Both candidates in Nashville’s mayoral runoff spent much of Election Day at the same place — the Cathedral of Praise. In the parking lot, they waved signs and shook hands with voters, though not with each other.
Their simultaneous presence solidified North Nashville’s African-American community as the most contested battleground of the race.
Neither Megan Barry nor David Fox did very well
at this site in last month’s general election. Whoever becomes mayor, said Fox, that person will have at least spent considerable time in an area that has been largely sidestepped by the city’s current building boom.
“If you have the two leading candidates for mayor paying this much attention and learning so much about the community, there’s nothing but upside for people who live in Bordeaux,” Fox said.
Some voters filing into the
church to cast their ballot said they appreciate the attention. But not retired nurse Helen Harris.
“It makes it difficult,” she said. “Are they sincere? Or are they just promising me some things that are not going to be carried out?”
Candidate Megan Barry downplayed the significance of the site, saying she’s just trying to earn every vote she can.
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