Vice Mayor of Nashville

The vice mayor of Nashville is elected to serve a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms. In the event that the office of mayor becomes vacant, the vice mayor becomes the mayor.

The vice mayor’s primary responsibility is to serve as president of Metro Council meetings. Metro Council meetings follow Robert’s

College before returning to Nashville to serve as Director of Foundation Relations at Belmont University.

In 2015, Henderson was elected as a councilmember in Nashville representing District 34 and was reelected in 2019. Henderson has served on several council committees, including Charter Revision and Budget and Finance, and she formerly chaired the Public Works and Parks, Library & Arts committees. Henderson is a member of several community organizations, including Walk Bike Nashville, Civic Design Center and the League of Women Voters.

Henderson is running because she believes

Metro Council needs new leadership. As vice mayor, Henderson says she would empower her council colleagues to have constructive conversations. She would be strategic in learning council member’s backgrounds when designating committee positions. Henderson believes the vice mayor is critical to strategically optimizing Metro Council’s policy work so that Metro can more proactively serve the city, while being a responsible steward of tax dollars. Henderson vows to be prepared by understanding the research and legislation and to act with a temperament that listens, leads and implements community goals.

Rules of Order, and the presiding officer introduces business, recognizes speakers, keeps discussion focused, and maintains order.

The vice mayor does not vote in meetings except in the event of a tie, when they can cast the deciding vote. The vice mayor also appoints members of Metro Council to the various Council committees and appoints committee vice chair and chair positions. Additionally, both the vice mayor and mayor have the power to call for special meetings outside of the regular meetings of council. Special meetings can be called to address time-sensitive issues or allow for additional discussion outside of regular meetings.

Jim Shulman grew up in Johnson City, Tenn. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University School of Law, Shulman began his career as legal counsel for the state and went on to work for former Tennessee Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh and the state health department. Shulman worked as the Director of the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability and the CEO of Safe Haven Family Shelter. Shulman volunteers with multiple community organizations, including serving as a current board member of the Nashville Children’s Theater. (Editor’s Note: Shulman also serves on The Contributor ’s board.)

Shulman was first elected to Metro Council in 1999 representing District 25, and he was re-elected in 2003. In 2015, Shulman was elected to serve as an atlarge councilmember, and then vice mayor in 2018. Shulman presided over con- tentious debates and public comment periods, notably in June of 2020 when he was recorded on video speaking in a heated manner to residents. Shulman apologized for his behavior the next day. As councilmember, Shulman has chaired the Budget, Transportation, and Public Works committees.

Shulman is running for reelection as vice mayor to maintain connection and open lines of communication between Metro Council and the community, and he believes his experience on council and as a former small business owner uniquely positions him to guide Metro Council toward consensus.

The Metropolitan Council is the legislative branch of the consolidated city-county government of Nashville and Davidson County. Metro Council has 40 council members, 35 of whom are elected by voters in their district and 5 of whom are at-large members elected by all voters. Council districts are determined by population and reconsidered every ten years based on new federal Census results. Metro council members can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.

Metro Council holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month, where they consider and act on ordinances and resolutions related to the policies and operations of Metro government. Council may consider legislation ranging from honoring a community member to amending the overall annual budget. Council meetings are open to the public and feature time for community members to comment on proposed legislation.

Metro Council currently has eleven committees including the Budget and Finance Committee and the Planning and Zoning Committee. Metro council members serve as participants and leaders on committees as appointed by the vice mayor. Committees consider proposed legislation and provide reports and recommendations to the entire council.

Metro Council approves legislation by majority vote, and legislation is then signed by the mayor. If the mayor vetoes an ordinance or resolution passed by Council, Council can override it with a two-thirds majority.

Some races were uncontested and do not appear in the printed version of this guide. They can be viewed in our digital issue at www.issuu.com/the-contributor-live

Burkley Allen was born in Arkansas and moved to Nashville in 1982. Allen received a bachelor’s degree in physics