NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Hundreds turned out Saturday to watch the inauguration of Metro Nashville's next mayor, John Cooper.
They watched as Metro Council members and Vice Mayor Jim Schulman were sworn in, and Cooper was next in line for the oath -- 64 words each Nashville Mayor must recite to begin their term.
But Cooper recited an old version of that oath, not taking into account the changes Nashville voters approved in a county-wide vote last year.
While for years, the Metro Charter instructs that the city's highest elected officials must take an oath to support both the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution, last November, Nashville voters approved a charter amendment to add support for Metro's Charter to the oath.
While the Metro Council members and Vice Mayor were sworn correctly, Mayor Cooper was read an old oath -- without any language about the Metro Charter.
But Cooper's office says there's nothing to worry about; in the minutes after Saturday's inauguration, Mayor Cooper was made aware of the oath issue, so they re-did it privately with the proper wording.
