With forums, mailers, ads and door-to-door campaigning, we are all aware that we’re in the midst of one of the most important election cycles in our city’s recent history. We are poised for a major turnover in our city’s elected leadership – Nashvillians will elect a new mayor and vice mayor, and nearly three-quarters of the 40-member Metro Council could be new members.
Early voting is underway for the Aug. 6 election, the results of which will position Nashville for the next decade. We encourage our members to fully understand the community and business issues important to you, as well as the candidates who are running to represent your individual and business needs.
Last week, the Chamber released our fourth annual Legislative Scorecard, which reports how the Metro Council (as a body and individually) voted in support of our board-adopted Metro legislative agenda. Our agenda issues include support for small business, planning and zoning process solutions that lessen barriers to investment, and fighting government regulation of private business, among others. Use the scorecard to help you make more informed decisions about candidates and issues important to you and the business community. You may also want to check the Nashville Business Coalition website for that group’s endorsement of pro-business candidates.
On the ballot for this election are three proposed amendments to change the Metro Charter, our city’s governing document. The Chamber has joined a business coalition in opposition to Amendment 3, which requires 40 percent of all Metro construction project hours to be performed by Davidson County residents. The Chamber opposes this “good in theory, bad in practice” amendment for several reasons – it would essentially become a hidden tax on Davidson County taxpayers; it would be difficult and costly to enforce; there is an existing shortage of skilled construction workers in Middle Tennessee; and the Nashville area is a regional economy with significant daily movement in the labor market. We ask that you vote against Amendment 3 and educate your employees about this issue as well.
The Chamber is committed to being a partner with the new mayoral administration. Members of our policy staff have spent nearly 50 total hours with candidates and returning officials on issues important to our members, as well as providing research and expert insights into those issues. We believe our efforts continue to support the need for government to create an environment in which businesses and workers can prosper.
Chamber members, please look for your printed copy of the 2015 Legislative Scorecard in the mail. If you have any questions about the scorecard or the Chamber’s role in the 2015 election, please contact Debby Dale Mason, the Chamber’s chief community development officer, or Rita McDonald, the Chamber’s community and business engagement director.
