Metropolitan Council (Davidson County)
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitan Council is the legislative body of the consolidated city-county
government of Nashville
, Tennessee
and Davidson County
.
The Council has 40 members, 35 of which are district council representatives, and five of which are council members at-large. If a member resigns or dies before serving a full four-year term, the member's seat remains vacant until the next election. At-large council members are elected by the entirety of the area the metropolitan government encompasses. One national survey of city councils lists Nashville's as the third largest, behind Chicago
and New York City
. [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 2001, the Nashville City Paper reported that city council members received $6,900 annually, although a recently passed state law would allow a pay raise beginning in 2003. By 2005, according to The Tennessean
, members were being paid an annual salary of $15,000. The members elected by districts represent 15,000 to 17,000 residents each, and all Metro Council members serve part time.
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, but may also have adjourned meetings of regular meetings on week day or hour it may fix. 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.
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. 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 that act as presiding officer during the Vice Mayor's absence retain their right to vote on all resolutions and ordinances. Presidents of the Metropolitan Council receive the same annual salary as the Vice Mayor, $4,200. Diane Neighbors
is the incumbent vice mayor.
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.
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* Member resigned or died before the next election date. On December 18, 2004, Chester Hughes died from brain cancer. C. 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 C. 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.
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** Ronnie Steine resigned in 2002, and Howard Gentry became the interim vice mayor until later being elected vice mayor in 2003.
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Consolidated city-county
In United States local government, a consolidated city–county is a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction. As such it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state...
government of Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Davidson County
Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
.
The Council has 40 members, 35 of which are district council representatives, and five of which are council members at-large. If a member resigns or dies before serving a full four-year term, the member's seat remains vacant until the next election. At-large council members are elected by the entirety of the area the metropolitan government encompasses. One national survey of city councils lists Nashville's as the third largest, behind Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. [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 2001, the Nashville City Paper reported that city council members received $6,900 annually, although a recently passed state law would allow a pay raise beginning in 2003. By 2005, according to The Tennessean
The Tennessean
The Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
, members were being paid an annual salary of $15,000. The members elected by districts represent 15,000 to 17,000 residents each, and all Metro Council members serve part time.
Two-thirds of the Metropolitan Council are required to constitute a quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
before the business of the council can be conducted. The council holds regular meetings each first and third Tuesday of each month, but may also have adjourned meetings of regular meetings on week day or hour it may fix. 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
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
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.
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. 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 that act as presiding officer during the Vice Mayor's absence retain their right to vote on all resolutions and ordinances. Presidents of the Metropolitan Council receive the same annual salary as the Vice Mayor, $4,200. Diane Neighbors
Diane Neighbors
Diane Neighbors is the incumbent vice mayor of the United States Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and the President of the Metropolitan Council of Davidson County...
is the incumbent vice mayor.
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
The Tennessean
The Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
, 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
Amanda McClendon
Amanda McClendon was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 16th district...
said a reduction in size may make it easier to pass legislation.
Council members
| District | Name |
|---|---|
| 1st | Lonnell Matthews, Jr |
| 2nd | Frank Harrison |
| 3rd | Walter Hunt Walter Hunt Walter Hunt was an American mechanic. He lived and worked in New York state. Through the course of his work he became renowned for being a prolific inventor, notably of the lockstitch sewing machine , safety pin , a forerunner of the Winchester repeating rifle, a successful flax spinner, knife... |
| 4th | Michael Craddock Michael Craddock Michael Craddock is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 4th district. In 2011, Craddock announced that he would be running to challenge Karl Dean as the Mayor of Nashville in the August 4th 2011 Metro Elections. -Early life:Born and raised in... |
| 5th | Jamie Hollin |
| 6th | Mike Jameson |
| 7th | Erik Cole Erik Cole (legislator) Erik Cole is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 7th district.-Education and career:Erik Cole was elected to serve as a councilman in 2003. In August 2006, he became the council's president pro tempore, meaning he would substitute for the... |
| 8th | Jason Hart |
| 9th | Jim Forkum Jim Forkum Jim Forkum is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County for the 9th district. He is retired from working for State Farm Insurance. He is Chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Parks, Library, Recreation, and Public Entertainment Facility Committee and the... |
| 10th | Rip Ryman Rip Ryman I.C. "Rip" Ryman is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 10th district.-Education and career:... |
| 11th | Darren Jernigan |
| 12th | Jim Gotto Jim Gotto Jim Gotto is a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 60th District, previously he served on the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 12th district. He had also been employed by Bell South for 32 years, and worked 18 years in governmental affairs... |
| 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 Eric Crafton Eric Crafton is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 22nd district.-Education and career:Eric Crafton is the Vice Chair of the Convention and Tourism Committee... |
| 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 Sam Coleman Sam Coleman is an international journalist presently working in Asia, noted for investigative journalism having appeared in Stern, Vive, The Guardian and others as he's plied his management of magazines in Europe and Asia... |
| 33rd | Robert Duvall |
| 34th | Carter Todd |
| 35th | Bo Mitchell |
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Council members at large
- Tim Garrett
- Megan Barry
- Charlie TygardCharlie TygardCharles "Charlie" Tygard was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 35th district...
- Jerry Maynard
- Ronnie Stiene
Council members
| District | Name |
|---|---|
| 1st | Brenda Gilmore Brenda Gilmore Brenda Gilmore is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 1st district. She is currently the State Representative for district 54 of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Her daughter, Erica Gilmore, is presently a member of the Metro Council... |
| 2nd | Jamie Isabel |
| 3rd | Chester Hughes* |
| 4th | Michael Craddock Michael Craddock Michael Craddock is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 4th district. In 2011, Craddock announced that he would be running to challenge Karl Dean as the Mayor of Nashville in the August 4th 2011 Metro Elections. -Early life:Born and raised in... |
| 5th | Pam Murray Pam Murray Pam Murray is a former member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County district 5, after being unseated and recalled from her council position on November 12, 2009.-Education and career:... |
| 6th | Mike Jameson |
| 7th | Erik Cole Erik Cole (legislator) Erik Cole is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 7th district.-Education and career:Erik Cole was elected to serve as a councilman in 2003. In August 2006, he became the council's president pro tempore, meaning he would substitute for the... |
| 8th | Jason Hart |
| 9th | Jim Forkum Jim Forkum Jim Forkum is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County for the 9th district. He is retired from working for State Farm Insurance. He is Chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Parks, Library, Recreation, and Public Entertainment Facility Committee and the... |
| 10th | Rip Ryman Rip Ryman I.C. "Rip" Ryman is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 10th district.-Education and career:... |
| 11th | Feller Brown Feller Brown Feller Brown is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 11th district. He is President of Feller Brown Realty and Auction and the Tennessee Auctioneer Association. Previously, he has worked as a real estate broker and an auctioneer... |
| 12th | Jim Gotto Jim Gotto Jim Gotto is a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 60th District, previously he served on the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 12th district. He had also been employed by Bell South for 32 years, and worked 18 years in governmental affairs... |
| 13th | Carl Burch |
| 14th | Harold White |
| 15th | J.B. Loring |
| 16th | Amanda McClendon Amanda McClendon Amanda McClendon was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 16th district... * |
| 17th | Ronnie Greer Ronnie Greer Ronnie Greer is a member of the is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 17th district. Councilman Greer graduated from Cameron High School in 1969, attended Tennessee State University from 1969 to 1971, and went to Fisk University for three years... |
| 18th | Ginger Hausser |
| 19th | Ludye Wallace |
| 20th | Billy Joe Walls |
| 21st | Edward Whitmore |
| 22nd | Eric Crafton Eric Crafton Eric Crafton is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 22nd district.-Education and career:Eric Crafton is the Vice Chair of the Convention and Tourism Committee... |
| 23rd | C. 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 Sam Coleman Sam Coleman is an international journalist presently working in Asia, noted for investigative journalism having appeared in Stern, Vive, The Guardian and others as he's plied his management of magazines in Europe and Asia... |
| 33rd | Tommy Bradley* |
| 34th | Lynn Williams |
| 35th | Charles Tygard |
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Council members at large
- Buck DozierBuck DozierBuck Dozier is a council member-at-large for the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee and a former mayoral candidate.-Education and career:Buck Dozier is the Vice Chair of the Education Committee...
- Diane NeighborsDiane NeighborsDiane Neighbors is the incumbent vice mayor of the United States Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and the President of the Metropolitan Council of Davidson County...
- Carolyn Baldwin Tucker
- David BrileyDavid BrileyC. David Briley was a council member of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He served from 1999 to 2007. David Briley was the Vice-Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and held seats on the Personnel, Public Information, Human Relations and Housing Committee, the...
- Adam DreadAdam DreadAdam Dread was a city council member-at-large for the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County until September 2007. Born with a different birthname, he had his name legally changed to Adam Dread as an adult...
Vice mayor
- Howard GentryHoward Gentry, Jr.Howard Gentry, Jr. is an American politician. He was the vice mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, Tennessee, and Davidson County, and the President of the Metropolitan Council from 2002 to 2007...
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Walter Hunt
Walter Hunt was an American mechanic. He lived and worked in New York state. Through the course of his work he became renowned for being a prolific inventor, notably of the lockstitch sewing machine , safety pin , a forerunner of the Winchester repeating rifle, a successful flax spinner, knife...
. Jim Hodge replaced Michael Kerstetter. Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
replaced Tommy Bradley. Emily Evans replaced C. 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.
Council members
| District | Name |
|---|---|
| 1st | Brenda Gilmore Brenda Gilmore Brenda Gilmore is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 1st district. She is currently the State Representative for district 54 of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Her daughter, Erica Gilmore, is presently a member of the Metro Council... |
| 2nd | Melvin Black Melvin Black Melvin Black was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 2nd district.-Education and career:... |
| 3rd | Ron Nollner |
| 4th | Don Majors |
| 5th | Lawrence Hall, Jr. |
| 6th | Eileen Beehan |
| 7th | Earl Campbell Earl Campbell Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame... |
| 8th | Lawrence Hart |
| 9th | James Dillard |
| 10th | Bettye Balthrop |
| 11th | Phil Ponder |
| 12th | Tony Derryberry |
| 13th | Bruce Stanley |
| 14th | Harold White |
| 15th | J.B. Loring |
| 16th | Amanda McClendon Amanda McClendon Amanda McClendon was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 16th district... |
| 17th | Ronnie Greer Ronnie Greer Ronnie Greer is a member of the is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 17th district. Councilman Greer graduated from Cameron High School in 1969, attended Tennessee State University from 1969 to 1971, and went to Fisk University for three years... |
| 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 Vic Lineweaver Robert Victor "Vic" Lineweaver was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 35th district.... |
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Council members at large
- Chris Ferrell
- Leo Waters
- David BrileyDavid BrileyC. David Briley was a council member of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He served from 1999 to 2007. David Briley was the Vice-Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and held seats on the Personnel, Public Information, Human Relations and Housing Committee, the...
- Carolyn Baldwin Tucker
- Adam DreadAdam DreadAdam Dread was a city council member-at-large for the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County until September 2007. Born with a different birthname, he had his name legally changed to Adam Dread as an adult...
*
Vice mayor
- Ronnie SteineRonnie SteineRonnie Steine was the fifth vice mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, from 1999 until he resigned in 2002 after he admitted he had twice been arrested for shoplifting. He was also a candidate for Tennessee's 5th congressional district...
** - Howard GentryHoward Gentry, Jr.Howard Gentry, Jr. is an American politician. He was the vice mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, Tennessee, and Davidson County, and the President of the Metropolitan Council from 2002 to 2007...
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Council members
| District | Name |
|---|---|
| 1st | Regina Patton |
| 2nd | Melvin Black Melvin Black Melvin Black was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 2nd district.-Education and career:... |
| 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 Eric Crafton Eric Crafton is a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 22nd district.-Education and career:Eric Crafton is the Vice Chair of the Convention and Tourism Committee... |
| 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 Vic Lineweaver Robert Victor "Vic" Lineweaver was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 35th district.... |
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Council members at large
- Vic Varallo
- Leo Waters
- George ArmisteadGeorge ArmisteadGeorge Armistead was an American military officer who served as the commander of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.-Life and career:...
- Chris Ferrell
- Leo Waters
External links
- Metropolitan Council main page
- Metropolitan Council rules and procedures
- An article in The Tennessean about incumbent mayor Howard Gentry casting a tie-breaking vote.
- The Metro Charter
- A The Tennessean article on Bill Purcell's proposal
- A Nashville City Paper article on 2003 council member salary raises
- A The Tennessean article on the council meeting on council size changes
- An article on The Tennesseans council member poll
- An article from The Tennessean on member resignations
- Metro Council, 1999-2003
- Metro Council, 1995-1999