Referendum: Must an Engineer Run Metro Public Works?

Thursday is the final day of early voting in Tennessee ahead of next Tuesday’s election. In Nashville the ballot includes several referendums, including one on just who should be allowed to run Metro Public Works.

Right now the head of Public Works is technically required to be an engineer, but the last few have not been. The sponsor says since that’s the way it is, the rule should change to say so.

While the referendum would drop the requirement, Mickey Sullivan argues it should stay. He used to work as an engineer in Public Works, and says the issue is one of setting the department’s agenda:

“And if that agenda drifts too far from the primary mission of health, safety and welfare, then we run the risk that maybe some of the important things that need to be handled by the department don’t get handled with the priority that they should.”

Meanwhile backers argue the job of running Public Works has become one of management – meaning someone else can handle the technical details.

Early voting in Davidson County closes at 4:30 Thursday. In Rutherford County and Williamson County, early voting sites are open ’til 7. Wilson County’s and Sumner County’s close at 6. You can find pages for other county election offices through the state’s site.