NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville Mayoral candidate Megan Barry received the endorsement of former Nashville Mayor and former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen.
The two politicians came to Bridgestone Arena to make the announcement Thursday afternoon, one week after Barry took the most votes in the August 6 election.
This was the first time Bredesen has endorsed anyone for mayor. During the last two open mayoral elections Bredesen was leaving the mayor's office, and then he was a sitting Governor.
"The fact that he was willing to say this race is so important that he's willing to step up, and step out, was wonderful and I am just thrilled to have his endorsement," Barry said.
The Governor said he's now a private citizen, and he wanted to come out and officially make it known he feels Barry is the right person to keep Nashville moving forward.
Bredesen told the crowd she will be able to get the cooperation of different groups to make a difference while in office.
"I've watched Megan Barry in the council and openness and coalition building is what she does, and she does it very well, and it's what we need to keep doing here in Nashville," Bredesen said.
The Governor also said he is concerned about the partisan tone the race has taken since the August 6 election.
"It's a getting more ideological then I think it needs to be. The things that divide us along ideological line national level, I mean they are real, but they don't have a lot to do at developing Nashville as a city," according to Bredesen.
Barry's opponent David Fox released a statement in response to Bredesen's endorsement of Barry:
“Who doesn't love Phil Bredesen. That’s a great endorsement. I know Phil Bredesen and Megan Barry have been friends a long time, so I get that. I think we all aspire to be the kind of Mayor he was."
The mayoral candidate went on to clarify who he's running against in the runoff election.
“The good news is that I’m not running against Phil Bredesen. I’m running against Megan Barry," Fox said.
The runoff election in Nashville has been scheduled for September 10.
On Friday, the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association announced their endorsement of Barry saying she would be a "strong advocate for students, educators and public schools."
