NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The four major candidates for Nashville Mayor discussed topics ranging from youth crime to Nashville's infrastructure during their first televised debate. Here's a look some of the questions and how each candidate answered.
1. A recent Vanderbilt poll found 45-percent of people think Nashville is moving in the wrong direction – that’s 23-percent higher than just 4 years ago. Do you think Nashville is moving in the right direction and what’s one thing the next mayor must focus on to keep the city moving forward?
2. Home prices in Nashville’s have skyrocketed in recent years – yet the city’s property tax rate is at an historic low. Last week – the Council tried to pass a property tax hike – but fell one vote short. Would you support an increase in property taxes to fund schools and give Metro workers a raise?
3. Over the last 20 years or so – the city has focused on downtown development – many say at the expense of our neighborhoods. Do you think the economic incentives the city has used to lure businesses to town have gone too far?
4. What do you think is the single biggest infrastructure challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
5. Let’s turn now to Metro Schools. We have some great teachers – but the district has struggled in recent years – fewer students, more failing schools, a dysfunctional school board and increasingly low employee morale. We are losing hundreds of teachers a year and failing too many of our kids. What’s your plan to turn that around?
Watch the full debate below: (Part 1 and 2)
