Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County

The Metropolitan Council (officially the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County) is the legislative body of the consolidated city-county government of Nashville, Tennessee and Davidson County.

Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County
Logo
Type
Type
Term limits
2 consecutive four-year terms
Leadership
Vice Mayor and Metropolitan Council President
Angie Henderson
President pro tempore
Dave Rosenberg
Structure
Seats40 Seats:
5 At-Large Seats 
35 District Seats
Committees— Budget and Finance
– Charter Revision
– Codes, Fair, and Farmer's Market
– Convention, Tourism, and Public Entertainment Facilities
– Education
– Health, Hospitals, and Social Services
– Parks, Library, and Arts
– Personnel, Public Information, Human Relations, and Veterans
– Planning, Zoning, and Historical
– Public Safety, Beer, and Regulated Beverages
– Public Works
– Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections
– Traffic, Parking, and Transportation
Length of term
Four (4) Years
Elections
Last election
August 1, 2023
Next general election
August 1, 2027
Website
https://www.nashville.gov/Metro-Council.aspx

Membership edit

The Council has 40 members, 35 of which are district council representatives, and five of which are council members at-large. If an at-large member resigns or dies before serving a full four-year term, the member's seat remains vacant until the next election. If a district council members resigns or dies more than eight months before the end of their four-year term, a special election is held to fill the seat. At-large council members are elected by the entirety of the area the metropolitan government encompasses. The Metropolitan Council is the 3rd largest in the United States, behind the Chicago City Council and the New York City Council.[1] The Historic Metro Courthouse, 1 Public Square, is where the Council meets.

Under the Metropolitan Charter, members must be over the age of 25 and have lived within Davidson County for a year at the beginning of their terms. Members must also have lived in the district they represent for six months, and they must continue to reside in that district for the duration of their terms. In 2019, according to The Tennessean, annual salaries for council members increased for the first time since 2005 from $15,000 to $23,100.[2] The members elected by districts represent 15,000 to 17,000 residents each, and all Metro Council members serve part-time. According to the Charter as currently amended, members are elected to no more than two terms consecutively, not including any partial term to which they may have been elected. However, district member and at-large member are considered to be separate offices for the purposes of this provision.

In the 2015 municipal elections, two amendments to the Metropolitan Nashville Charter which would have increased term limits for members of the Council, both at large and district-wide to three consecutive terms, as well as reducing the size of the council to 27 members, were proposed. Both amendments failed with Davidson County voters.[citation needed]

President of the Council edit

The popularly elected vice mayor is the President of the Metropolitan Council and serves as its presiding officer, but is not a member of the Metro Council and does not vote except to break ties. The vice mayor, a part-time position, is paid $25,230 annually.[2]

Members elect a president pro tempore to serve in the absence of the Vice Mayor, and a deputy president pro tempore once the president pro tempore becomes presiding officer due to the Vice Mayor's death or resignation. Members of the Metro Council who act as presiding officer during the Vice Mayor's absence retain their right to vote on all resolutions and ordinances.

Jim Shulman is the incumbent vice mayor.[3] Dave Rosenberg is the president pro tempore.

Operations edit

Two-thirds of the Metropolitan Council are required to constitute a quorum before the business of the council can be conducted. The council holds regular meetings each first and third Tuesday of each month. In addition, with 48 hours' written notice, a special meeting may be called by the mayor or the vice mayor. It may also be requested by the majority of the council, which would require 21 votes in favor of the meeting. Meetings are broadcast live on Metro 3 and are archived on the Nashville government website.

The mayor may veto resolutions and ordinances passed by the Metropolitan Council, but the veto can be overridden with a two-thirds majority of the Council. With three-fourths of the entire council in favor, and not subject to veto, investigations may be conducted by the whole council or its committees.

Committees edit

Current Council Committees[4]
Name No. of Members Chair Vice Chair
Affordable Housing
Budget and Finance 15 Porterfield Toombs
Charter Revision 8 Weiner Johnston
Education
Human Services
Public Facilities, Arts, and Culture 9 Styles Vo
Planning and Zoning 13 Gamble Harrell
Public Health and Safety 13 Evans Taylor
Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections 8 Sepulveda Preptit
Transportation and Infrastructure 12 Parker Evans Segall
Ad Hoc East Bank 7 Parker Kupin

Size reduction edit

In 2005, mayor Bill Purcell called for cutting the number of legislators in the council down to 20 in a proposal in which fifteen seats would be elected by districts and five seats would remain at-large. In 2006 the Metro Charter Review Commission scheduled a public hearing on the council's size. In a poll by The Tennessean, 21 councillors favored keeping the council as it is, and nine favored a reduction in the size of the council.

Dissidents said that if the size of the council were to be reduced, being elected could become a matter of who can raise the most money, and special interests may get involved. Other concerns voiced included council members not being able to get in contact with their constituents, the council becoming less ethnically diverse, and council membership changing from a part-time to a full-time job. Councilwoman Amanda McClendon said a reduction in size may make it easier to pass legislation.

In 2023, the state government enacted a law reducing the size of the Metro Council from 40 members to 20.[5] The move was widely opposed by Nashville residents and leaders. In April 2023, a court issued an injunction against the change, indicating that it unconstitutionally changed election procedures during the campaign.[6]

Current membership, 2023–2027 edit

District Name Area(s)/Neighborhoods Represented
At-Large, Seat 1 Zulfat Suara Davidson County
At-Large, Seat 2 Delishia Porterfield Davidson County
At-Large, Seat 3 Quin Evans Segall Davidson County
At-Large, Seat 4 Burkley Allen Davidson County
At-Large, Seat 5 Olivia Hill Davidson County
1 Joy Kimbrough Bordeaux, Joelton, Whites Creek, Scottsboro
2 Kyonztè Toombs North Nashville, Bordeaux, Metro Center
3 Jennifer Gamble Brick Church, Goodlettsville, Madison, Whites Creek
4 Mike Cortese Crieve Hall
5 Sean Parker East Nashville, Cleveland Park, Maplewood, Madison
6 Clay Capp East Nashville, Lockeland Springs, Rosebank
7 Emily Benedict East Nashville, Inglewood, Madison
8 Deonte Harrell Antioch
9 Tonya Hancock Madison
10 Jennifer Frensley Webb Goodlettsville, Madison
11 Jeff Eslick Old Hickory, Hermitage
12 Erin Evans Hermitage
13 Russ Bradford Donelson, Airport
14 Jordan Huffman Donelson, Hermitage
15 Jeff Gregg Donelson, Opryland
16 Ginny Welsch South Nashville, Woodbine
17 Terry Vo South Nashville, Fairgrounds, Berry Hill, 12 South
18 Tom Cash South Nashville, Waverly-Belmont, Vanderbilt
19 Jacob Kupin North Nashville, South Nashville, Downtown
20 Rollin Horton West Nashville, The Nations, Cockrill Bend
21 Brandon Taylor North Nashville, West End, Midtown, TSU
22 Sheri Weiner West Nashville, Bellevue
23 Thom Druffel West Nashville, Belle Meade
24 Brenda Gadd West Nashville, Sylvan Park
25 Jeff Preptit Oak Hill, Green Hills
26 Courtney Johnston Crieve Hall, Paragon Mills
27 Robert Nash Southeast Nashville, Tusculum
28 David Benton Southeast Nashville, Antioch
29 Tasha Ellis Priest Lake
30 Sandra Sepulveda Southeast Nashville
31 John Rutherford Antioch, Cane Ridge, Lenox Village
32 Joy Styles Antioch
33 Antoinette Lee Antioch, Cane Ridge
34 Sandy Ewing City of Forest Hills, Green Hills, Bellevue
35 Jason Spain Bellevue
  • Steve Glover resigned on March 1, 2022

Historical membership edit

2015–2019 Memberships edit

Council Leadership
Office Person
Vice Mayor and President Jim Shulman
President pro tempore Sheri Weiner
District Name
AL 1 John Cooper
AL 2 Erica Gilmore
AL 3 Bob Mendes
AL 4 Sharon Hurt
AL 5 Vacant
1 Jonathan Hall
2 DeCosta Hastings
3 Brenda Haywood
4 Robert Swope
5 Scott Davis
6 Brett Withers
7 Anthony Davis
8 Nancy VanReece
9 Bill Pridemore
10 Doug Pardue
11 Larry Hagar
12 Steve Glover
13 Holly Huezo
14 Kevin Rhoten
15 Jeff Syracuse
16 Mike Freeman
17 Colby Sledge
18 Burkley Allen
19 Freddie O'Connell
20 Mary Carolyn Roberts
21 Ed Kindall
22 Sheri Weiner
23 Mina Johnson
24 Kathleen Murphy
25 Russ Pulley
26 Jeremy Elrod
27 Davette Blalock
28 Tanaka Vercher
29 Delisha Porterfield*[7]
30 Jason Potts
31 Fabian Bedne
32 Jacobia Dowell
33 Antoinette Lee
34 Angie Henderson
35 Dave Rosenberg

*Loniel Greene served as District 1 councilman from September 2015 until his resignation on January 29, 2016. A special election to name his replacement is scheduled for August 2016. Nashville Attorney and WTVF-TV Legal Analyst Nick Leonardo, who narrowly lost to Greene in the prior race, ran again with numerous endorsements by community organizations including The Nashvillian newspaper winning the election for District 1 Councilmember.[citation needed]

*David Briley served as vice mayor until March 6, 2018 when he became acting mayor upon the resignation of Mayor Megan Barry. Council member Sheri Weiner was initially named interim vice mayor at that time with council member Burkley Allen later being appointed interim vice mayor. Briley was subsequently elected to complete Barry's unexpired term as mayor on May 24, 2018. Council member Jim Shulman was ultimately elected to complete Briley's unexpired term as vice mayor on September 6, 2018.[8]

*Karen Johnson served as District 29 Councilwoman from 2015–2018. She was elected to the countywide office of Davidson County Register of Deeds in 2018. Delishia Porterfield was elected March 19, 2019 in a special election to fill the remainder of the term until the August 1, 2019 General Election for Metro Councilmember District 29.[citation needed]

Membership, 2011–2015 edit

Council members edit

District Name
1st Lonnell Matthews, Jr
2nd Frank Harrison
3rd Walter Hunt
4th Brady Banks
5th Scott Davis
6th Peter Westerholm
7th Anthony Davis
8th Karen Bennett
9th Bill Pridemore
10th Doug Pardue
11th Darren Jernigan
12th Steve Glover
13th Josh Stites
14th Bruce Stanley
15th Phil Claiborne
16th Tony Tenpenny
17th Sandra Moore
18th Burkley Allen
19th Erica Gilmore
20th Buddy Baker
21st Edith Langster
22nd Sheri Weiner
23rd Emily Evans
24th Jason Holleman
25th Sean McGuire
26th Chris Harmon
27th Davette Blalock
28th Duane Dominy
29th Karen Johnson
30th Jason Potts
31st Fabien Bedne
32nd Jacobia Dowell
33rd Robert Duvall
34th Carter Todd
35th Bo Mitchell

Council members at large edit

Vice mayor edit

  • Diane Neighbors

Membership, 2007–2011 edit

Council members edit

District Name
1st Lonnell Matthews, Jr
2nd Frank Harrison
3rd Walter Hunt
4th Michael Craddock
5th Jamie Hollin
6th Mike Jameson
7th Erik Cole
8th Jason Hart
9th Jim Forkum
10th Rip Ryman
11th Darren Jernigan
12th Jim Gotto
13th Carl Burch
14th Bruce Stanley
15th Phil Claiborne
16th Anna Page
17th Sandra Moore
18th Kristine LaLonde
19th Erica Gilmore
20th Buddy Baker
21st Edith Langman
22nd Eric Crafton
23rd Emily Evans
24th Jason Holleman
25th Sean McGuire
26th Greg Adkins
27th Randy Foster
28th Duane Dominy
29th Vivian Wilhoite
30th Jim Hodge
31st Parker Toler
32nd Sam Coleman
33rd Robert Duvall
34th Carter Todd
35th Bo Mitchell

Council members at large edit

Vice mayor edit

  • Diane Neighbors

Membership, 2003–2007 edit

Council members edit

District Name
1st Brenda Gilmore
2nd Jamie Isabel
3rd Chester Hughes*
4th Michael Craddock
5th Pam Murray
6th Mike Jameson
7th Erik Cole
8th Jason Hart
9th Jim Forkum
10th Rip Ryman
11th Feller Brown
12th Jim Gotto
13th Carl Burch
14th Harold White
15th J.B. Loring
16th Amanda McClendon*
17th Ronnie Greer
18th Ginger Hausser
19th Ludye Wallace
20th Billy Joe Walls
21st Edward Whitmore
22nd Eric Crafton
23rd Chris Whitson*
24th John Summers
25th Jim Shulman
26th Greg Adkins
27th Randy Foster
28th Jason Alexander
29th Vivian Wilhoite
30th Michael Kerstetter*
31st Parker Toler
32nd Sam Coleman
33rd Tommy Bradley*
34th Lynn Williams
35th Charles Tygard

Council members at large edit

Vice mayor edit

  • Howard Gentry

* Member resigned or died before the next election date. On December 18, 2004, Chester Hughes died from brain cancer. Chris Whitson and Tommy Bradley resigned on September 20, 2005 and March 16, 2006, respectively. Michael Kersetter resigned April 5, 2006 to run for a seat on the Metro school board. Chester Hughes was replaced by Walter Hunt. Jim Hodge replaced Michael Kerstetter. Robert Duvall replaced Tommy Bradley. Emily Evans replaced Chris Whitson. On September 1, 2006, Amanda McClendon became a Judge of the Second Circuit Court for the 20th Judicial District and was replaced by Anna Page.

Membership, 1999–2003 edit

Council members edit

District Name
1st Brenda Gilmore
2nd Melvin Black
3rd Ron Nollner
4th Don Majors
5th Lawrence Hall, Jr.
6th Eileen Beehan
7th Earl Campbell
8th Lawrence Hart
9th James Dillard
10th Bettye Balthrop
11th Feller Brown
12th Tony Derryberry
13th Bruce Stanley
14th Harold White
15th J.B. Loring
16th Amanda McClendon
17th Ronnie Greer
18th Ginger Hausser
19th Ludye Wallace
20th Morris Haddox
21st Edward Whitmore
22nd Norma Hand
23rd Bob Bogen
24th John Summers
25th Jim Shulman
26th Michelle Arriola
27th Janis Sontany
28th Jason Alexander
29th Saletta Holloway
30th Michael Kerstetter
31st Don Knoch
32nd Craig Jenkins
33rd Ron Turner
34th Lynn Williams
35th Vic Lineweaver

Council members at large edit

Vice mayor edit

**Ronnie Steine resigned in 2002, and Howard Gentry became the interim vice mayor until later being elected vice mayor in 2003.

Membership, 1995–1999 edit

Council members edit

District Name
1st Regina Patton
2nd Melvin Black
3rd Ron Nollner
4th Don Majors
5th Frank Harrison
6th Eileen Beehan
7th Earl Campbell
8th Lawrence Hart
9th James Dillard
10th Tim Garrett
11th Mike Wooden
12th Phil Ponder
13th Charles O. French
14th James Bruce Stanley
15th Roy Dale
16th Jerry Wayne Graves
17th Mansfield Douglas
18th Stewart Clifton
19th Julius Sloss
20th Morris Haddox
21st Willis McCallister
22nd John Aaron Holt
23rd Eric Crafton
24th Horace Johns
25th David Kleinfelter
26th Michelle Arriola
27th Janis Sontany
28th Durward Hall
29th Saletta Holloway
30th Leroy Hollis
31st Tom Alexander
32nd Craig Jenkins
33rd Ron Turner
34th Charles Fentress
35th Vic Lineweaver

Council members at large edit

Vice mayor edit

References edit

  1. ^ Johnson, J. Edward (2016). "Council sizes throughout the United States" (PDF). Columbus, Ohio: The City of Columbus Charter Review Committee.
  2. ^ a b Garrison, Joey (20 June 2017). "Nashville council passes $2.2B Metro budget, pay increase for council members". Tennessean. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Metropolitan Nashville Council Members".
  4. ^ "Nashville > Metro Council > Council Committees". www.nashville.gov. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  5. ^ Brown, Melissa; Stephenson, Cassandra. "Gov. Lee signs bill to slash Nashville council in half". The Tennessean. Nashville. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  6. ^ West, Emily (2023-04-10). "Judge temporarily halts plan to shrink Metro Council". News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  7. ^ Gonzalez, Tony. "Newest Metro Council Member Wins By 25 Votes". www.nashvillepublicradio.org. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  8. ^ Garrison, Joey (6 Sep 2018). "Jim Shulman elected Nashville vice mayor in lopsided runoff election". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee.

External links edit