Nashville may soon have its first openly gay council representative. Two openly gay men have qualified to appear on the ballot for Metro Council for the August 2 election, with one of them running unopposed.
Keith Durbin, an openly gay man in the Hillsboro Village-Belmont area (Council District 18) will run unopposed (unless a write-in candidate name appears) for the seat being vacated by incumbent Ginger Hausser Pepper, who is term-limited from seeking a third term. Shane Burkett, an openly gay man in Hermitage, will face incumbent Jim Gotto for the Council District 12 seat (see related story on Burkett here).
Should either (or both) win their races, Durbin and Burkett will make Tennessee history as the first publically elected out public official. According to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, there are 440 individuals who are “out” that have been appointed or elected to public office. Tennessee is one of five states that does not have an “out” elected official. Durbin has been endorsed by the Victory Fund. Burkett has submitted his application is awaiting a decision.
Durbin is well-known in his district. He has served as president of the Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors for five years and is positing himself as a strong voice for neighborhood interests. Durbin works for HCA Information and Technology services. His partner of 12 years is Gary Bynum, who is vice president of human resources for Homeland Security Corporation.
In addition to the council races, voters will also elect a new mayor, vice-mayor, and school board member in the election. Early voting will begin in July. Candidates have until Noon, Thursday, May 24, to withdraw from the race so their name doesn’t appear on the ballot.
Candidates and the races are listed below. Incumbents are in italics.
Mayoral Candidates
David Briley
Bob Clement
Karl Dean
Buck Dozier
Kenneth Eaton
Howard Gentry
Cheryl Tisdale
Vice-Mayoral Candidates
Diane Neighbors
Linda W. Perry
Carolyn Tucker
School Board District 3 Candidates
Mark North
Council-at-Large Candidates
Brady Banks
Megan Barry
Luther Beckett
Kenneth Berryhill
Jim Boyd
Luvenia Butler
Jonathan Davidson
Richard Exton
Tim Garrett
Ronnie Greer
Saletta Holloway
Philip Hostettler
Michael Kerstetter
J.B. Loring
James A. Maxwell
Jerry Maynard
Steve McClure
J. Gower Mills
Dave Pelton
Steve Reiter
Tony Roberts
Ronnie Steine
James Turner II
Charlie Tygard
Maurice Walker
Peter Westerholm
Council District 1 Candidates
Ken Jakes
William D. Mason Jr.
Lonnell Matthews
Andre' Southall
Felicia Wilson
Council District 2 Candidates
Terry Clayton
Frank Harrison
Jamie D. Isabel Sr.
Council District 3 Candidates
WalterHunt
Council District 4 Candidates
Michael Craddock
Freda B. Evans
Council District 5 Candidates
Samuel Mc Cullough,
Pam Murray
Council District 6 Candidates
Mike Jameson
Council District 7 Candidates
Erik Cole
Council District 8 Candidates
Karen Bennett
Albert G. Berry
Rod Boehm
Jason Hart
Randy Reed
Council District 9 Candidates
Jim Forkum
Council District 10 Candidates
Rip Ryman
Council District 11 Candidates
Johnny Ellis
Darren Jernigan
Ricky Mc Clintock
Council District 12 Candidates
Shane Burkett
Jim Gotto
Council District 13 Candidates
Carl Burch
Tony Derryberry
Council District 14 Candidates
Bruce Stanley
Harold White
Council District 15 Candidates
Phillip Claiborne
Gary Howell
Larry Keeton
Council District 16 Candidates
Jerry Austin
Charles O. French
AnnaPage
Tony Tenpenny
Karen Van Dyke
Council District 17 Candidates
Cordenus Eddings
Chris Lugo
Sandra V. Moore
Cynthia Owsley
Frank Stevenson
Rossi Turner
Gregory E. Wood
Council District 18 Candidates
Keith Durbin
Council District 19 Candidates
Janice A. Davis
Erica Gilmore
Keith A. Pitts
Freda Player
David Shaw
Council District 20 Candidates
James Baker
Brenda Inglis
Lillian E. Pharris
Billy Walls
Council District 21 Candidates
Edith Taylor Langster
Harold M. Love
“Ronnie" Simmons
Council District 22 Candidates
Eric Crafton
Council District 23 Candidates
Craig Andreen
Emily Evans
Council District 24 Candidates
Katherine Beasley
Jason Holleman
Gary Pennington
Irwin Venick
Council District 25 Candidates
Sean P. Mc Guire
Council District 26 Candidates
Greg Adkins
Council District 27 Candidates
Randy Foster
Council District 28 Candidates
Duane Dominy
Jacobia Dowell
Council District 29 Candidates
Paul V. Jr. Collins
Vivian Wilhoite
Council District 30 Candidates
Jim Hodge
Council District 31 Candidates
Fabian Bedne
Parker Toler
Council District 32 Candidates
SamColeman
Council District 33 Candidates
Albert Bender
RobertDuvall
Page Turner
Council District 34 Candidates
Lisa Pote
Carter Todd
Council District 35 Candidates
Donald W. Johnson
Bo Mitchell