Nashville has a new criminal court clerk to replace the ousted David Torrence, who was pushed to resign this summer after being revealed to only work three days a week. Torrence’s replacement, former Vice Mayor Howard Gentry, handily won a majority vote in the metro council Tuesday night, and says he wants to restore trust to the office.
Gentry had worked alongside many on the council when he was vice mayor, and says he believes that service helped him capture 23 of the council’s 40 votes in a crowded field. Asked what he’ll do differently than his widely criticized predecessor, Gentry touched on modernizing the office’s technology, but stressed another key point.
“I do plan to come to work. I plan to be there; I plan to be the face of the criminal court. That court is – that system, that department is well-run. You don’t have to go in there and blow it up and make wholesale changes.”
Gentry expects to start work within a few weeks, but told reporters last night his reelection campaign starts now. Voters will have a chance to weigh in on his performance next year.
The council also put off a resolution to call for the removal of county clerk John Arriola. He’s under investigation for accepting forty dollar cash tips when performing hundreds of weddings. Council members agreed to let their newly elected successors decide about such a measure against Arriola, which would not be binding.
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