The first Sunday afternoon of April was a beautiful day for Reverend Enoch Fuzz and One Nashville, as they presented a “Party to the Polls” Fish Fry and Straw Poll for Nashville voters. The event was held at the new One City – Element Vanderbilt Hotel at 4 City Boulevard, just off Charlotte Avenue at 30th Avenue North. The weather was perfect — sunny and warm without being too hot or too cool -– and the food was delicious, too — fresh fried fish, beans and slaw, and hush puppies, with chips, cookies, fruit, and drinks to enjoy.
Levi Ismail, of NewsChannel Five TV, served as host, as DJ Jon Lucas played music. The guests and candidates mingled, ate, and danced outdoors on the “Exclusive Roof Top” area, with booths and tables set up for the candidates inside with campaign literature.
The majority of those candidates were seeking votes to beat their competition, in races for various positions as judges and chancellors of chancery courts, clerks, as well as our district attorney. A few unopposed candidates, like Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway, came out to support the event and encourage attendees to vote.
In the Circuit Court races, all three Clerk candidates, John Day, Howard Jones, and Pam Murray, were actively engaging potential voters and colleagues in the political arena. David Briley was there to ward off Wendy Longmire’s opposition for Circuit Court Judge Division I. In Division VII, John Manson was seeking to ward off Larry Hagar and Andra Hedrick, while Kelvin Jones was there to thwart Lynne Ingram for Judge of Division VIII.
In the six Criminal Court Divisions, only half are contested. Kyle Parks and Cheryl Blackburn compete for Division III. Khadija Babb has a long uphill battle if she wants to upseat perennial jurist Monte Watkins, one of Metro’s finest on the bench. The four-way contest in Division VI consists of Cynthia Chappell, Seth Norman, Tillman Payne and Marcus Shute, Jr.
There are eleven Divisions of General Sessions Judge seats available, of which six are being contested. In Division II, Kenneth Reddit is challenging Melissa Blackburn. Here it is: she (Melissa) is a Democrat and a really good person who happens to be named Blackburn, and please don’t think she is evil or misguided like the woman with that surname in Congress that continues to bring shame to Tennessee. Robin Kimbrough Hayes and Dianne Turner are vying for Division V. Frank Mondelli,Jr. and Jim Todd are up against Paul Walwyn for Division VI. Erin Coleman is seeking to unseat perennial favorite Rachel Bell in Division VIII, while Lynda Jones is defending her seat against Brian Horowitz in Division IX.
Cheryl Hayes, former School Board Chair, was present to reclaim her District 6 seat from Fran Bush, with Natalie Martin also vying for the seat.
The District Attorney race sees popular incumbent Glenn Funk warding off challenges from Sara Beth Myers and Danielle Nellis.
Early Voting begins Wednesday, April 13 for the Tuesday, May 3 Election.
