Members of Metro Council in Nashville are facing criticism for appointing a fellow council member to fill a vacant State House seat.
The council appointed former District 7 Council Member Anthony Davis to serve as the interim representative of House District 51. The East Nashville district has been vacant since the tragic death of Representative Bill Beck earlier this month.
Davis had already filed to run for the vacant House seat and the council’s move quickly attracted criticism from one of his opponents, activist Aftyn Behn.
“The intent behind this rushed appointment of a single nominee certainly wasn’t about the voters of District 51. The appointment was about our local electeds giving their former colleague the benefit of incumbency,” wrote Behn on her Twitter page. “Maybe they’re afraid of democracy…however, I want the voters to know I’m not.”
The special primary election for House District 51 will be held August 3 and early voting begins in three weeks.
Davis would presumably represent the district if Governor Lee calls a special session in August to strengthen gun safety.
The interim representative calls his predecessor a friend and mentor and Davis says he’s focused on filling the late Representative Beck’s shoes.
“Representative Bill Beck was everything to me and I wish he was here more than anything. I will work as hard as I can to make him proud. The voters get to decide who their State Rep. will be going forward starting August 3rd. I am running to complete Representative Beck’s term on the ballot, which would be through November of 2024. More info on that coming soon. For tonight, thank you to the entire Metro Council for your trust.” wrote interim Representative Davis on his Facebook page following his appointment. “I’m proud to serve the 51st District in this difficult time. Look forward to meeting many constituents this summer,”
Interim Representative Davis and Behn are both Democrats, along with announced candidates Reyn Haun and Mary Meeuwis. David Hooven is the lone Republican who’s running for the seat that leans heavily Democratic.
The race is receiving considerable attention for a State House seat with Behn and Davis considered the frontrunners who both offer a noticeably different approach.
Davis owns East Nashville Beer Works and has served two terms on Metro Council. On his campaign website, Davis describes himself as, “the one Democrat who can get things done.”
Behn is known for her work as a community organizer with the Tennessee Justice Center and her activist work with progressive organizations Indivisible and RuralOrganizing.org. She has said she’s running to “disrupt the status quo.”
On education issues, both candidates have a background for voters to consider.
As a member of Metro Council, Davis has a lengthy history of education related votes including helping secure more than $20 million for the construction of Stratford High School.
On school choice issues, Davis has largely voted to support leasing Metro Nashville property to public charter schools, though he did help vote down a 2017 proposal from KIPP Nashville to buy property on Knight Drive. Davis has also co-sponsored resolutions against a proposed state charter school authorizer and proposed private school vouchers.
“As a Metro Schools graduate and a current parent of Metro Schools students, Anthony will fight for Metro Nashville Public Schools to receive every penny it needs to serve our families. Our schools are being systematically underfunded as education dollars are diverted to failed privatization schemes, teachers are increasingly being asked to bear an unreasonable burden, and teaching is being replaced by over testing. It’s time to focus (on) giving our students and teachers the support they need, including high quality wrap-around services for students and families in need,” said Davis on his campaign website.
While serving with Indivisible, Behn helped organize an event to oppose Governor Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account program.
On her website, Behn says she’ll champion “kids, not corporations” and repeated a partisan attack that’s gaining popularity with some progressive leaders, that Tennessee Republicans are purposely “dismantling” public-education.
“The GOP anti-public-school agenda is simple: starve an institution of resources, add immense administrative burdens, declare it doesn’t work, and then privatize it. From reforming the state’s school funding formula to the third-grade retention debacle, Governor Lee and the Republicans will continue to dismantle our public education system and undermine teachers’ bargaining rights. Public education is (not my) expertise, so I plan to listen to school board members who live in HD51 and, of course, Rep. Gloria Johnson,” wrote Behn on her website.
Representative Johnson was the lone member of the so-called “Tennessee Three” who was not ousted last April following a protest on the House floor. She also received attention during the session for inaccurately attacking public charter schools during a vote to reauthorize the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.
