For the Florida Legislature to function fairly, efficiently, and transparently, there are rules and procedures in place for lawmakers to follow when conducting the people's business. I voted against a property tax hike last year and this year. It will identify and prevent fraud and waste across the system. It was later revealed that Mayor Briley had given merit pay raises to his personal staff. margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; Metro gave Opryland Hotel an estimated $14 million incentive package to build a private waterpark in 2017. In 2017, Metro sold the historic Ben West Library building and only got $2 million. width: 100% Of the 1,435 MNPD sworn officers, only 157 are black and 137 are women. We need transportation improvements that allow residents to get around the county better and experience all that Nashville has to offer. But, the judge hasn't expressed his political opinion in public. overflow-x: scroll; Its time to put our focus back on our neighborhoods. .inner_percentage.Republican { That requires targeted investments in neighborhoods that havent seen meaningful investment in generations. It saw an immediate increase in bus ridership and decreases in trip times. We have divested ourselves of these public jewels and we will wish that we had it back.. In effect, we are giving away a piece of land for $1.5 million net. Metro needs to begin doing business with the taxpayer in mind. The PILOT ordinance could be expanded beyond Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects to include all affordable housing projects funded by the Barnes Fund, THDA grants. margin-bottom: .75em; top: 2px; As mayor, I will commit to further developing the human capital of Nashvilles residents and will prioritize education and workforce training as mayor. background-color: #f9d334; In fact, in a 2016 interview with Howard Stern, Anderson went so far as to say that he believes reporters shouldn't vote. See more in my Fiscal Accountability policy statement. As mayor, I am committed to developing a people-first transportation plan that is focused on helping you get to where you work and where you live in a timely, safe, and cost-effective manner. I will conduct performance audits of metro departments and agencies to increase transparency of how our tax dollars are being spent and identify areas for improvement. This can be effective when used fairly and in a targeted fashion, but the use of traffic stops to try to disrupt crime grew too much over time. Neighborhoods are a cornerstone of each of my policy discussion pieces. My task as mayor will be to manage that growth and address the costs of growth, one of which is affordability. I pledge to attend police-resident meetings in every precinct each year as Mayor. .widget-row.value-only { In 2019, Cooper vetoed the legislature's two-year budget, citing the lack of Medicaid expansion and adequate raises for public school teachers, leading to a months-long political stalemate. Since it was after the. His first job came on Wall. Mayors have many responsibilities, which vary from city to city. The number of murders doubled. The Metro Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) is the city agency responsible for public housing. Governing a red state, Cooper has maintained public support despite radical swings in the political climate, often disadvantageous to his party. Yet Metro hasnt kept pace with the need for sidewalks. Under the current system, its hard for people who need help to get it. Before we can talk about neighborhoods, we must deal with housing. Primary Organization. Events in Nashville, Tennessee, began on Saturday, May 30, 2020, downtown and at Capitol Hill. The mission of the Second Judicial Circuit is to protect rights and liberties, uphold & interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the six counties of the circuit. Mayor Brileys current budget proposal amazingly does not include any new funds for the Barnes Fund, certainly not $5 million a year. John C. Cooper is a judge of the Second Circuit Court of Florida. Having access to secure housing allows families and neighborhoods to thrive. | People's interest in John's political belief started after he overruled the Florida governor's mask mandate ban in public schools on 27 August. background-color: #ccc; .contact_office { font-size: 0.8 em; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} His current six-year term expires in January 2027. As your mayor, I will set clear goals, provide the resources necessary to realize those goals, and hold people accountable for results. I wont hide what I am doing. The number one thing I have heard on the campaign is the desire for the tourism space to cover its own costs and not impose them on the resident taxpayer. A diverse police department is an effective police department. These stops can put both residents and officers in tense situations and there is evidence that they are prone to racial imbalances. As a council member, I am proud of my record of supporting access to green space and preserving Nashvilles unique assets when City Hall tried to sell or give them away. Nashville Mayor John Cooper sent letters to both the Republican and Democratic parties expressing interest in the city playing host to the 2028 national political conventions. Measure results. padding-top: 3px; Given the environmental, health, and economic benefits of parks, we should view parks as part of the solution to issues facing our city. .results_row td:first-child { The Westin Hotel received $14 million of tax increment financing in 2014. My family and I love to spend time at Bells Bend and the Warner Parks, however, not all neighborhoods and families have easy access to our great parks and greenways. With my deep background in development, I know that an experienced team can leverage tax credits for preservation. Significantly less than half of Nashvilles streets have sidewalks. color: white; My transportation plan will include funding for sidewalks because we cant have an effective transportation system without them. Accountability begins with transparency. And for the difficulties of the job, police need need full access to mental health resources. Voters rejected last years transit plan supported by this mayor because it cost too much and delivered too little. In the fall of 2018, the developer received a $25 million tax increment financing loan via a tax-exempt bond from the Metro Development and Housing Authority. Growth has costs and people are feeling left behind. } color: #0645ad; Thats not all our taxpayers paid for. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { Financial management and finding other revenues from tourism and development is the mechanism through which we will find additional funding for education. Today, it is a UNESCO Site of Memory. Yet instead of protecting other parks and public spaces, Mayor Briley has continued to attempt to sell them off.
As mayor, I am committed to finding mechanisms to not simply provide one-time raises for teachers but also finding a longer-term, sustainable vision for teacher salaries that provide the opportunity for more growth over time. Measuring by the number of cranes youll spot downtown on any given day, we are doing well by that measure. background-color: #003388; .inner_percentage.Green { The 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report showed that the fund balance was, in fact, at 5.5% at the end of June 2018, well above the 5 percent threshold. I encourage you to read my full policy statements for any topics that interest you so you can get a sense of my priorities and how I think. } But instead of developing a plan to address them, the current administration is avoiding them. John C Cooper is Judge at Florida Circuit Court. Ive consistently favored the good management approach over a sizable property tax increase. John Cooper is the Mayor of Nashville in Tennessee. Instead of coming back with a more responsible plan, Mayor Briley has said that if he is reelected, he will not bring another plan before voters in the next four years. .widget-key { Local foundations and the private sector have made no such commitments. John C Cooper JC Cir. It means ensuring that locals benefit from jobs being brought here, not just new arrivals. padding:7px 8px 8px; Nashvilles future depends on the quality of education we provide to our students today. I am running for mayor to provide sound financial management, recapture tourism revenues, end a culture of giveaways, and get our citys finances back on track. } Doubters will say that it isnt possible to come up with a transportation plan in a year. } .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } The State of Tennessee only has $1.9 billion in total general obligation bonds outstanding. Its located across from what will be the amazing new federal courthouse and what will be a glamorous part of town. This represents a 93 percent increase in resignations compared to the same period in 2018. Cooper has stated that he is a Democrat.[1]. The term party has since come to be applied to all organized groups seeking political power, whether . State executives | What Ive learned concerns me. margin-top: 0px; Teachers actually saw their take-home pay decline due to rising insurance premiums. Lets stop placing bus stops in ditches and instead create covered, well-lit stops where people can wait safely and comfortably. The men and women who are already serving us deserve a pay raise too. Parks are public spaces where all are welcome. Roosevelt running for a fourth term in 1944 galvanized the actor into fervently campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Thomas Dewey. [15], I voted for the COB because I support accountability at all levels of government. Certified Foreign Legal Consultants Law Faculty Affiliates Legal Groups John C Cooper Member of the Judiciary Bar Number: 191440 Mail Address: Leon County Courthouse 301 S Monroe St Rm 356-L Tallahassee, FL 32301-1861 Office: 850-606-4313 Email: cooperjo@leoncountyfl.gov Personal Bar URL: https://www.floridabar.org/mybarprofile/191440 vCard: text-align: center; I will provide robust support for the Blue Ribbon Commission to identify savings and revenue opportunities. What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade? Cooper was an at-large member of the Nashville Metro Council from 2015 to 2019. Cooper holds a bachelor's degree in history from Harvard University and an MBA from the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University. The propertys true value was many times that. Nashville is going to grow more over the next five years than it has in the previous five years. color: #888; In effect, Metro is paying to help build a development and secure the tenant of a lifetime for the developer. For many years, Nashville has used hot spot policing. But rejecting a bad plan is no reason not to present a good one. I want to get back to investing in human capital and increasing livability. color: #fff; 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? width: 350px; How many of these intersections have been upgraded since then? } $150 million in Mayor Brileys plan is an investment in the Barnes Fund, the citys affordable housing fund. I would like to be remembered as the Mayor who got our city back on track. Events and activity following the death of George Floyd, Mayoral election in Nashville, Tennessee (2019). width: 90%; Everything About Political Leaders, Political Parties and World Political News. The first question I will ask as mayor on any issue will be how does this affect residents?. Metro needs to make affordable housing central to every incentive that it gives. We have to expect a payback from it because we are depriving schools and children of the same money that could have gone to these other groups.. We need to bring real expertise to housing policy and get it out from under the political purview of the Mayors Office. padding-bottom: 7px; .race_header.republican { Changing to a grid system and increasing the frequency of buses on key routes enabled Brampton, Ontarios bus system to double ridership within 12 years. color: white; Then, to the surprise of the city council, City Hall awarded 10 additional acres to the developer. Keeping people safe is the most fundamental job of government. Here is what I said at the time: Once again, we are using taxpayer money to subsidize the wealthiest, and once again we dont need to. My job as your mayor will be to ensure that everyone benefits from our citys growth. I want to hear your thoughts and ideas. He was previously married to Lynne Miller. Nashville taxes then paid to build a $34 million parking garage on the site for the developer. One of the primary reasons I am running for mayor is to change that. That same year, Omni received a $2.28 million tax break plus a $12 million cash payment. The city needs private and nonprofit sector resources and expertise. Building new housing is expensive. margin-top: 1em; Metro Parks can work with Metro Water Services to expand green infrastructure such as retention ponds and bioswales to help Nashville manage our flooding challenges. .widget-row { padding-left: 16px; They are not currently valued as they should be, and teacher recruitment and retention has suffered as a result. .race_header { Nashville is going to grow more in the next five years than in the past five years, so we have to get this next phase right. Funding has been secured for improving many of them, but the work is happening too slowly. Nashville cant wait five years for solutions to our traffic and transportation problems. As your mayor, my door will be open. font-weight: 100; One was the lack of details. Elected officials need to understand public perception of safety and policing. But how are Nashvilles residents doing? We must prioritize the recruitment of officers who reflect the diversity of the community they serve. Our sewer and stormwater systems, roads, sidewalks and intersections are key components of economic and community development. We need to find new ways to finance programs so residents can have greater access to these resources. Cooper saw this as personified in FDR. We dont need to cut down cherry trees to stage eventscities across North America have demonstrated that parks and cultural events can coexist. I want our parks to play central and valued roles in helping Nashville continue to be and become more of the city we want it to be. Overview; Contributions; Expenditures; .} width: 50%; Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it. width: 100%; width: 100%; Per state law, TIF loan proceeds may not pay for unit construction but can fund land acquisition and site preparation. As mayor, I will prioritize investments in human capital through education and I plan to direct over half of new revenue into our school system. Research shows that teachers are the most important factor that affects student learning inside of schools, but non-school factors have a greater impact on student achievement outcomes. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you. I have always prioritized green space in my real estate development work because I know how critical it is for community health and future generations. Prime Ministers; President; Member of Parliament; Chief of Province; Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) . Non-partisan and nonprofit since 1988. .widget-row.Democratic { Click here to read the survey answers. As mayor, I will expect that our schools get great results for all kids and will celebrate the achievements of those that do. At the same time Mayor Briley was patching a budget hole with ill-advised one-time property sales, his administration steered ten acres at the Fairgrounds into private hands. As a council member, I am proud to stand by my record of supporting access to green space and preserving Nashvilles unique assets. This is clearly an extremely valuable piece of property, and we need to get the fair value of it for taxpayers. In order to be a successful city, we must be a well-educated city. Instead of improving bus service, the mayors budget cuts services. Metro has overused tax increment financing (TIF) to incentivize luxury condos and hotels downtown. Here are my guiding principles: Four years ago, Houston switched from a spoke-and-hub system similar to what Nashville has now to a grid model. Getting a dividend from our growth means including affordable housing as part of every development Metro incentivizes. Tackle traffic, not just transit. "[12] On April 20, 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in relation to Floyd's death. Children do better in school; mental and physical well-being improves; seniors remain more socially connected and live longer; residents mental and physical wellness improves, particularly when people live close to where they work. It should not have taken sustained community activism to get leadership to pay attention. font-weight: bold; .votebox_legend { the director of "The Hangover" films was on hand to explain how ridiculous it was that people would ever confuse Cooper's political . word-wrap: break-word; Legal 500. background-color: #6db24f; .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { Jon Cooper is the Chairman at Democratic Coalition Against Trump. Carrell plays Garry Zimmer, a Democratic Party strategist who delves into a political race in small-town Wisconsin. Thats not all our taxpayers paid for. He was elected to this position in 2002 and took office the following year, replacing retired Judge F. E. Steinmeyer III. There are other options. Regions Greater New York Area, East Coast, Northeastern US. Cooper assumed office on September 28, 2019. Moving forward, this program should have sustained support and all corporations that receive any sort of incentive funding from the city should be required to have strong TDM plans in place. Gender Male. A neighborhood like the Nations is already well into its boom, but the stormwater and sidewalk infrastructure has lagged behind. color: white; .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Then, in his first State of Metro speech, Mayor Briley urged belt-tightening to explain taking away employee cost of living raises. overflow: hidden; Abstract. Upgrade our bus system. With your help and support, we can create a city that works for everyone and that moves everyone. .race_header.libertarian { It is important to note that the Mayors Office had long had access to traffic stop data that revealed racial imbalances. height: 56px; div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; }, See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 21, 2015. Rising rents and gentrification have pushed many residents out of their homes. Ill direct Parks to develop new ways to receive feedback, including working with neighborhood advisory groups to solicit input. .inner_percentage.Democratic { Without programs that make it possible for small businesses to continue, we risk losing the foundation of what makes our city and neighborhoods unique. Steve Riley on February 14, 2013: Just right off the bat. I quickly joined a broad coalition that formed to stop this giveaway. But under the Briley administration, instead of looking to turn surplus public land into green space, the mayor has attempted to sell off property to private developers to cover revenue shortfalls. So in 2018, the General Fund saw $15.86 million in hotel tax. THE TEA PARTY and . Nashville deserves better deals. Id like to hear your thoughts and ideas. One example I like to highlight is the solar farm project at Whites Creek High School. Education is key to sustainable growth that benefits the whole community. Parks play an important stewardship role by protecting and honoring the best aspects of a citys history and character. .infobox p { We need implicit bias and de-escalation training that goes above-and-beyond the standards required by the State of Tennessee. That will require working through many layers of complexity to maximize our existing and future resources that can be devoted to creating and maintaining affordable housing units. Counties | These are my ideas. The movie stars Steve Carrell. Trust between police and the people they protect and serve is key to the stability of our communities, the integrity of our justice system, and the effectiveness of our police department. Only a mayor can turn the page and usher in an era of good management, but the effort has already begun via Metro council action. The city has other revenue sources than just the property tax. border: 1px solid #999; We can do better, and as mayor, I will do better. background-color: grey; The Mayors Office has an option agreement to purchase the building at 10 percent above appraised value; meanwhile Metro has sold our own properties for less than the appraised value. } He attempted to sell eleven wooded acres at Trinity Ridge. And literally that is where it will be., As the Nashville Scene reported in 2016, Metro awarded a $3.5 million package aimed at sweetening LifeWays plans to move their headquarters from one part of downtown to a different part of downtown. I was the only vote in opposition. I recognize that not every resident or visitor to Nashville will use the bus as their primary mode of transportation moving forward. I know how to manage large, complex projects. Keeping people safe is the first job of government. He is a white, non hispanic male registered to vote in Leon County, Florida. The previous administration proposed handing over 21 acres of Fort Negley Park to private developers in exchange for $1 million over 10 years, plus infrastructure improvements. Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management, .infobox { [2], .votebox { Private developers, not the public, were the winners. Most teachers ended up with lower take-home pay last year because of rising health insurance premiums. Strengthen community policing. } padding-left: 10px; That means ensuring that new developments do not merely add to the costs of growth. After four years on the city council, Ive seen what Metro is doing to address the housing problem. In consultation with our police department, I will also direct our department to identify proven, evidence-based programs to target our most serious challenges, such as gun violence. Policing is a difficult and noble profession. Recruiting highly skilled talent from elsewhere is good, but we need to prioritize developing the talent already here. Nashville taxes then paid to build a $34 million parking garage on the site for the developer. background-color: #dac113; And I also opposed Mayor Brileys proposal to auction off Edgehill Community Memorial Park, which includes the land where the folk art sculptor William Edmonson lived. Sound fiscal management will allow us to get beyond this moment of financial stress. Mayor Briley opposed the Community Oversight Board. padding-bottom: 8px; font-size: 20px; I will work with Metro Council to develop an enforceable ethics code that would apply to all Metro departments and employees. I am honored to be endorsed by the political committee affiliated with the Coalition of Nashville Neighborhoods: the Nashville Neighborhood Defense Fund. font-weight: bold; Nashville, Tennessee municipal elections, 2015, Events following the death of George Floyd and responses in select cities from May 29-31, 2020, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=John_Cooper_(Tennessee)&oldid=8710765, Former municipal officeholder inside coverage scope, Current municipal officeholder inside coverage scope, Mayor of one of the 100 largest United States cities by population, Former city council members inside coverage scope, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. John C. Cooper is a Circuit Judge for the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida in Leon County. Our public safety agencies must work better together and with nonprofit and faith-based groups. Hon. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { Last year, we had nearly twice the number of 13-year-olds charged with violent crimes than in the year before. letter-spacing: 0.03em; .non_result_row div { display: inline-block; .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Improving safety means sidewalks, protected bikeways and intersection improvements. The two remained friends in spite of being from different political parties and were often spotted together in the Washington D.C. social scene. } Cooper assumed office on September 28, 2019. Cooper's current term ends in 2023. Cooper ran for election for Mayor of Nashville in Tennessee. Ive consistently favored the good management approach over a sizable property tax increase. As mayor, I will set clear goals for expanding access, identify new ways to support expansion and programming, and put parks at the center of the citys health and wellness efforts. I see it as part of my role as mayor to convene and connect community resources to the schools so that students receive the support needed to succeed in an intentional and systematic way. font-weight: bold; We will conduct and publish performance audits to confirm that that money we allocate is being used where it should be used.