With a motto of “neighborhoods first’, David Glasgow will officially launch his campaign for the 18th District Metro Council seat on Sunday, Jan. 11 at Provence in Hillsboro Village from 4 to 5 p.m. at Provence.
Glasgow is running for a seat that was vacated by Keith Durbin, who stepped down from Metro Council in early January to take a new position as chief information officer for Metro. A special election for the position will be held on March 26.
His campaign has set up a Web site - www.glasgow18.com - and named Kathryn Barnett as the treasurer. Barnett is a well respected attorney married to Will Cheek who is also serving as an advisor to the campaign. Both are well connected in Democratic circles and have been very active in the district (and beyond).
Glasgow has also established a campaign committee that includes individuals like Kathryn Barnett – treasurer; Joe Woolley - campaign coordinator; Jim Grinstead – consultant; David Taylor; Van Pond; Maria Salas; Will Cheek; David Taylor; Jim Schmidt; Glenn Swann and Mimi Bliss.
Glasgow is one of three candidates that have announced and will likely be running against Kristine LaLonde and John Ray Clemmons.
Glasgow is state communications director for U.S.D.A. Rural Development and formerly worked for Vanderbilt University as a public affairs officer. He holds a law degree and is active in Nashville’s GLBT community, serves on the board of Artrageous Inc, and serves as an assistant coach with the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby Football Club.
LaLonde is an assistant professor at Belmont teaching courses for the Honors leadership studies program (The City Paper has already raised questions in this story about the conflict of interest created by LaLonde's employer being the second largest developer in the district.) Zoning, development and parking issues are a large part of what district council members work on for their constituents. If a council member has to recuse herself from voting or debating those issues the district is left without a voice on issues that affect their property or safety issues.
Clemmons is an attorney with Blackburn & McCune, PLLC, and former campaign manager for Bob Clement’s mayoral bid. He is a former Washington D.C. Clement staffer.
Glasgow is the only gay candidate in a district that includes Belmont-Hillsboro and Hillsboro-West End neighborhoods, some of Vanderbilt, all of Belmont University and has a diverse population including many members of the GLBT community.
“District 18 priorities include preserving and improving the residential quality of the neighborhoods and viability of commercial districts; public safety; active community involvement in our schools; fostering neighborhood identity and a sense of community; sensitive business and job development in the district; and progressive, business-friendly urban development in the downtown core, including a convention center that meets the city’s growing needs,” Glasgow told Out & About Newspaper in an earlier story.
“Of course, the biggest challenge for the council in these difficult economic times will be delivering Metro services without breaking the bank.”
Should he win, he’ll be the only “out” elected official in Middle Tennessee and on the Metro Council.
Glasgow said he understands the the implications for the GLBT community and the city. "I'm proud to be running in a progressive District that's already shown it's a person's capabilities that count. I want to serve as the advocate for the interests of families and businesses in his district because these are the things that affect all our our lives every day."