Nashville is rewriting rules to make sure the government’s gatekeepers, watchdogs and spenders reflect the city’s population. The moves comes as Metro elected officials have battled for two years about representation on the city’s boards and commissions.
Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda pressed for a systemic change on this issue. In previous reporting by WPLN News, she referred to concern from the council’s minority caucus that the same residents were repeatedly being picked to volunteer.
“It’s great to have institutional knowledge. And it’s great that a lot of people want to volunteer,” she says. “But we also have to give new opportunities. We have to get new voices in there. The city is changing and we need to make sure that the boards and commissions reflect that.”
More: Nashville Fair Board Seat Remains Vacant Amid A Tense Stalemate
In 2022, more people who are African American, Hispanic or women were appointed to Metro boards, compared to the year before. Some boards already had specific professional and ethnic requirements for who can fill the position. The new law takes that a step further.
For example, the Board of Ethical Conduct will get an increase in members, and it will require the NAACP and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition to each select a candidate.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM