Last Chance to Vote

Competitive races in Davidson County's May 5 primary.

From Megan Podsiedlik

There was a late surge in early voting for Davidson County’s May 5 primaries. A hefty 5,224 people showed up at the polls yesterday, bringing the vote total to just over 22,000—a lackluster 5.5 percent of active voters.

On Tuesday, we took a quick look at the competitive school board races. If you’re planning on pulling a Democratic primary ballot on primary election day next Tuesday, here’s a look at some of the remaining competitive races. 

Division III Circuit Court Judge Veteran Davidson County divorce and family law attorney Audrey Anderson and a general practitioner within Tennessee Law Group, Corletra Mance, are challenging incumbent Bethany Peery Glandorf, who was appointed to the position in November.

Division III Criminal Court Judge Veteran public defender for Nashville Dawn Deaner—endorsed by the likes of former Metro Chief Development Officer Bob Mendes and state Representative Aftyn Behn—along with Nashville Assistant District Attorney Ronald Jamar Dowdy, are facing off against incumbent Jim Todd, who was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to succeed Judge Cheryl Blackburn on the Davidson County Criminal Court in September.

Division VI General Sessions Judge Michael Johnson, who has served as the night court magistrate for General Sessions Court, is taking on incumbent Jodie Ann Bell, who was appointed to the bench in November by Metro Council.

Circuit Court Clerk Howard Jones, running on a platform of "commitment to ensuring our courts serve Nashville’s diverse community with fairness, transparency, and efficiency," is challenging incumbent Joseph P. Day, who was elected to the office of Circuit Court Clerk in 2022.

County Clerk There’s a three-way competition to replace longtime Davidson County Clerk Brenda Wynn, who is retiring from the position after serving for 12 years. Former Metro Council member and 2023 mayoral candidate Sharon Hurt; recalled council member Pam Murray; and current Metro Nashville Public Schools board Chair Freda Player are all vying for the position. 

What Horrors We Wrought In 1973, French writer Jean Raspail published one of the most controversial novels of the 20th century. His novel, The Camp of Saints, has been consistently censored throughout its history.

Vauban Books recently published a new translation of the French story, accompanied by a lucid introduction by writer Nathan Pinkoski. Join us as we discuss the legacy of this controversial novel and what it says about the West.

This event is for the benefit of The Pamphleteer, Nashville, and priced with that in mind. Bard-level subscribers receive free admittance.

BLURBS

🎒 Much Ado About Nothing… The National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union which represents public school teachers and administrators, released a new report on state spending on public education.

Outlets across the state have made a big todo about the state’s per-pupil spending ranking last, and used the opportunity to frame the ranking against the state GOP’s claim of historic investment in Tennessee public schools. 

State Senator Jeff Yarbro has been apoplectic about the report, taking to Twitter saying, “Tennessee is investing less in education per student than any other state in the US. Literally ranked 51st out of 51.”

The obvious question that follows from all of this: well, how are the schools performing? As it turns out, among states in the South, Tennessee tops the list in terms of performance according to the commonly cited National Center for Education Statistics’ NAEP report card. Nationally, they sit in the middle of the pack. DAVIS HUNT * Re-post from yesterday.

✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH

New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your council member, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)

HEADLINES

• 🔍 Metro files motion to address lack of compliance by the state with court orders regarding custody of state inmates. “Metro Government, on behalf of the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, has filed motions in Circuit Court to order the State of Tennessee Department of Correction to appear in Court and answer why it has failed to comply with numerous lawful sentencing orders from the Court to assume custody of certain inmates sentenced to TDOC custody. Metro’s indefinite housing of these inmates has cost the city more than $5 million.” (Metro Press Release)
• 🎵 Officials/stakeholders unveil Ascend Amphitheater Greenway bridge. Officials snipped some ribbon this morning, marking the completion of the first phase in a multi-million-dollar project meant to reconnect downtown with the riverfront and ensure access to the greenway. The initiative has been a collaborative effort between Opry Entertainment Group, Metro Government, Ascend Federal Credit Union, and Metro Parks. (Metro Nashville)
• ✍️ Trump says Governor Bill Lee will redraw state's congressional map. "I had a very good conversation with Governor Bill Lee, of Tennessee, this morning, wherein he stated that he would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps of the Great State of Tennessee. Likewise, all of the other Political Representatives of Tennessee have promised to do so," posted President Trump yesterday. "This should give us one extra seat, and help Save our Country from the Radical Left Democrats, and their Country destroying Policies of High Tax, Open Borders, Transgender Mutilation, Defunding the Police, ICE, and Border Patrol, No Voter ID, Soft on Crime, and so much more.” (Fox 17)
• 🧊 MNPD say they were not asked to help ICE execute warrants during operations in Antioch this week. On Wednesday, MNPD says officers received a call that someone had been struck by an ICE vehicle in the parking lot of Townes at Hamilton apartment complex. Officers arrived to find no one had been injured, and the person involved chose not to make a report and returned to protest the presence of the ICE agents. "The officers were unaware of any ICE operation prior to arriving,” a statement said, explaining that MNPD simply called for additional units to help prevent tensions from escalating further. (NewsChannel 5)
• ✈️ Nashville airport closes public area to make way for construction. BNA will soon close down its public observation area in Donelson. Officials have not yet set a date for the closure, and it will not open another public location to watch planes. (Tennessean)

DEVELOPMENT

• South Nashville industrial property sells for $30.35M (Post)
• Franklin leaders hear new hotel proposal on historic Riverview House land (WKRN)
• Details emerge for Hilton hotel eyed for Nashville Yards (Post)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🎻 The Miraculous Mandarin and Music of Bates @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $29+, Info

🪕 John Hartford Fiddle Project @ Station Inn, 9p, $25, Info

🎸 The Nude Party w/ Tobacco City @ The Basement East, 8p, $29.88, Info

🪕 Bailey Zimmerman @ Ascend Amphitheater, 7p, $55+, Info

🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info

🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

SATURDAY

🎻 The Miraculous Mandarin and Music of Bates @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $29+, Info

🎸 Sluice @ The Blue Room, 7p, $23.41, Info

🪕 David Parmley Band @ Station Inn, 9p, Info

🪕 Bailey Zimmerman @ Ascend Amphitheater, 7p, $55+, Info

🎸 Florence + The Machine @ Bridgestone Arena, 7p, $49+, Info

🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

SUNDAY

🎻 The Miraculous Mandarin and Music of Bates @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 2p, $29+, Info

🪕 Tracy Lawrence @ Ryman Auditorium, 7p, $139+, Info

🪕 Bluegrass Jam @ Station Inn, 7p, Free, Info
+ a night for musicians and singers from all over the world to gather and enjoy making music together

🪕 Sundays Between with Easy Green @ Tennessee Brew Works, 1p, Info
+ a bluegrass celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.