Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Freddie O'Connell
2023 - Present
2027
1
Freddie O'Connell is the Mayor of Nashville in Tennessee. He assumed office on September 30, 2023. His current term ends in 2027.
O'Connell was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University in music and computer science.[1] O'Connell worked in technology, holding various positions at different tech companies. He also worked as a co-host of a public affairs radio program. He served as the president of the Salemtown Neighbors Neighborhood Association, on the board of the Nashville MTA, and on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.[2][3][4]
O’Connell first ran for public office in 2002 as an independent, losing to incumbent and future state House speaker Beth Harwell (R).[5] In 2015, he ran for the Nashville Metro Council in District 19. O’Connell won in the open district with 54.3%. While on the council, O’Connell voted to pass a 34-cent property tax rate increase, voted to waive permitting fees and expenses related to recovery from the Second Street bombing, and voted to eliminate $44 daily fees for people in jail awaiting a court hearing.[6]
O'Connell ran for mayor of Nashville in 2023. During his mayoral campaign, O’Connell said he was inspired to run for mayor following a 2020 Nashville tornado outbreak, the Second Avenue bombing, the COVID-19 pandemic, protests, increased homelessness, and a hold on curbside recycling.[7][6] In his response to Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection, O'Connell wrote "I'm running for mayor to make it easier for people to stay in Nashville by tackling cost of living and quality of life...We should be doing the things cities are supposed to do, including building a transit system...I'm sick of planning fatigue and want to have actual fatigue from implementing the great community-based plans we have."[2] O'Connell received the most votes of 12 candidates in the general election and then defeated Alice Rolli with 64% of the vote in the September 14 runoff election.
In May 2024, O'Connell supported a budget that intended to increase housing, pay for new school textbooks and give pay raises for city employees.[8] The council voted to pass it in June 2024.[9] O'Connell supported a plan called "Choose How You Move," which pushed for a sales tax increase of 0.5% with federal grants to improve infrastructure such as sidewalks and traffic lights.[10] Nashville voters approved the plan by ballot initiative in the November 5, 2024 elections. In November 2024, O’Connell submitted a $527 million spending plan that proposed increased spending in public schools, transportation, and parks. [11] O'Connell also established a citywide Office of Youth Safety to reduce violence among young people.[12]
O'Connell said of his mayoral term: "my sense has been that we want to deliver high-quality city services. We want to make sure people have trust and confidence in local government. And that specifically lets us make the kinds of progress people need...to do the things that government is supposed to do."[13]
Biography
Freddie O'Connell was born in Nashville, Tennessee. O'Connell graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brown University in music/computer science in 2000. O'Connell's career experience includes working as an integration architect with HealthStream, a product manager with BOS Framework, a software developer with Rustici Software, and a co-host of a public affairs radio program. He has served as the president of the Salemtown Neighbors Neighborhood Association, on the board of the Nashville MTA, and on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. O'Connell has also been affiliated with the Nashville Downtown Partnership and the South Central Neighborhood Development Corporation.[2][3][4][14]
Elections
2023
See also: Mayoral election in Nashville, Tennessee (2023)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mayor of Nashville
Freddie O'Connell defeated Alice Rolli in the general runoff election for Mayor of Nashville on September 14, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Freddie O'Connell (Nonpartisan)  | 63.8 | 72,989 |
 | Alice Rolli (Nonpartisan) | 36.0 | 41,205 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 123 | ||
| Total votes: 114,317 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
General election
General election for Mayor of Nashville
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Nashville on August 3, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Freddie O'Connell (Nonpartisan) | 27.1 | 27,503 |
| ✔ | | Alice Rolli (Nonpartisan) | 20.2 | 20,472 |
 | Matthew Wiltshire (Nonpartisan) | 17.0 | 17,193 | |
 | Jeff Yarbro (Nonpartisan) | 12.2 | 12,356 | |
 | Heidi Campbell (Nonpartisan) | 8.2 | 8,337 | |
 | Sharon Hurt (Nonpartisan) | 6.0 | 6,104 | |
 | Vivian Wilhoite (Nonpartisan) | 4.7 | 4,758 | |
 | Jim Gingrich (Nonpartisan) (Unofficially withdrew) | 1.6 | 1,668 | |
 | Natisha Brooks (Nonpartisan) | 1.4 | 1,458 | |
| Stephanie Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 0.6 | 581 | ||
| Fran Bush (Nonpartisan) | 0.5 | 503 | ||
 | Bernie Cox (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 322 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 80 | ||
| Total votes: 101,335 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- William Domann (Nonpartisan)
- Michael Rowan (Nonpartisan)
- Wisdom Zerit Teklay (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
O'Connell received the following endorsements. To view a full list of O'Connell's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.
- State Sen. Heidi Campbell (D)
- State Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D)
- City Councilmember Erin Evans (Nonpartisan)
- City Councilmember Bob Mendes (Nonpartisan)
- City Councilmember Sean Parker (Nonpartisan)
- Matthew Wiltshire (Nonpartisan) -
2019
See also: City elections in Nashville, Tennessee (2019)
General election
General election for Nashville Metro Council District 19
Incumbent Freddie O'Connell won election in the general election for Nashville Metro Council District 19 on August 1, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Freddie O'Connell (Nonpartisan) | 96.6 | 1,709 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.4 | 61 | ||
| Total votes: 1,770 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joshua Parant (Nonpartisan)
2015
The city of Nashville, Tennessee, held nonpartisan elections for mayor and metro council on August 6, 2015. A runoff election took place on September 10, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 21, 2015. All 41 metro council seats—including the office of vice mayor—were up for election. In District 19, Freddie O'Connell defeated Keith Caldwell, Amanda Harrison and Bill Shick.[15] Incumbent Erica Gilmore was term-limited. She ran for election to an at-large seat.[16]
| Nashville City Council District 19 General Election, 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
 Freddie O'Connell |
54.3% | 900 | |
| Amanda Harrison | 19.4% | 322 | |
| Keith Caldwell | 14.3% | 237 | |
| Bill Shick | 11.5% | 190 | |
| Write-in | 0.5% | 8 | |
| Total Votes | 1,657 | ||
| Source: City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015 | |||
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Freddie O'Connell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by O'Connell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
My family and I have lived in the Salemtown neighborhood for 16 years, where I've been working on community partnerships almost the entire time. My partner is Whitney Boon, a Meharry-trained physician who practices pediatric neurology at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. We are the proud parents of two daughters who both attend public schools in Nashville.
On Council, I've worked on transit and active transportation funding and implementation, housing and homelessness policy, repairing the harms of mass incarceration, community safety and crime prevention, and climate leadership.- I'm running for mayor to make it easier for people to stay in Nashville by tackling cost of living and quality of life.
- We should be doing the things cities are supposed to do, including building a transit system.
- I'm sick of planning fatigue and want to have actual fatigue from implementing the great community-based plans we have.
We also need to have a resiliency-oriented approach for our next potential pandemic, including strategies for contact tracing, overall well-being, and policy recommendations for individuals and businesses.
Our crime rates have ticked back up since historic lows established just a few years before COVID.
A healthy downtown is one where people are eager to live, work, play, and invest.
I think I would look to Mayor Becker's model in SLC as a reference standard.
Going forward, we need to couple those with recent steps toward broader community safety programs, like mental health co-response, community safety partnership investments, and group violence intervention.
One of the best ways we can prevent displacement is by helping elderly Nashvilians and disabled veterans take advantage of property tax freeze and relief programs.
Meanwhile, Mayor Becker years ago established best practices for transparency in Salt Lake City.
I would also like to continue recovering from harms of previous policies that caused unjust mass incarceration, particularly in the 37208 zip code. A recent fines and fees study gave us a roadmap that we've made great progress on, but we have more work to do.
And we can accelerate community solar projects.
Given the recent failure of a legislative sidewalk policy in the court system, we will need to overhaul our approach to having our development community more meaningfully partner in delivery of sidewalks.
I expect that to be a collaborative effort involving the mayor's office, the police department, the oversight board, and key community stakeholders.
I also would've worked hard to ensure that CARES Act money was rushed into scenarios where people could access it directly to offset job losses and other economic hardships caused by COVID rather than making an effort to save it.
I think it was imperative to develop and early strategic plan for federal funding.
I've worked for years to reduce the impact of gun violence in challenging communities, especially where the impact hits young people hard. I'm excited to expand community safety initiatives underway, including mental health co-response and group violence intervention as we try to keep Nashville safe.
I have strong communication skills and deep interest in how public policy can improve lives.
It was an unsettling look at relationships, fear of the unknown but also the intense curiosity that surrounds it, and an extraordinary framing device that speaks to the easy lament of the challenges of American life and culture in the 21st century.
This means a nimble team supports our Metro department heads by adding specialized capacity and building morale.
The state government is also frequently in an adversarial posture to the city.
Because it was stuck to the chicken's foot.
Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1235
Metro Council Members Bob Mendes, Sean Parker, Erin Evans, Russ Bradford, Sandra Sepulveda, and Dave Rosenberg
Tennessee Student Union
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.
Campaign website
O'Connell's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Back-to-basics: Customer Service As part of his work on Metro Council, Freddie worked with the Mayor’s Office and Public Works to develop and implement hubNashville. It was intended to be Metro’s one-stop-shop for consumer service, and it is when it comes to taking in requests. But each department responds to residents in their own way, and those differences mean things fall through the cracks. As Mayor, Freddie will ensure that Metro acknowledges, responds to, and follows through on every issue, every time. Neighborhoods In Freddie’s administration, the Mayor’s Office will be dedicated to ensuring that Metro is taking a thorough, coordinated approach to the quality of life issues that have erupted from our growth. Freddie will listen to the concerns of all residents, no matter their zip code. Transportation He will ensure that the complex array of construction-based closures are better coordinated so we can get where we need to go, whether by bus, bike, car, or sidewalk. He will use his experience in tech to fix our traffic management systems so we can get where we need to go faster and stop sitting at red lights when no one is coming the other way. Freddie will also take on our transit system. Having served on the leadership board of the system, and because he and his family often ride the bus, he knows what’s needed. Without raising taxes, he can implement a three-year plan that creates more crosstown routes and reduces downtown transfers (and traffic). Housing Using the levers at our disposal, like the Barnes Housing Trust Fund, and publicly-owned properties, we can bring long-term affordable housing options to our city. Freddie has a track record of bringing in funding for these projects and a plan to reduce red tape for partners looking to provide lower-cost options. Education and Youth But even with the best teachers, young people need support outside of school. We need to continue driving down and addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on a citywide basis and pick back up where we left off with the Opportunity NOW initiative to provide jobs, paid internships, and a pathway to success for our youth. Homelessness |
” |
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Freddie O'Connell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by O'Connell's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Working toward better transit and mobility options. Improving Nashville's infrastructure and solving the problem of how to pay for it. Equity and inclusion in economic development.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Transit and mobility. Land use and housing. Education. Sustainability. Technology and innovation. Poverty reduction.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to Elizabeth Warren. She's extremely focused on policy and works hard to ensure that government is accountable.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Integrity, empathy, policy literacy, communication.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I have a strong work ethic, approach my work with integrity, try very hard to be empathetic (which requires being inclusive of diverse perspectives), and use an evidence-based approach to policymaking.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
An understanding of the Metro Charter and Metro Code of Laws, an authentic connection to the communities one represents, sufficient capacity to uphold the obligations of office, and a collegiality.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I hope that 37208 becomes better known for how people found pathways out of poverty than how it used to be the most incarcerated zip code in the country.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I remember the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville. I was in kindergarten. A classmate got to go. I didn't.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I worked at The Great Escape on Broadway. I worked full-time for a single summer and part-time for several years thereafter.
What happened on your most awkward date?
It was a dance. I wasn't a very good dancer then and still am not. It didn't go well.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving. It both brings people together with food and fellowship and offers an opportunity to pause and reflect with gratitude.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I read it at a very young age, but have long appreciated its wit, its reflections on the absurdity of so much of human behavior, and its willingness to think well beyond the human experience imaginatively.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Either Peter Pan or Tyler Durden.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
I like the front porch. It's why I was interested in the house in the first place. I love to sit out there, although I don't do it as often as I did before we had kids.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Lizzo's "The Truth Hurts."
Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?
Committees have a lot of power, and we further empowered them this term. Council's Rules of Procedure have a lot of impact on how we self-govern. Outcomes of various measures have been altered by clever application of these rules.
What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
I think specific skills and experience might be less necessary than other characteristics like integrity, empathy, thoughtfulness. Policy literacy is a useful skill, though.
What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?
Council is the last stop for land use policy. We also have the power to compel through legislation. And we have the power to give voters the opportunity to update our founding document, the Metro Charter.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?
Not necessarily, but I do think boards, commissions, and citizen advisory committees or opportunities like MyCity Academy or the Citizens Police Academy can be pretty important experiences that precede seeking a Council seat.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
O'Connell lives with his partner, Whitney, and daughter.[14]
See also
2023 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Mayor of Nashville |
Officeholder Mayor of Nashville |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Tennesseean, "Meet Freddie O'Connell, candidate for Nashville mayor," May 24, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 23, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 LinkedIn, "Freddie O'Connell," accessed October 3, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Freddie O'Connell Nashville Mayor, "About," accessed October 3, 2023
- ↑ The Tennessee Lookout, "A bloody clipboard and biodiesel car: The story behind Freddie O’Connell’s rise to Nashville mayor," September 18, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tennessee Outlook, "Nashville Councilman Freddie O’Connell talks navigating the tornado, pandemic, 2nd Ave. bombing and police brutality protests," accessed March 11, 2022
- ↑ AXIOS Nashville, "Mayoral candidate Freddie O'Connell makes his case," July 25, 2023
- ↑ Axios, "Mayor O'Connell unveils his first budget," May 3, 2024
- ↑ Nashville Banner, "Metro Council Unanimously Approves $3.2 Billion Budget," June 19, 2024
- ↑ WKRN, "Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell declares victory for ‘Choose How You Move’ transportation plan," November 5, 2024
- ↑ The Tennessee Tribute, "Mayor Freddie O’Connell submits $527 million Capital Spending Plan with continued investments in schools, parks, and transportation," November 24, 2024
- ↑ The Tennessean, "Nashville mayor launches the city's first Office of Youth Safety," November 29, 2024
- ↑ The Guardian, "‘Keep the door open’: Nashville’s mayor on governing a blue island in a sea of red," May 8, 2024
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Freddie O'Connell campaign website, "About," accessed July 30, 2015
- ↑ City of Nashville Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed September 15, 2015
- ↑ City of Nashville, "Davidson County Election Commission," accessed December 4, 2014
- ↑ Freddie O'Connell's campaign website, "Issues," accessed June 30, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Cooper |
Mayor of Nashville 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Nashville Metro Council District 19 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Jacob Kupin |
| |||||||||
