Nashville political trailblazer Betty Nixon has died.
Nixon, who grew up in Nashville, was a longtime district Metro council member from 1975 to 1987.
In 1987 she became the first woman to run for mayor, finishing third behind Congressman Bill Boner and Nashville businessman Phil Bredesen
She then ran again in 199, but lost to Bredesen.
Mayor Megan Barry expressed her sympathies in a statement on social media.
On the passing of Nashville trailblazer and dear friend Betty Nixon pic.twitter.com/Loc1rWr7P9
— Megan Barry (@MayorMeganBarry) August 29, 2016
Nixon was an avid supporter of Barry during the 2015 mayoral campaign.
No additional details were immediately known.
