With Business Backing, Briley Announces Mayoral Bid

NASHVILLE, TN -- Two days after transitioning from Vice Mayor Briley to Mayor Briley, David Briley announced he will indeed seek to fill the unexpired term of Megan Barry in an August special election.

It's no real surprise. In an era of seemingly permanent campaigns, the five months between Barry's resignation Tuesday and the Aug. 2 election is shockingly short by modern standards. A significant advantage is available to anyone with name recognition, the ability to raise hefty amounts of money or both.

Briley was able to tick the name-recognition box even before his surprise elevation to Metro's top office. His grandfather, Beverly, was the first mayor of Metro 55 years ago, his name etched permanently on one of the city's primary roads. David Briley himself ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2007 and then won a vice-mayor's race in 2015.

“Yes, I will be running in August for mayor,” Briley told The Tennessean. “And that’s the extent of any announcement you’re going to see from me. It’s not going to be some big political shindig where I roll out a red carpet for myself. I’m going to be working on governing and doing everything that I can do to make sure the government is running well. But yes, I will be running for election in August."

Briley's understated announcement came a day after a bold proclamation from the Nashville Business Coalition, a group of powerful local business leaders. In a move that would have shocked their Wataugan antecedents with its brashness and candor, the coalition essentially said it was backing Briley and that everyone else should stay away.

“We encourage all qualified candidates to give the voters of this great city ample opportunity to do what they have done so very well over the last quarter century — elect a great mayor,” said Nancy Stabell, the coalition’s chair. “We simply don't believe that there is sufficient time between now and the August special election to allow voters that opportunity.

“Additionally, continuity of leadership over the next 18 months is absolutely critical to sustain Nashville’s success, and no one candidate's political ambition should take precedence over what's truly best for the city over the long term.”

Though Briley is generally seen as a progressive and failed to garner much support from high-powered business types in 2007, the coalition and Briley both back the transit plan that will go before Metro voters in May.

Bill Lee, CEO of The Lee Company and Republican candidate for governor, tweeted he resigned from the coalition's board in protest of the endorsement of Briley.