Provisional ballots give Hollin District 5 win

With four previously uncounted provisional ballots now tallied, challenger Jamie Hollin has secured victory over embattled District 5 Councilwoman Pam Murray by a narrow two votes.

Murray received two of the four outstanding provisional ballot votes, Hollin gained one vote and the other ballot was rejected, according to the Davidson County Election Commission. The final votes, counted Friday morning, gave Hollin a 542 to 540 victory.

Under law, Administrator of Elections Ray Barrett said Murray has have five days from when the votes are certified Monday to file suit in Chancery Court to order a recount.

“You only need one vote to win it,” Hollin said of his apparent victory Thursday night. “Think about all the tactics she employed; said I was a drug addict; said I hung out with drug dealers. They put out a full-force effort, everything they had, and came up short.

“No matter what happens, this made history and will go down in the record books for the city of Nashville,” Hollin said. “Is it ever going to happen again? I’d never say never, but it’s highly unlikely.”

Murray, the district’s representative since 2003, said she was unsure whether she would request a recount or pursue legal action.

“All I know is this whole thing has been a conspiracy since day one,” Murray said. 

Thursday’s election came after the 35-year-old Hollin amassed more than 1,200 signatures to recall a lawmaker he characterized as unresponsive to constituents. 

Murray, 50, first came under fire by Hollin and other residents during a rezoning battle in which opponents claimed she failed to support nearby residents. Later, reports surfaced that Murray spent considerable time working in Detroit, Mich.

“You don’t sue me,” Hollin said of a potential legal battle. “When they certify the results, they’ll be swearing us in. We have a Council meeting next Tuesday. We have a lot of work to do.” 

East Nashville’s District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Cleveland Park, McFerrin Park and Maxwell Heights.