent.pngJason Holleman 4.4% 16,612
    Green check mark transparent.pngErin Coleman 4.3% 16,557
    Don Majors 4.3% 16,214
    Adam Dread 4.2% 16,146
    Walter Hunt 4.2% 16,090
    Sandra Moore 3.9% 14,991
    Buddy Baker 3.3% 12,695
    Ronnie Greer, Sr. 3.3% 12,454
    Ken Jakes 3.1% 11,922
    Frank Harrison 2.5% 9,659
    John Lasiter 2.4% 9,151
    Elizabeth Dachowski 2.2% 8,525
    Phillip Joseph Hostettler, Jr. 2% 7,738
    Jody Ball 1.5% 5,709
    James Keeton 1.1% 4,026
    Leroy Johnny Ellis 1% 3,880
    Martin Holsinger 0.6% 2,245
    Al Carota 0.6% 2,097
    Write-in 0.4% 1,374
    Total Votes 138,291
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 1 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngNick Leonardo 32.8% 1,363
    Green check mark transparent.pngLoniel Greene, Jr. 31.4% 1,307
    Ruby Baker 13% 541
    Sylvester Armor 7.6% 317
    Roosevelt Williamson 6.3% 264
    Rueben Dockery 4.1% 170
    John H. Montgomery 2.4% 101
    Jonathan Richardson 2.2% 91
    Write-in 0.1% 5
    Total Votes 3,792
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 2 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngDeCosta Hastings 38.9% 1,059
    Green check mark transparent.pngRobert "Bobby" Stockard 34.9% 949
    Carrie Searcy 19% 516
    Laura Fortier 5.2% 142
    Danavan Hylton 1.8% 49
    Write-in 0.1% 4
    Total Votes 2,715
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 3 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngBrenda Haywood 47.7% 1,480
    Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Clayton 27.1% 841
    Timothy R. Coleman 24.9% 772
    Write-in 0.2% 7
    Total Votes 3,100
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 4 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Swope 53.5% 1,662
    Peter Tuttle 46.2% 1,435
    Write-in 0.4% 11
    Total Votes 3,108
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 5 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngScott Davis Incumbent 40.2% 834
    Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Martin 35.1% 729
    Pam Murray 24.6% 511
    Write-in 0.1% 2
    Total Votes 2,076
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 6 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngBrett A. Withers 61.7% 2,149
    Peter Westerholm Incumbent 37.9% 1,320
    Write-in 0.4% 14
    Total Votes 3,483
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 7 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngAnthony Davis Incumbent 55% 1,724
    Stephen Clements 24.6% 771
    Randy Reed 20.1% 629
    Write-in 0.3% 10
    Total Votes 3,134
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 8 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngNancy VanReece 39% 871
    Green check mark transparent.pngChris Swann 25% 558
    Ramona L. Gholston 13.7% 307
    Danny Williams 8.9% 199
    Robert Sawyers, Sr. 8.4% 187
    Nina Ground 4.7% 104
    Write-in 0.4% 10
    Total Votes 2,122
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 9 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngBill Pridemore Incumbent 64.1% 1,127
    Roderick Mc Daniel 35.7% 628
    Write-in 0.2% 4
    Total Votes 1,759
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 13 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngHolly Huezo 45.3% 686
    Green check mark transparent.pngMark Cole 37.3% 565
    Furtesha Carter 16.9% 256
    Write-in 0.6% 9
    Total Votes 1,516
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 15 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Syracuse 68.6% 2,050
    James B. Garrett 31.3% 934
    Write-in 0.1% 4
    Total Votes 2,988
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 16 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngMike Freeman 56.3% 1,067
    Tony Tenpenny Incumbent 43.3% 821
    Write-in 0.4% 7
    Total Votes 1,895
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 17 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngColby Sledge 37.7% 938
    Green check mark transparent.pngPaula Foster 28.1% 700
    Chris Cotton 20.9% 520
    Tony Watson 13.1% 325
    Write-in 0.3% 7
    Total Votes 2,490
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 19 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngFreddie O'Connell 54.3% 900
    Amanda Harrison 19.4% 322
    Keith Caldwell 14.3% 237
    Bill Shick 11.5% 190
    Write-in 0.5% 8
    Total Votes 1,657
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 20 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngMary Carolyn Roberts 42.7% 757
    Green check mark transparent.pngMarisa Frank 37% 657
    Frank Stabile 20% 354
    Write-in 0.3% 6
    Total Votes 1,774
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015

    District 21 - District 35 General[edit]

    Nashville City Council District 21 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngEdward Kindall 57.6% 1,001
    Leah Dupree 42.2% 733
    Write-in 0.2% 3
    Total Votes 1,737
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 23 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngMina Johnson 42.6% 2,162
    Green check mark transparent.pngJim Roberts 30.5% 1,551
    Write-in 14.2% 719
    Timothy Lee 12.8% 648
    Total Votes 5,080
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 24 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngKathleen Murphy 56.3% 2,680
    Allen Grant 43.4% 2,063
    Write-in 0.3% 14
    Total Votes 4,757
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 26 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngJeremy Elrod 64.4% 1,596
    James Mitchell 27% 669
    Luseni Kromah 8.4% 207
    Write-in 0.2% 6
    Total Votes 2,478
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 27 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngDavette Blalock Incumbent 61.6% 1,094
    Clement Ledbetter 38% 674
    Write-in 0.5% 8
    Total Votes 1,776
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 28 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngTanaka Vercher 54.5% 849
    Melissa Smithson 38.5% 599
    Daniel Lewis 6.9% 107
    Write-in 0.1% 2
    Total Votes 1,557
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 29 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngKaren Y. Johnson Incumbent 81.8% 1,988
    Vicky Tataryn 18% 437
    Write-in 0.2% 4
    Total Votes 2,429
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 32 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngJacobia Dowell Incumbent 64.9% 1,039
    William Kizzie 26.8% 429
    Ronald A. Haskins 8.1% 130
    Write-in 0.2% 3
    Total Votes 1,601
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 33 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngSam Coleman 71% 1,730
    Jimmy Gafford 28.7% 699
    Write-in 0.2% 6
    Total Votes 2,435
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 34 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngAngie Henderson 54.9% 2,973
    Steve Butler 45% 2,441
    Write-in 0.1% 5
    Total Votes 5,419
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015


    Nashville City Council District 35 General Election, 2015
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngDave Rosenberg 60.4% 2,530
    Lonnie Spivak 22.2% 931
    Vic Lineweaver 17.2% 722
    Write-in 0.2% 7
    Total Votes 4,190
    Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015

    Districts map[edit]

    Below is a map of Nashville's council districts. There are 35 districts. Each district elects its own representative on the council. Click the map to return to the candidate list.

    Nashville Districts.jpg

    Election rules[edit]

    Table of Contents
    List of candidates
    Mayor
    Vice Mayor
    Metro council
    Districts map
    Election rules
    Ballot questions
    Issues

    The section below briefly highlights Nashville election laws that were current as of June 2015. For more information on Nashville's local election procedures, consult section 15.02 of the Nashville City Charter.

    Mayor, vice-mayor and council[edit]

    In the mayoral, vice-mayoral and council district races, the Nashville charter requires a candidate to receive a majority, or 50 percent plus 1, of the votes in the general election in order to be declared a winner and to avoid a runoff. The two candidates who receive the highest number of the votes in the general election proceed to the runoff election.

    At-large[edit]

    The rules are different for the five at-large seats. For these seats, the charter also requires candidates to receive a majority. However, a "majority" in this case is defined as "one-fifth of the aggregate number of votes received by all candidates for the office of councilmen-at-large." Therefore, if five candidates each garner one-fifth of the total number of votes in the general election, the runoff election is called off and those candidates are declared the winners. But, if fewer than five candidates receive one-fifth, a runoff election will take place for a number of candidates equal to "twice the number of vacancies remaining to be filled." The candidates competing in the runoff would include those who earned the highest number of votes without receiving a majority.

    Ballot questions[edit]

    Metro council term limit increase, Amendment 1[edit]

    See also: Nashville-Davidson Metro Council Term Limit Increase, Amendment 1 (August 2015)

    A measure to increase city council term limits from two to three terms by 2023 was on the ballot for voters within the limits of the consolidated city-county metro of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, on August 6, 2015. It was defeated.

    If approved, this measure would have extended council term limits from two to three terms. The change would have been fully implemented by 2023.[8]

    Metro council member reduction and term limit increase initiative, Amendment 2[edit]

    See also: Nashville-Davidson Metro Council Member Reduction and Term Limit Extension Ballot Initiative, Amendment 2 (August 2015)

    A measure to change the form of the metro council was on the ballot for voters within the limits of the consolidated city-county metro of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, on August 6, 2015. It was defeated.

    If approved, this measure would have reduced the number of metro council members from 40—a representative for each of the city's 35 districts and five at-large council members—to 27. It would also have extended council term limits from two to three terms. In 2015, the metro's 40-member council was the third-largest council in the country, falling under only New York and Chicago. Nashville was the 25th largest city in the U.S. according to 2013 census data.

    Local-hire mandate for public projects, Amendment 3[edit]

    See also: Nashville-Davidson Metro Local-Hire Mandate for Taxpayer-Funded Projects Initiative, Amendment 3 (August 2015)

    A measure to establish a local-hire mandate for large, public projects was on the ballot for voters within the limits of the consolidated city-county metro of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, on August 6, 2015. It was approved.

    This measure required that a minimum of 40 percent of work hours for any project funded by more than $100,000 in metro taxpayer money would have to be from local hires from within the county rather than from any in-state workers from outside of the county. Moreover, the amendment was designed to require that "a significant effort be made to ensure" that at least 10 percent of "Total Construction Worker Hours are performed by low income residents of Davidson County."[9][10]

    The amendment excepted work hours from out-of-state workers from the calculation. Thus, for example, if a project took 200,000 work hours and 100,000 of them were from out-of-state workers, only 40,000 of them would have to be from local workers, and only 10,000 of them would have to be from low-income workers. This exception for out-of-state workers was provided to avoid conflict with the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the U.S. Constitution.[9][10]

    Supporters argued that Amendment 3 would ensure that jobs, economic growth and tax revenue stayed local.[11]

    Opponents argued that the measure would be impractical and would make public projects more expensive, hurting the taxpayers and the economy. They also argued that the amendment violated constitutional prohibitions against employment discrimination.[12]

    "Ban the Box" initiative Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot[edit]

    See also: Nashville-Davidson Metro "Ban the Box" Initiative to Remove Criminal Background Questions from Metro Job Applications (August 2015)

    A measure to prohibit questions about criminal backgrounds on metro job applications did not make the ballot for voters within the limits of the consolidated city-county metro of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, on August 6, 2015. Petitioners failed to collect enough signatures to qualify this measure for the ballot.[8]

    If approved, this measure -- which was referred to as "Ban the Box" -- would have required the Nashville metro government to remove from initial application forms and procedures any questions about the criminal background of applicants to metro jobs, allowing applicants to sue if this law was not followed. The initiative would have granted exceptions in the cases of certain jobs for which criminal background checks are required by state or federal law or for which a civil service commission determined that information about an applicant's criminal background was necessary to protect public safety. The initiative was designed to prevent screening applicants based on prior convictions, but it would have allowed the criminal history of an applicant to be brought up farther along in the hiring process during job interviews.[9]

    "Ban the Box," the slogan adopted by initiative proponents, referred to the line and check box on standard applications that asked about the applicant's criminal history. This initiative would have removed that question from the application form.[9]

    Marijuana decriminalization Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot[edit]

    See also: Nashville-Davidson County Metro Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative (August 2015)

    A Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative was not on the ballot for voters within the limits of the consolidated city-county metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, on August 6, 2015. The initiative failed to qualify for the ballot because the group behind the initiative did not submit any petitions by the deadline on May 18, 2015.[8]

    If approved, this initiative -- which was being sponsored by the Tennessee branch of NORML -- would have amended the metro charter to prevent any metro tax dollars from being used for the criminal prosecution of an adult for the possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.[13][14]

    The initiative was designed to work around state law, which outlawed all marijuana use and possession. The proposed Nashville initiative would have simply prohibited the city-county government from using any public funds to enforce or prosecute against marijuana possession, rather than trying to legalize it, which would have put the local laws in conflict with state law. The initiative also contained a "private right of action" clause designed to provide citizens with standing to sue the metro government if it violated the initiative, receiving, if the suit was successful, $1,000 in damages and compensation for all attorney's fees and court costs.[13]

    Issues[edit]

    Coping with urban growth[edit]

    Nashville's 2015 elections came amidst one of the city's largest population and economic growth spurts since its consolidation with Davidson County in 1963. Nashville's population grew almost seven percent between 2010 and 2014. With close to 650,000 residents, it's the 25th-largest city in the country.[15] Nashville's Metropolitan Planning Organization projected in a 2015 report that the city's population could top 750,000 by 2035. The greater Nashville region could skyrocket to over 2.6 million, the report said.[16] Economic growth accompanied this growing population. In 2014, Nashville had one of the fastest growing economies in the country and boasted the third-highest gross metropolitan product (GMP) rate in the nation, just behind Austin, Texas, and San Jose, California.[17]

    Urban growth in Nashville brought with it concerns over transit and affordable housing, and most of the city's 2015 mayoral candidates made these issues their top priorities. But the candidates differed in how they said they would manage growth-related problems as mayor. Below, you can read about how each of Nashville's 2015 mayoral candidates commented on issues related to population and economic growth.

    Education[edit]

    Nashville's 2015 mayoral candidates articulated different visions for the future of education in the city. Much of the conversation hinged on education funding, academic performance and the role of charter schools. You can read about the stances of Nashville's 2015 mayoral candidates and comments they made on education below.

    Metro council size[edit]

    See also: Nashville-Davidson Metro Council Member Reduction and Term Limit Extension Ballot Initiative, Amendment 2 (August 2015)

    Nashville's mayoral candidates have been generally opposed to a ballot measure proposing to reduce the size of the metro council from 40 to 27, though some have been more vocal about it than others. David Fox, Linda Eskind Rebrovick and Jeremy Kane have taken middle-of-the-road approaches to the issue. Fox said, "I’m agnostic about it," while Rebrovick stated, "I actually can see it both ways." Kane, on the other hand, asked "Is this the structure we need for the next 50 years? That’s not just for me to decide. The entire Nashville voting population should decide."

    Charles Robert Bone has been more supportive of maintaining the council's current size, saying, "Mayor Fulton always used to say if you can’t get 21 out of 40 votes, it’s probably not worth doing. So that’s not something that I lay awake at night thinking about."

    By contrast, Bill Freeman, Megan Barry and Howard Gentry have taken firmer stances in opposition to the measure. Freeman, for instance, noted, "the thing that I like about the size of the Metro Council, even though it’s the third largest Metro Council in the country is that you’re connected to your council person." Barry and Gentry made similar statements. Barry said, "By making the council smaller, you increase the number of constituents that a district council member has to serves [sic] and that doesn’t help." Gentry said, "It is more important now than probably ever that all facets, all communities, all people in this city have the opportunity to be represented at the highest level and heard."[42]

    iVoters videos[edit]

    iVoters.com created a series of video responses from Nashville’s 2015 mayoral candidates. In the videos, each candidate answers two questions and has 60 seconds to respond and may not speak about another candidate or campaign in their answer. The two questions were:

    • 1) What is the biggest obstacle facing Nashville today?
    • 2) What would you do to make Nashville a better place to live?

    The videos are listed in the order that Ballotpedia received them.

    Charles Robert Bone

    Question 1
    Question 2

    Howard Gentry

    Question 1
    Question 2

    Jeremy Kane

    Question 2

    Recent news[edit]

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Nashville Tennessee Election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Nashville, Tennessee municipal elections, 2015 - Google News

    See also[edit]

    External links[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ City of Nashville, "Davidson County Election Commission," accessed December 4, 2014
    2. ↑ City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015
    3. ↑ The Tennessean, "Bill Freeman to run for Nashville mayor," December 19, 2014
    4. ↑ The Tennessean, "4 mayoral candidates now past $1M in fundraising," April 13, 2015
    5. ↑ The Tennessean, "David Briley to run for Nashville vice mayor," March 21, 2014
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nashville Scene, "Josh Stites Won't Seek Re-Election to Metro Council," February 3, 2015
    7. ↑ The Tennessean, "Metro Council poised for historic turnover," April 20, 2015
    8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Tennessean, "'Ban the Box' referendum falls short for August ballot," June 13, 2015
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 The Tennessean, "Marijuana push falls short, but 3 other referendums likely," May 19, 2015
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Nashville Elections Office, "Sample Ballot for Election on August 6, 2015," accessed August 3, 2015
    11. ↑ Nashville Scene, "Don't skip these additional matters — Council size and term limits, local hiring, vice mayor — once you've voted in the top races," July 30, 2015
    12. ↑ Beacon, "Discrimination in Davidson County," July 20, 2015
    13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 The Tennessean, "Referendum on marijuana prosecution sought in Nashville," January 15, 2015
    14. ↑ The Tennessean, "Marijuana group sues to use online signatures for petition," January 21, 2015
    15. ↑ The Tennessean, "Census: Nashville just shy of Boston in population," May 21, 2015
    16. ↑ Nashville MPO, "Regional Profile," accessed July 23, 2015
    17. ↑ The Tennessean, "Is Nashville the nation’s next $100 billion city?" June 20, 2014
    18. ↑ The Tennessean, "Nashville mayoral hopefuls share vision on transit, housing," May 22, 2015
    19. ↑ Megan Barry, "Transit," accessed July 23, 2015
    20. ↑ Megan Barry, "Economy," accessed July 23, 2015
    21. ↑ Bone for Mayor, "Transportation," accessed July 23, 2015
    22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 The Tennessean, "Mayoral hopefuls push regional transit after Amp demise," March 22, 2015
    23. ↑ The Tennessean, "David Fox goes against the grain in mayoral race," May 26, 2015
    24. ↑ Fox for Nashville, "Infrastructure for a Growing City," accessed June 23, 2015
    25. ↑ Nashville Business Journal, "Nashville mayor's race: Bill Freeman, Co-founder and manager, Freeman Webb Cos.," February 6, 2015
    26. ↑ The Tennessean, "Nashville MTA: Amp is dead," January 22, 2015
    27. ↑ Nashville Public Radio, "Nashville Mayoral Candidate: We Have Affordable Housing, Just Not Where Everyone Wants To Live," June 19, 2015
    28. ↑ The Tennessean, "Affordable housing emerges as key issue in mayor's race," March 15, 2015
    29. ↑ Nashville Business Journal, "Nashville mayor's race: Jeremy Kane, Founder, LEAD Public schools," February 6, 2015
    30. ↑ Nashville Scene, "Mayoral candidate Jeremy Kane pounds the pavement seeking a constituency beyond charter schools," February 5, 2015
    31. ↑ Linda for Nashville, "Affordable Housing," accessed July 23, 2015
    32. ↑ MeganBarry.com, "Education," accessed July 27, 2015
    33. ↑ Nashville Scene, "With his seven-generation ties and knowledge of civic workings, Charles Robert Bone aims to be mayor of 'all' Nashville," January 15, 2015
    34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 The Tennessean, "Mayoral candidates avoid sides in charter fight," March 9, 2015
    35. ↑ The Tennessean, "Fox takes own path on education in mayor's race," April 25, 2015
    36. ↑ FoxforNashville.com, "Creating the Best Educated City in the South," accessed July 27, 2015
    37. ↑ The Tennessean, "David Fox officially joins Nashville mayor’s race," July 21, 2014
    38. ↑ Freeman2015.com, "Education," accessed July 27, 2015
    39. ↑ HowardGentryforMayor.com, "Meet Howard," accessed July 27, 2015
    40. ↑ KaneforMayor.com, "Issues," accessed July 27, 2015
    41. ↑ LindaforNasvhille.com, "Education," accessed July 27, 2015
    42. ↑ Nashville Public Radio, "Candidates For Mayor Either Don’t Want To Shrink Metro Council Or Don’t Care," May 18, 2015
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