Runoff Expected in Nashville Mayor's Race

It was election night Aug. 2, 2007, and Karl Dean and Bob Clement had just emerged as the evening's two winners. They were headed for a one-month runoff campaign, and Clement established a new tone with his speech that night.

 

He went on the attack.

 

"Karl Dean, you're out of step with the people of Nashville," the former congressman said about the Massachusetts native after earlier declaring: "Our city is not for sale for the highest bidder."

 

Eight years later, Nashvillians will go to the polls Thursday to elect a new mayor to replace Dean, who went on to narrowly defeat Clement in the runoff back then. Just like in 2007, observers are bracing for a runoff, which would take place Sept. 10 between the two top finishers if none of the seven candidates garners at least half the vote.

 

If history is an indicator, a one-on-one runoff could pave the way for more direct political combat. Either way, the next phase of the mayoral race will begin in earnest.

 

Fundraising efforts will start over. Candidates might tweak their messaging. Dynamics will change. There also will be a new battle for endorsements — including the pursuit of endorsements from the five losing candidates on Thursday.

 

Nashville’s seven mayoral candidates are at-large Metro Councilwoman Megan Barry, attorney Charles Robert Bone, former hedge-fund operator David Fox, real estate executive Bill Freeman, Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry, charter school founder Jeremy Kane and business executive Linda Eskind Rebrovick.