Jimmy Lawrence
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Jimmy Lawrence ran for election for Mayor of Nashville in Tennessee. Lawrence lost in the general election on August 1, 2019.
Lawrence completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2019
See also: Mayoral election in Nashville, Tennessee (2019)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mayor of Nashville
John Cooper defeated incumbent David Briley in the general runoff election for Mayor of Nashville on September 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Cooper (Nonpartisan)  | 69.1 | 62,440 |
 | David Briley (Nonpartisan) | 30.2 | 27,281 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 621 | ||
| Total votes: 90,342 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
General election
General election for Mayor of Nashville
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Nashville on August 1, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Cooper (Nonpartisan) | 35.0 | 35,676 |
| ✔ | | David Briley (Nonpartisan) | 25.3 | 25,786 |
 | Carol Swain (Nonpartisan) | 22.0 | 22,387 | |
 | John Ray Clemmons (Nonpartisan) | 16.1 | 16,391 | |
 | Julia Clark-Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 404 | |
 | Bernie Cox (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 337 | |
 | Jimmy Lawrence (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 305 | |
 | Jody Ball (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 280 | |
 | Nolan Starnes (Nonpartisan) | 0.1 | 129 | |
 | Jon Sewell (Nonpartisan) | 0.0 | 24 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 83 | ||
| Total votes: 101,802 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jimmy Lawrence completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lawrence's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1)Where is all the money from our Music City Convention Center going? The “Convention Center Authority” owes us FULL DISCLOSURE (It’s too late for the current politician’s “slogo” of “transparency and accountability”) FULL DISCLOSURE NOW!! All excess Downtown Nashville Zone taxes need to be released and paid into the General Fund. Too much hoarding by the appointed board. Anyone here Before the Music City Convention Center was built in 2013 co-signed for that building & property. We are the rightful owners! It is public property and should be run as such. Fiscal reports!!! Quarterly and Yearly! 2)As a booming city we need to take care of our people. All metro employees deserve a raise! When we fix our budget shortfall, which is ridiculous to have considering our Convention Center is flush with cash, All City employees get a RAISE! 3)TRAFFIC!! We need to get the citizenry to work, school, home and church!! Stop impeding traffic!! We’re smarter than the potholes right!! Fix the problem!!! The fact that a motorcyclist named Wendy Sims died after hitting a pothole on 440 last year is a sad reality to us all. We can and will do better! Protect all citizens and visitors and work 24/7 to fix the issues with our roads. Immediately.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Work, Home, Church, School: Priority one is Getting the Money to the people, that's easy. I'll put a plan to restructure the "cashed up" Convention Center Authority in my FIRST 30 days in office. Remember we are a wealthy city, we should have not money problems. THEN Go to work on the schools: The Mayor is the CEO of the City. He should act like it, I will. I will attend every school board meeting as an invested party. Not to interfere but to Champion the causes of the School board and let them know that City Hall cares about the relationship between it and the board. AS mayor I would be the number one champion for MNPS to improve and get it right for our children. As the parent of a MNPS graduate I saw the good and the bad up close and personal. All of my children attended public schools and my Mother (of 9 children) was a public school teacher. I am a believer in public schools. My main responsibility as mayor to the MNPS would be to get ALL the funds in the budget that MNPS says it needs to function and perform at its peak for our children. The School board is an elected body that needs oversight. As all elected officials do. We can do that with respect, but we must get them the money they need and stop trying to short-change the teachers and students of Davidson County by under-funding them.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Love one another as I have so loved you. If we operate under those simple guidelines everything else falls into place.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
All The King's Men. Want to find the corruption? Follow the Money!
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty and Truthfulness. Many politicians claim to be Honest and are, but they are not 100% truthful. I will be both. Even if the truth hurts.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I’m an American businessman, real estate investor, philanthropist and ex-Atlantic Recording Artist and I understand the creative genius that IS Nashville, Tennessee. I fell in love with this great city in 1990 when I was sent here by music icon Ahmet Ertegun. He said, “Jimmy, I need to send you to Music City to learn how to write a song.” That was the start of a 29-year love affair with our amazing town! Nashville taught me so much more than songwriting though. I learned how to collaborate on ideas and work with differing opinions. This translated well into honing my business negotiating skills and I have now done business with many of the country’s largest corporations. I transitioned from Leader of a Band to CEO of my own companies and owner of commercial and residential properties. I’ve traveled extensively and I am proud to say that Nashville became my home. My proudest achievement in life, however, was becoming the Father of 3 wonderfully hard working productive children. My youngest is a student at UT Knoxville and my middle Son attended 2 Nashville public schools. I love public education and I am the son of a teacher, and to me, public school teachers are gifts from God. I Love Nashville! What heart and what soul our city has! But I’m afraid that our elected officials and some of their appointees have lost touch. They’ve let greed, sex and selfishness take precedent over running our city with smart business sense. They’ve let a privileged few hijack millions of taxpayer dollars and they have used the Music City Center and Downtown Nashville Zone as their own slush fund for pet projects. We are a rich city, but you would never know it with our beat up roads, lagging schools and poorly paid city employees across all services. We have the money to hire more and give them all raises yet we have a budget shortfall. How is that possible? That must change and under my leadership it will.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
I hear the words accountability and transparency, tossed about as politician’s slogans. Folks already being paid to give us just that. What a convenient message NOW. Well? Where is it? Where is the accountability and the transparency? In my opinion, the current politicians can only promise accountability and they are rarely transparent. Especially when they are in an unhealthy relationship with the Convention Center Authority. Accountability and transparency should be expected, not promised. It’s like when someone leans in and says, “Can I tell ya the truth?” When you get asked that question it generally means the person asking it, CAN’T. You never have to ask my permission to tell me the truth. If someone is finally promising to be honest...lookout! The time has come to take back Nashville. Everyone here before 2013 and the beginning of the boom has built this city. Everyone who survived and rebuilt Nashville after the flood in 2010 reinvested and pushed this unprecedented growth. Unfortunately, many of the business owners and professionals, city-wide, who have invested in Nashville are getting taken advantage of. They may not even know it. If you let me be your mayor, we will dismantle the bureaucracy that is managing hundreds of millions of our dollars and keeping it from us. 10 years of hard work is paying off big time! But where’s the trickle down? Where’s the payoff? Don’t tell me we worked this hard for lagging schools, underpaid teachers, higher crime and less services. Where’s our payoff? Why is there money sitting idly in the Convention Center Authority coffers and why are “they” the ”appointed ones” who get to decide where to spend it? It’s OURS! I’m here to ask you to elect me to take it back!!
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would leave the City better off at the end of 8 years then when I took over. That's my promise to the voters. I would do this by letting all residents and citizens of this boom town share in the successes. Not just a select group. WE BUILT THIS CITY! Let's take it back!
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I had just turned 5 and remember sitting in front of the Magnavox TV huddled around by my family of 10 watching the news report of the shooting of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. We sat and watched as reports came in and then he died in the Hospital. I didn't know much about life and death at age 5 but I remember the profound sadness that came over me as the news reports discussed his legacy for the coming days. I visited the Lorraine Motel in Memphis several years back and felt that sadness again. That sadness is the same feeling I have when I hear of injustice or extreme prejudices acted out today. We need to fix the inequities of our broken system and I am ready to do my part in the city I love, Nashville, Tennessee
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
First Job was Paper Boy in summer before my 6th grade. I won many trips for adding subscriptions and I was an excellent, punctual, friendly young man. I went on to realize from those experiences that I loved being self employed and have been so and self motivated my entire adult life. I'm an entrepreneur. No one has to tell me where to be, I wake up everyday and take care of business from my sheer desire to succeed. I want to bring those desires and skills to public office. I need one vote at a time to do it. Please vote!
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Gospel of Luke. It has every answer I need from the Greatest Teacher the world has ever known.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
MY Family. They are irreplaceable.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Blue Suede Shoes, Elvis, Carl Perkins
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I've been a blessed man, I've had no real struggles except for what I perceived as problems. When I realized that problems were just a moment that too shall pass, I concluded that my purpose here was to help others lead a better life. That's my intention until I draw my last breath: To improve the lives of others, whenever and wherever I can.
A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?
I will lead by example, and with dignity, the fight to take back our city from the special interest groups and developers who are making a killing off our property. The time has come to take back Nashville. Everyone here before 2013 and the beginning of the boom has built this city. Everyone who survived and rebuilt Nashville after the flood in 2010 reinvested and pushed this unprecedented growth. Unfortunately, many of the business owners and professionals, city-wide, who have invested in Nashville are getting taken advantage of. They may not even know it. I will dismantle the bureaucracy that is managing hundreds of millions of our dollars and keeping it from us. 10 years of hard work is paying off big time! I will let our citizens share in the success. Don’t tell me we worked this hard for lagging schools, underpaid teachers, higher crime and less services. Where’s our payoff? Why is there money sitting idly in the Convention Center Authority coffers and why are “they” the ”appointed ones” who get to decide where to spend it? It’s OURS! I’m here to ask you to elect me to take it back!! I owe no special interest, no corporate donors. My allegiance is to the citizens of Nashville and I plan to KEEP it that way.
Mayors have many responsibilities, which vary from city to city. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your city?
Right now we need to manage the boom and make sure, should we suffer a downturn in the economy, that we come in for a soft landing. This will take an entrepreneurial skill that my opponents do not have. They are all riding the wave of this growth spurt and spending every dollar and then some to be big shots. I Love this Town and I am here to manage it properly, I can do it. I have the skills.
If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?
I believe that the city council and the Mayor's office need to work together. MY priority one, pass a vote that requires that we renegotiate the charter and laws surrounding the FAT CAT bureaucracy known as the Convention Center Authority. That cash in those coffers belongs to the citizens who co-signed for the bonds to make it happen. It needs to be re-structured immediately. In my administration it will.
What do you love most about your city?
C'mon now! It's MUSIC CITY!! It has flourished with music as it's heart and soul for many reasons. Music is good for the soul. This city is a song for the heart!
What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?
Over development. I am a self made entrepreneur, I love growth. Unfortunately the growth we are experiencing has turned out to be unsustainable and unfair to many. A few have ruined it for many. I am here to fix that.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?
The State is the big brother to the City. We need to lean on them when we need them and they need to let us grow with help and guidance, as needed, as we progress.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?
We should rely on the Federal Government by utilizing grants and funds that are available to us. We should have an ambassador from our city visit DC to lobby for our needs. We all pay federal taxes so we need to make sure we get our fair share. It should be a non-partisan outreach.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I’m Jimmy Lawrence, an American businessman, real estate investor, philanthropist and ex-Atlantic Recording Artist and I understand the creative genius that IS Nashville, Tennessee. I fell in love with this great city in 1990 when I was sent here by music icon Ahmet Ertegun. He said, 'Jimmy, I need to send you to Music City to learn how to write a song.' That was the start of a 29-year love affair with our amazing town! Nashville taught me so much more than songwriting though. I learned how to collaborate on ideas and work with differing opinions. This translated well into honing my business negotiating skills and I have now done business with many of the country’s largest corporations. I transitioned from Leader of a Band to CEO of my own companies and owner of commercial and residential properties. I’ve traveled extensively and I am proud to say that Nashville became my home. My proudest achievement in life, however, was becoming the Father of 3 wonderfully hard working productive children. My youngest is a student at UT Knoxville and my middle Son attended 2 Nashville public schools. I love public education and I am the son of a teacher, and to me, public school teachers are gifts from God. But I’m afraid that our elected officials and some of their appointees have lost touch. They’ve let greed, sex and selfishness take precedent over running our city with smart business sense. They’ve let a privileged few hijack millions of taxpayer dollars and they have used the Music City Center and Downtown Nashville Zone as their own slush fund for pet projects. We are a rich city, but you would never know it with our beat up roads, lagging schools and poorly paid city employees across all services. We have the money to hire more and give them all raises yet we have a budget shortfall. How is that possible? That must change and under my leadership it will. I hear the words accountability and transparency, tossed about as politician’s slogans. Folks already being paid to give us just that. What a convenient message NOW. Well? Where is it? Where is the accountability and the transparency? In my opinion, the current politicians can only promise accountability and they are rarely transparent. Especially when they are in an unhealthy relationship with the Convention Center Authority. Accountability and transparency should be expected, not promised. It’s like when someone leans in and says, 'Can I tell ya the truth?' When you get asked that question it generally means the person asking it, CAN’T. Is there anything you would like to add? I owe no special interest, no corporate donors. My allegiance is to the citizens of Nashville and I plan to KEEP it that way.
WE Built This City!!
JIMMY LAWRENCE wants to be YOUR MAYOR and is focusing on 3 major issues that need immediate attention: https://jimmylawrence.com/[1] |
” |
| —Jimmy Lawrence[2] | ||
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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