All Five At-Large Seats on Nashville Metro Council Filled by Women
In the recent runoff election, the four remaining Nashville Metro Council at-large seats were filled, resulting in all five at-large seats being held by women. Delishia Porterfield received the most votes, securing the second seat, while incumbent Zulfat “Z” Suara secured the first seat. Suara has been an at-large Metro Council member since 2019.
Porterfield, who has represented District 29 on the Metro Council since 2019, emphasized the need for a “battle-tested legislator with a strong moral compass” during her campaign. She currently works as the director of leadership and advocacy for the union-backed nonprofit Stand Up Nashville.
Quin Evans-Segall, who climbed in the polls between the general election and the runoff, has experience with Davidson County politics as the vice chair of the Metro Nashville Davidson County Industrial Development Board. Her focuses include transportation, housing code updates, grants for small, minority, and women-owned businesses, child care access, and private investment in parks.
Incumbent Burkley Allen, who has served as an at-large Council member since 2019 and previously served District 18 from 2011 to 2019, expressed her love for public service and her dedication to making Nashville better. She served as the chair of the council’s Budget and Finance Committee during the 2022 budget season and has been an ad hoc chair of the Affordable Housing Committee.
Olivia Hill made history as the first openly transgender person to be elected to the Nashville Metro Council. Hill, a retired employee of the Vanderbilt University power plant, has 36 years of experience in the utility industry, including 10 years in the U.S. Navy. Her priorities include improving transit, utilities, and providing assistance to homeless Nashvillians.
A total of 21 candidates initially ran in the general election at-large race, with Suara and Allen being the only incumbent at-large Metro Council members seeking reelection. The runoff election included eight candidates. The Metro Council is composed of 40 members, with 35 representing individual districts and five elected countywide as at-large members.
At-large council members have the same legislative authority as district council members but do not carry zoning bills within their respective districts. They can introduce zoning bills in any district and can fill in for district council members when conflicts or absences arise. The election of all women to the at-large seats represents a significant shift in the composition of the Nashville Metro Council and highlights the increasing diversity and representation in local government.
Original Story at www.tennessean.com – 2023-09-15 01:58:15
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