After Dozens Of Nashville Mayoral Forums, There’s Finally One To Watch From The Couch

The mayor’s race in Nashville has finally reached the televised debate phase. The seven leading candidates have appeared side-by-side for months at forums around town. But Thursday night is the first on live TV.

The thousand tickets to the event at Belmont University were gone
within 24-hours. And organizers hope that’s a sign of increasing interest in the race. WSMV is broadcasting the 90-minute forum on the air.
The Tennessean is doing the same online. Opinion editor David Plazas says it’s important for voters to tune in.

“Historically, mayors in Nashville have served eight years, so over the next decade when we know the growth is going to be tremendous, when we know neighborhoods are going to change significantly, there’s going to be an influx of hundreds of thousands of people to the region, now is the time to pick a leader who is going to help set the direction and the vision for Nashville.”

Plazas admits it’s difficult to get a real debate going with seven candidates on the stage. To keep answers from getting repetitive, moderators say not every candidate will get the same questions. And candidates will be allowed to engage each other at times, which has not been allowed at most forums to this point.

The Belmont debate begins at 6:30 p.m.
Another televised debate with a town-hall format has been scheduled for June 18
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