Three at-large Metro Council members have introduced a memorializing resolution that would urge the state legislature to stay out of the issue of changing Metro’s election date.
The non-binding resolution, sponsored by council members Megan Barry, Jerry Maynard and Ronnie Steine, would put the council’s position on record, though it would carry no practical policy effect. The bill is set to go before the council next Tuesday.
“The bottom line is, we want to let the council go on record that we believe our elections in Nashville, Tenn., ought to be discussed by those of us that are elected at the local office and the citizens of Nashville, and ought not be a state issue.”
The resolution is in direct response to an amendment to a caption bill filed by state Rep. Jim Gotto, also a Metro councilman, which, if approved, would move Metro’s election to coincide with presidential elections in November. It would initiate by moving the August 2015 election to November 2016.
Steine said the resolution also calls on Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors to use the council’s charter revision committee to analyze the issues surrounding elections during years when decennial U.S. Census Bureau data is released. This year is an example.
Historically, Metro has conducted local elections during odd years in August followed by run-offs in September. Gotto contends that timetable created headaches this year because the Metro Planning Department staff had to hastily realign political boundaries using recently released census decennial data.