Carol Swain, former Vanderbilt professor, conservative commentator, to run for Nashville mayor

Carol Swain, a former Vanderbilt University law professor and well-known conservative commentator, says she is running for Nashville mayor, becoming the second candidate from the city's political right to launch their candidacy Monday.

Swain, outspoken and polarizing, said she's obtained the required signatures to become a candidate in the race that is set for August following the resignation of Mayor Megan Barry last month.

"The reason I'm running is that Nashville needs a choice between two different visions for the city," Swain said in a statement. "I believe the city is headed in the wrong direction, like many large cities headed by Democratic mayors.

"Nashville is currently following the 'tax-and spend' prescription that has resulted in so many of our cities becoming wastelands of poverty, crime, failing schools, and high tax said," Swain said. "We have a shrinking window of opportunity to avoid that future, but only if we act now to embrace new leadership committed to low taxes, common-sense regulations, and maximizing freedom and opportunity for all our citizens."

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Swain's entry comes as former conservative radio talk show host Ralph Bristol has also entered the Aug. 2 mayoral race. The Tennessee Supreme Court next week is taking up a legal challenge that is seeking to hold a special election in May.

Atop her priorities as mayor, Swain singled out her opposition to the May 1 transit referendum proposal that is backed by Mayor David Briley. The plan would raise four taxes, including the sales tax, to fund a $5.4 billion assortment of light rail, rapid bus transit and bus improvements.

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"A bad idea didn't get better simply due to Megan Barry resigning and Mayor Briley stepping in to replace her," Swain said. "I will be encouraging voters across the county to say 'No,' to funding the transit plan in the May 1 referendum."

Swain spoke on the front steps of the Metro Courthouse at a demonstration in February demanding Barry's resignation after the mayor admitted to a nearly two-year affair with her former police bodyguard.

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Swain has regularly drawn scrutiny from Nashville liberals after arriving at Vanderbilt in 1999 to teach law and political science. She appeared on CNN and wrote several columns for news outlets, sparking controversy over comments on Islam, Black Lives Matter and other topics.

Vanderbilt students protested in 2015 after Swain said in a Tennessean column that Islam "poses an absolute danger to us and our children."

And after a 2016 CNN appearance when Swain called the Black Lives Matter movement "a very destructive force in America," Provost Susan Wente said in a statement that Swain's views "in no way represent those of the university."

Students also led a petition calling for Swain's suspension. Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos responded by defending Swain's right to make provocative arguments, but he took steps to distance the university from her comments.

Swain retired from Vanderbilt in 2017, saying the departure would "be an opportunity for me to impact more people across the globe."

In addition to Swain and Bristol, other declared candidates challenging Briley include At-large Councilwoman Erica Gilmore and NACCP Nashville President Ludye Wallace. In recent days, Nashville businessman Bill Freeman, David Fox and At-large Councilman John Cooper have each passed on mayoral runs.

Thursday is the deadline to submit paperwork to run for mayor in the August election.

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