Some labor groups pass on mayoral endorsements – Nashville Post

SEIU Local 205 and the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, an umbrella labor group, are both passing on endorsing either Mayor David Briley or Metro Councilmember John Cooper in the mayoral runoff.

“In the noise of the mayor’s race, union members want to hear a clear plan on these priorities,” CLC President Vonda McDaniel said in a release. “We do not believe that either candidate has adequately demonstrated a plan on these issues or a history of prioritizing them. Therefore, no endorsement will be made in the mayor’s race, and we challenge both candidates to have an open and honest debate about a realistic path forward for our city.”

The CLC had previously endorsed John Ray Clemmons, who finished fourth in the first round of voting and, as such, failed to make the runoff. SEIU did not make a pick in the first round of voting.

In discussing the decision not to make an endorsement, SEIU Local 205 President Brad Rayson cited the group’s support of a so-called “Moral Budget” that would include a property tax increase. Neither Cooper nor Briley supported that budget plan when it was proposed — and narrowly defeated — earlier this year.

The Nashville Firefighters Association announced Wednesday that it was supporting Cooper, following the Fraternal Order of Police in backing him.

Clemmons and Carol Swain, the former Vanderbilt professor who finished third in the first round of voting, have also decided not to endorse Cooper or Briley, at least so far. A group of Metro Councilmembers, including Freddie O’Connell and Bill Pridemore, has come out in support of Briley since the Aug. 1 vote, in which Cooper bested Briley by 10 percentage points, though both fell short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff.

With less than a month until the Sept. 12 runoff, Cooper has continued to outspend Briley on television advertising, where Cooper has continued reserving airtime while Briley has not since last month, according to Federal Communications Commission records. Cooper has also spent nearly $100,000 on Facebook advertising during the campaign, compared to less than $6,000 by Briley, according to the social media platform.

Cooper, a real estate developer, pumped at least $1.4 million of his own money into his campaign before the Aug. 1 vote.