Former Dean aid Banks announces council run

Brady Banks, the former director of Mayor Karl Dean’s Office of Neighborhoods, announced on Thursday he plans to run for the District 31 seat on the Metro Council.

Councilman Parker Toler, whose term is set to expire, currently represents the South Nashville/Lenox Village-area district.

Banks, 31, unsuccessfully ran for one of five open at-large seats on the council in 2007, mustering 11,507 votes.

“My wife and I are going to be living in this area for a while and will more than likely be raising our children here,” Banks said of his decision to run for a district seat. “We would like to make sure that it’s a great place for them to be and for them to live.”

Banks, a Hermitage native, currently serves as outreach director for the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, a literacy program that provides free books to children across Tennessee. Prior to his service with Dean, he worked as the hearings and appeals officer for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

“I believe my commitment to public service, background in coalition-building and addressing constituent concerns, and experience as a liaison to neighborhood leaders will help me as I seek to serve our district,” Banks said.

Fabian Bedne, who serves on Metro’s Board of Zoning Appeals, could be one of Banks’ election opponents. Bedne is said to be eyeing a run, according to multiple sources.

Metro’s general election is in August.