Where every Nashville council member stands on the transit referendum

Nearly twice as many Nashville Metro Council members say they support approval of the city's contentious transit referendum than oppose it, while several others say they're still undecided how they'll vote.

A survey conducted by The Tennessean found that 21 council members — a majority of the council — intend to vote for the $5.4 billion transit plan in the voting booth, already have during early voting, or are leaning that direction.

That's compared to 11 council members who said they're voting against the transit tax proposal or are likely to vote against it.

In a sign of a debate that's become increasingly polarizing, five council members said they're unsure how they will vote even after months of public debate on the topic. Two others, including acting Vice Mayor Sheri Weiner, declined to provide their position.

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Early voting runs through April 26 ahead of the May 1 election on the transit referendum.

The plan, backed by Mayor David Briley, would raise four taxes, including the sales tax, to fund a project anchored by light rail on five corridors, rapid bus on four others, bus improvements and other transit upgrades.

After voting 34-2 as a body in February to put the transit measure on the ballot, council members are now voters — not policymakers — on the project.

Their attitudes reflect many of the debates taking place across Nashville when it comes to what would be the most expensive infrastructure project in the city's history.

"I'm listening to both sides," said Councilwoman Mary Carolyn Roberts, whose District 20 includes parts of the fast-growing Nations neighborhood, which would be served by a light rail line on Charlotte Avenue if the referendum passes.

"A lot of the Millennials want an alternative, and I think that's a big chunk of my district. But I have a lot of people who also think they're never going to use this and that don't want to be in debt until 2016. I'm split down the middle."

Three of five at-large members oppose or leaning against plan

The council's lopsided backing for the transit referendum largely reflects the body's left political leanings. But it might not be an accurate predictor of the actual vote, which is believed to be much closer and a race transit boosters could lose.

The council, typically 40 members, is down one member after former District 1 Councilman Nick Leonardo in January was appointed a General Sessions judge, meaning 39 council members were polled.

Two of the council's countywide at-large members, Erica Gilmore, a candidate for mayor, and John Cooper, oppose the plan, while a third, Jim Shulman, said he is leaning toward voting against it. At-large council members Bob Mendes and Sharon Hurt both said they back the plan.

Gilmore flipped her position last week after being a vocal supporter for the plan. Mendes put his public support behind the project when assurances came regarding affordable housing.

► More: Nashville mayoral candidate Erica Gilmore flips to now oppose transit plan

Hurt made clear her backing is lukewarm but she said the city needs to do something to begin addressing transit.

"While I'm not really fond of the plan, I do believe, however, that the city needs better transportation, and I think we need to come together as a city to make sure that we have better transportation as we move forward," Hurt said. "We have to start somewhere."

Some referendum supporters see flaws in plan

The referendum has widespread support among council members who represent the city's urban core and surrounding neighborhoods, including downtown, Germantown, East Nashville, Belmont-Hillsboro, Sylvan Park, Wedgewood-Houston, and Woodbine.

Support also extends to council representatives of neighborhoods like Madison, Donelson and Green Hills.

"It's about sustainable long-term growth, and transit connects us all in that regard," said District 15 Councilman Jeff Syracuse, who represents parts of Donelson.

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Councilwoman Kathleen Murphy, whose District 24 includes Sylvan Park, said, "Our traffic and gridlock is not going to get any better."

"We have to take the first steps to start improving the system and process and the way that we get around if we want to continue to be successful rather than going backwards in traffic," Murphy said.

"I think Nashville's ready," said District 30 Councilman Jason Potts, a Democratic candidate for state representative. "I'm sitting in traffic right now. Southeast Nashville's bad, especially Interstate 24.

"I don't know if it will pass, but I think we've got to get a funding source in place for transit."

Several council members expressed a desire to take action — even if they see flaws in the plan.

"We've got to do something, right?" said District 16 Councilman Mike Freeman. "We keep kicking this can down the road, it's not going to be any cheaper. It may not be the best plan, but it's a good plan to start with."

District 21 Councilman Ed Kindall, whose district includes parts of North Nashville, said he intends to vote for the referendum but believes the current plan will need modifications.

"I'm for transit, I know we have to have a transit change," he said. "I'm just not so sure what we have should be locked into concrete. So as we go along there should be some modifications."

Opposition strongest farthest from downtown

Opponents include the council's pack of conservatives, but some Democrats as well.

As one might expect, there's more opposition among council members that represent suburban areas farther from downtown and near the Davidson County line.

"My position is it does't really help us out in my area, so I'm not going to vote for it," said District 11 Councilman Larry Hagar, who represents Old Hickory. "I don't think it's the right plan. The (transit projects) that I've been to, like in Charlotte, N.C, Austin, Texas, they go further out to the outer edges of the county.

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"It needs to go out to capture the people who are coming in from out of the county."

In a blog post on his position against the plan, Bellevue-area District 35 Councilman Dave Rosenberg estimated that around 80 percent of the $5.4 billion capital cost would go to light rail that wouldn't reach many neighborhoods.

"And while most of the city’s jobs will be near these rail lines, what good is that if our workers can’t conveniently get to the trains from their homes in Bellevue, Goodlettsville, and Antioch?" Rosenberg wrote.

Nashville transit map

District 27 Councilwoman Davette Blaclock, who represents parts of Southeast Nashville, is also voting against the plan. She said Nashville needs to find other transit alternatives. "My district doesn't see a benefit in the current plan."

"I voted to allow the city to vote on it, but personally, even though we're councilmen, when I got to the polls in a couple of days to vote, I'll be voting for myself, not for the city."

But one colleague had the opposite take.

"I tell everybody in my district out in Hermitage, it's not doing much for you out here," said District 14 Councilman Kevin Rhoten, who said he is nvertheless leaning toward voting for it. "You have to vote based on whether you think this is good for the city as as whole."

Several Southeast council members noncommittal

Five of the seven council members who did not commit to voting either for or against the referendum are African American.

Both the pro-transit and anti-transit campaigns have exhausted considerable resources to reach out to black voters, who are considering a key voting bloc for the referendum.

Council members Tanaka Vercher, Karen Johnson and Antoinette Lee — each who reside in Southeast Nashville — said they are undecided. Dowell, also of southeast Nashville, declined to give her position. Johnson is a candidate for Register of Deeds in the May 1 election.

The pro-transit side might have hurt their chances to win support among some Southeast council members last weekend.

Vercher, the council's Budget and Finance Committee chairwoman, said a representative from the mayor's office and the Nashville For Transit coalition did not show up as scheduled at a forum to discuss the project.

"I'm just disappointed in the outreach, or the lack of outreach, out in Southeast Davidson County," Vercher said.

"It's going to be part of my consideration," she said. "If you're going to say this is a plan to benefit the entire county, you're actions should demonstrate such. Right now, the outreach doesn't demonstrate it."

Dowell framed her vote on the issue as a personal one, adding that her constituents should do what's best for them and their finances.

Weiner, who represents parts of Bellevue, had a similar take.

"I voted for the voters to decide, and that was my public vote that I'm on record with," Weiner said. "My personal vote is my personal vote and I don't want to sway anybody."

Some are still looking for that one final signal.

"Just prior to my vote, I will just have to see what the Holy spirit tells me to do," said Councilwoman Brenda Haywood. "I've been holding, and talking, and going to meetings, I'm just still kinda of straddling the fence on it. I can see both sides. This is tough."

At-large council members:

John Cooper — Against

Erica Gilmore — Against

Bob Mendes — For

Sharon Hurt – For

Jim Shulman — Leaning against

District council members

District 1 — Vacant

District 2 DeCosta Hastings — For

District 3 Brenda Haywood — Undecided

District 4 Robert Swope — Against

District 5 Scott Davis — For

District 6 Brett Withers — For

District 7 Anthony Davis — For

District 8 Nancy VanReece — For

District 9 Bill Pridemore — For

District 10 Doug Pardue — Leaning against

District 11 Larry Hagar — Against

District 12 Steve Glover — Against

District 13 Holly Huezo — Against

District 14 Kevin Rhoten — Leaning for

District 15 Jeff Syracuse — For

District 16 Mike Freeman — For

District 17 Colby Sledge — For

District 18 Burkley Allen — For

District 19 Freddie O’Connell — For

District 20 Mary Carolyn Roberts — Undecided

District 21 Ed Kindall — For

District 22 Sheri Weiner — Declined to say

District 23 Mina Johnson — For

District 24 Kathleen Murphy — For

District 25 Russ Pulley — For

District 26 Jeremy Elrod — For

District 27 Davette Blalock — Against

District 28 Tanaka Vercher — Undecided

District 29 Karen Johnson — Undecided

District 30 Jason Potts — For

District 31 Fabian Bedne — For

District 32 Jacobia Dowell — Declined to say

District 33 Antoinette Lee — Undecided

District 34 Angie Henderson — Against

District 35 Dave Rosenberg — Against

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessean.com and on Twitter @joeygarrison.