Former Metro Councilman Freddie O’Connell comfortably beat former Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Assistant Commissioner Alice Rolli with nearly 64 percent of the vote in Thursday’s Nashville mayoral run-off.
O’Connell will succeed current mayor John Cooper who opted not to run for re-election.
The mayor-elect told his supporters he plans to focus on how Nashville grows, works, and moves.
“We’re gonna organize the mayor’s office around these principles, concentrating on how we make it easier to stay here, the cost of living in Nashville and the quality of life for Nashvillians,” said O’Connell. “We’re gonna make amazing investments in communities all over our city, like our new Goodlettsville Elementary School, the new James Lawson High School in Bellevue, the Ravenwood Park in Hermitage, a new community center in Old Hickory. Every part of this city deserves the public resources that bind neighborhoods and neighbors together.”
O’Connell rose from third place in early polling of the initial crowded field of candidates last May to the top finish in August to make Thursday’s run-off.
Throughout the campaign, O’Connell ran on a progressive platform with the message of encouraging residents to stay in Nashville. O’Connell repeated that message to supporters Thursday night.
“Are you ready to stay,” asked O’Connell. “That’s good news because I can’t wait to get to work.”
Education a Key Issue
Early polling found education to be a key issue in the race and it gained more attention when Rolli declared during a mayoral debate that she’d consider a takeover of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education if members continue to push back on public charter schools.
That statement prompted members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education to take the unusual step of officially endorsing O’Connell.
The mayor-elect has said he’ll make it a priority to invest in community partnership programs that also support student needs beyond the classroom.
Women Win Big
Thursday’s election also provided big wins for women candidates who now control all 5 At-Large seats on Metro Council in Nashville.
Burkley Allen, Quin Evans-Segall, Delishia Porterfield, and Olivia Hill will join already qualified Zulfat Suara as At-Large Council Members. The wins ensure the entire council will have a woman majority for the first time ever along with newly elected Angie Henderson serving as Vice-Mayor.
Additionally, activist candidate, Democrat Aftyn Behn beat her Republican opponent David Hooven for the Tennessee State House District 51 seat. Behn won with 75 percent of the vote and will take over for interim Representative Anthony Davis, D-Nashville.
Metro Council appointed Davis to the seat in June and Behn beat him the following month in the Democratic primary.
